How Often Do You Get Your Kids’ Pictures Taken?
My son’s second birthday is coming up next week and I just realized that it’s been a year since he’s had his picture formally taken. Not only that, but his big sister (now over 3 years old) hasn’t had hers done since her first birthday. I realize that I am probably in the minority here; my nephews, for example, have their pictures taken 3 or 4 times a year. Here are my reasons for not getting professional pictures done more frequently:
- we’re cheap we don’t have a budget for it
- I take a zillion pictures of my children throughout the year; their lives are well-documented
- I’m lazy
- it’s a high-stress situation for me, and I tend to avoid high-stress situations whenever possible
- our family has not made a habit of it – my husband and I have never even had professional shots done! (A friend did our wedding pictures.)
It’s gotten to the point that I just don’t even think about it – until we receive a wallet-size from a family member or friend in the mail. Then I’m like, “Oh shoot! I should really do that. Maybe this Christmas…” And Christmas comes & goes. Or, I keep thinking our church will do another pictorial directory and we’ll just get it done then.
How often do you get your kids’ pictures taken? Is it a high-stress situation for you? What has made your picture-taking experiences less stressful?
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How about NEVER! I feel a bit guilty about it sometimes but people just don’t do it here and like you, it’s not in the budget.
You, on the other hand, have so many gorgeous, natural pictures of your kids I can’t imagine how a professional could improve upon it! Keep snapping and maybe you can make some money off of taking pics of other people’s kids!
Thank goodness I’m not the only one! I always felt bad that I wasn’t a “normal” mom who took their kids to get pictures taken like every week! Now I feel better
I also take tons of pictures with my own camera so it isn’t like I don’t have those keepsakes. I just don’t feel like toting them to Walmart or Sears and standing in line for hours so I can fork over all my spare cash.
I have found a loop hole in this. Target for example will let you have your child’s picture taken (no sitting fee) then you can choose one 8×10 for FREE!! Also, we have a great place here that has a deal for 9.99 and the place is centered for kids so it seems hassle free for me. My daughter has had her picture done 5 times and she is 2 1/2 but we also did family pictures right before the hubby left for Iraq and I think I just wanted it done for me.
My sister-in-law and mother-in-law are photographers. I guess I have it easy, but still I haven’t done any pictures of my daughter since she was 3 months old….lazy, I guess.
Trina was talking about Portrait Innovations. They have $10 deal where you can get a bajillion photos of only one pose. Of course, they try to upsell you.
We had our portraits done last Christmas and a few just recently. I have to say – it is worth it if you can chalk up the cash. I cherish those photos of my family. Especially if you have a great photographer that takes more candid photos outside of a studio!
We only rarely get pics done anymore. We’ll do posed shots with our digital camera, and talk about getting prints done, but it rarely happens.
Dawn, I feel exactly the way you do. We actually started out doing professional photos a few times a year, but it is pretty stressful. I also take a lot of photos of my kids myself, so who needs more? My kids smiles tend to look funny when a stranger is trying to get them to smile.
I never did professional baby photos, or anything like that (well, except the one year photos of my son, but that was my MIL’s idea and she paid for it, so it doesn’t count). I’m with you Dawn — I take pictures of them all year, so why do I need to go to a portrait studio?
I’m a professional photographer, specializing in children’s portraits.
We are pricey, so we understand many families can’t afford us. But we’re well worth it…
We make the experience fun (no stress here!)
And our portraits are incredible (no way what we do can be done with a point and shoot camera)
What we suggest…
For a brand new baby that changes every month- newborn, 6 month, and 1 year portraits.
After that, professional portraits only once a year (candids taken by mom and dad the rest of the year are great to supplement and capture what won’t get done by the professional that one time)
Just weigh cost versus the experience and the memories.
Amy- I have been to your site and your pictures are beautiful!!
My son is only six months old and he’s had his picture taken professionally three times. And there’s more to come for the holidays. But this is because my mother doesn’t have any pictures of me when i was a baby, accept one. I probably wouldn’t be like this with my son if there were more pictures of me around. And i also take random pics with my digital camera. I hope he appreciates all the memories.