Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

I keep going back and forth on whether or not I should do a holiday shoot for DS. I know for photo cards I can just take a photo myself, but am I going to regret not doing photos, especially since this is his first Christmas? Money is kinda tight right now which is why I am leaning towards not doing them. Thoughts?

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

you can get some decent pics done for cheap at Target, Sears, etc. Generic backgrounds, but a better shot than you could do with your own camera.
If you want to go a step up to professional shots, you can go affordable with booking a mini-session with many people.

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

That's the route I figured I'd take if I can get some money together. If I don't do it, do you think id regret NOT doing it a few years from now?

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

I personally dont think ur going to look back at the pictures you took and say "Man i wish i had these done professionaly" But thats my outlook on it. If my best friend didnt do picuters i probally wouldnt have any pics other then the normal ones i take with my camera either. You do what you can afford no need to put yourself behind just just a picture, Ya know what i mean?

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

I've taken my own pics of DS his first two years and will most likely always do them. I do not pressure myself with an all day photoshoot for the perfect shot. I dress him in various outfits for short sperts of a few days and take pics as long as he's happy. And so far I've gotten great reviews from our cards.

So photo sessions necessary? Fun... But not necessary. IMO

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

Last time I took DS for pics we went to Target. I had a coupon so all I spent $15 and got a decent amount of pictures.

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

def not a necessity. of course it's nice to have but that $ could go towards so many other things, IMHO. money is real tight for me...I plan on putting him in a nice outfit by our tree (tree goes out immediately after thanksgiving) & taking lots of photos. there are so many apps that allow you to tweak photos nowadays. start looking up infant holiday photos online and get ideas for poses, scenery etc., save the pics you admire in a folder and revisit them when you're ready and do it yourself.

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

Thanks ladies. I think I'll just do something simple myself. I did the newborn shoot and it was totally worth it (but I had the money then). I think the money would be better spent on things he needs anyway.

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

Groupon is having a deal on Jcpenney portraits. You get your package and the cd for $40!

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

I did a mini-photo shoot myself for DS's first Xmas... I def don't regret it & will do the same again this year. No stress & the pics came out great!

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

Not doing one. We don't have the extra $$ and I would rather save to do a 1 year shoot. We didn't do newborn shots either (I would have liked to, but my brother happened to lose his job at a photographer's the week before I gave birth...we didn't have an appt because they were just going to take us after hours, but that all fell through and it was too late to book anyone else ). I've been looking at pictures from cards from last year, and have a few ideas that I like that I could do myself. I did the thank yous for his Baptism myself, and people loved them. I think for a card it is fine. Like others said, I'm not going to keep them up all the time. I'll have his picture taken with Santa, and be able to keep that.

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

Last year we attempted to get photos taken a Picture People. It went horribly bad. We left the mall and headed to Hicks, took our own pics, and they came out great. Stupid photographer at Picture People was sick and DS got it! Never will I ever go back there again.

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

theres a groupon today for JCpenny photography if youre looking for an affordable option

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

I dont think you will regret it. You can take pics at home, with your family. I spent a ton on christmas pics for DD. My favorite ones are of us holding her in front of our tree christmas day ( the ones we took ourselves). That pic has so many memories every time I look at it.

I spent a ton on dd's christening & christmas shots.
DS's christening I just didnt have the $. I went to JcPenney, spend $25 got 6 different poses and was thrilled!
That is always an option. No sitting fee & you pay like $3 a picture.

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

I've always done photo shoots at home. For all my holiday shots, I can point out "That's the tree we had when you were 1yo." "That's the wrapping paper we used for Grandma's gift". Instead of "See, that was Background #17"

In my pics, DC are always smiling. I have days to wait until they are in a good mood and take the pic. If I get them in their outfits, and they are cranky, we change them back out and try later on. Can't do that with professional shoots.

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

nope

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

I take crappy pics and DH isn't much better (but don't tell him that), so I plan to take DD to Target or JCPenney for holiday pics, really just so I have a good Christmas card pic.

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

Last year I just took the boys for a photo w/ santa at the mall. I think it was $25 and they put hte pic on a CD. I used that pic for holiday cards. They turned out great.

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

I agree that Target does a great job for cheap and those santa ones come out pretty good nowadays too (as long as dc isn't screaming his head off like mine did, I still loved that pic though) and you can make some nice cards on cvs or shutterfly, look for the deals..
Those photo shoots are definately tempting though... but not necessary.. Me, I am saving my money for newborn/family shots when dc #2 comes in february..

Re: Holiday photo shoots- necessary?

DD was 3 weeks old for her first Christmas. I really wanted a Santa pic that year, but didn't want a 2 week old at the mall for it. A friend (with a Santa suit) promised to come to the house with it. He left the suit someplace and forgot to tell me (so I could have back-up Santa come to the house). I have regreted it ever since.