Baby Photos

[Manfwood]

My DS is nearly 8 months and still haven't had any 'proper'photos taken yet (except when 2 days old in hospital and doesn't look anything like him!).

I know Olan Mills do a 'watch them grow' thing for about £24 which is 4 pictures over the year but you only get 1x 8" x 10" photo and have to pay a lot for extras which we would want for grandparents etc.

Just wondered what anyone else has done - i always seem to miss the ones they do in Boots or Tescos occasionally which seem quite reasonable.

Any ideas

Thanks a lot

Manf

watch you local shopping centre as we have two differnt photographers come every few months to the mothercare and to childrens stop and woolies. these are very reasonable prices and offer loads of different packages.

My 10 month old DS still hasn't had any posed portraits taken. But we've got a good digital camera and have taken lots of good informal shots which I think are nicer as they're more natural and reflect the way he really is rather than a posed studio shot which always seems a bit artificial to me.

The real beauty of the digital camera is that taking the pictures costs nothing, so you can take loads and only keep/print the good ones, which would be horrendously expensive to do with film. Using this, a bit of editing to crop the pictures, or to remove red-eye etc, and a photo printing service which gives you proper photographic prints from your camera (we use Photobox ) we've got plenty of really good natural looking pictures which really capture DS as he is, not as an idealised caricature of a baby.

The ones we've had taken have been by someone who comes to our local toddler group every 6 months. I think they're the same people as do school photos - always very reasonable - £18 for the pack, which includes one large photo (8"x10", 2 half this size, and 6 smaller again (4"x5"?). Also on the ones at Christmas we also got 10 passport photo sized as well, which were great for putting in Christmas cards.

I don't know if you attend a toddler gorup /playgroup /nursery, but if so it may be worth enquiring if they have anyone who comes round.

I've no idea where the smily face came from - it wasn't supposed to be there! Perhaps I'm just happy as it's time to finish work & go home!!

Manfwood, I worked for Olan Mills many moons ago and although I have to agree that the prices for extras aren't cheap - they do give value for money in comparison to an equilvalent private studio shoot with loads of props, backrounds and special effects (believe me they pay peanuts so I'm not saying this cos I think they're that great or anything!) But what they always do is put together a pack of pictures for much cheaper than the price list (usually around half the price for a package) so you can dish them out to relatives and friends, or you can buy the proofs and then you can reorder any prints for up to 2 years. Pop in and ask about the special offers if you're passing - they change them regularly...

I've got some lovely ones of dd from there and your message just reminded me its about time I went there again...

I've just booked an informal portrait sitting for ds this Saturday. It's a little local photographer and it costs £25 for an hour or so - informal shots, colour and black and white of ds and us if we want to - she just told me to bring a variety of his favourite toys and some different clothes if we liked and they would take pictures as he played etc. I believe that they are good as they have been recommended and at least there is no committment apart from £25. Could be worth seeing if there is anything similar near to you. BTW this place does not look much from the outside so recommendation is a bog part of it - they were really lovely on the phone which makes me feel hopeful

Competitions! I get a twice yearly posed 10x8 photo free when ds is entered in the local rags baby comeptition. Many local papers (and often shopping centres, baby shops etc) run similar things and are well worth looking out for. First time we did it was with my nephew a few years ago - he won 1st prize which was a complete portrait sitting and portfolio of shots

Thanks for all your replies. Have got the number of a few local studios and will ask if they do any packages. Also just phoned my local Mothercare World (in Reading if anyone interested) and they have a photographer in the store from 1st - 10th August so will definitely take DS in then!

Thanks a lot

Manf

Pixiefoto do an offer around most towns where you can buy a 12 x 8" (I think)photo for £4.99. They do hard sell you when you go to pick up the photo, because they take around 6 different shots as well as the cheap one, but I always say 'Oh yes, they're lovely, I'll bring my dh back to see them tomorrow', and scarper.

They have a number you can ring to get the details of where they will be next, in your area, but I don't have it I'm afraid (sorry!)

BTW, they are the people who give vouchers for a free shot in your hospital Bounty packs. I stupidly threw mine away, thinking that it would be a con, until my SIL told me that it wasn't.