Family portraits can be a bit of a struggle when it comes to getting everything perfect. There’s outfits, uncooperative family members and the budget that cause enough of a struggle to make you want to postpone the tradition. Of course, with the holiday season upon us there are a lot more people wanting to get together and capture the memories with a professional photographer. If your family loves to have an annual portrait made then you may want to stop and check out these tips before you make any decisions. With a few extra steps during the planning stages you should be able to eliminate the financial burden of your family portraits no matter time of the year you decide to partake in the activity.
1. Join a Members Club
Anyone who knows how expensive it is to get portraits made more than once a year should know just how much a members club can help you cut down on your major costs. There are a number of portrait studios such as JC Penny and Olain Mills that have a photography club for anyone who loves to keep up with their family’s growth. Typically it is absolutely free to join these clubs so there’s really not reason not to give it a try if you love to partake in family portraits. The clubs generally provide you with a discounted price whenever you make a purchase. A lot of them will also offer you a freebie each year that will make your purchase even better. Another great aspect of the member’s club is you will always get updates that will provide you with sales information as well as when you can start getting holiday inspired portraits for you family.
2. Get the Newsletter
If you aren’t picky about where you get your portraits taken then you might want to sign up for as many newsletters as you possibly can. Newsletters are a great way to conquer the whole portrait burden while saving you quite a bit in money. Usually it’s free to sign up for a newsletter so make sure you put your email on as many as your heart desires. Most newsletters will inform you about the company’s changes, but it will also give you the opportunity to be the first to find out about future sales and deals that can make your family portraits something to look forward to. Many different companies will actually send you exclusive coupons in the newsletter as well, which can really cut down on seasonal purchases.
3. Birthday Club
Any parent should be privileged enough to know about the birthday club. For generations many photography studios have offered this club to the children of family’s who get their portraits taken with the studio. The birthday club allows you to sign up your child using their birthday and is typically no cost to you. Every year when your child’s birthday comes around you’ll get a coupon to have your child take a portrait with their upcoming age. This is a great way to cut down on your child’s portrait cost and will give you a great image to remember your child’s age as the year’s pass. Usually the coupon will provide you with a free set of images, which could help you cut down on the cost that you spend each year. If you’re interested in the birthday club then you may want to do a little online research or call up your favorite portrait studio to see if they participate in this exciting club.
4. Know Your Rewards
One of the main reasons that portraits tend to cost a lot is because many people are giving up rewards that they don’t know they qualify for. Most photo studios have a long list of clubs and affiliations that will provide you with a hefty discount as long as you know to ask for it. Of course, this could be difficult for anyone who doesn’t have a copy of the magical list. So, if you think you may have some reason to get a discount then it is always safe to ask. Some affiliations include having a AAA membership or serving in the armed forces. There are usually several local clubs that can help you save some money too. Even if you can’t get a discount at some studios you may have better luck at a different location so don’t get discouraged at first as you may be qualified for even more at a different studio. If you’re counting on a discount for your portraits then you may want to call in ahead of time so you can confirm the discount is yours.
5. Hire an Amateur
There are an abundance of amateur photographers that are looking to improve their skills and show off their work to the public. Although they may not be certified to professional work in a studio you may find their skills are perfect for your family’s portraits. A lot of students will post up ads to work with family’s in order to earn credits with the school or simply to improve their portfolio. Usually these amateurs will only charge you a fraction of what a professional studio would so it is always a great option when you’re looking to save money. When you do choose to work with an amateur you should make sure to go through the photographers portfolio first. This will give you an idea of their skill level as well as if their work will suit the type of portrait your family is looking for. With a little bit of searching around you may find that the perfect amateur photographer can provide you with photographs that outshine the pictures you would get at a professional studio.
6. Coupons/Groupons
Like all shopping you’ll always find that coupon can really make any purchase feel even better. Most professional portrait studios typically have a wide selection of coupons that will suit first time customers as well as their regulars. Before going to get your family’s portrait you should always make sure to check out the local ads or call up the studio to find out if they actually have any available coupons to use. Another great way to cut down on the cost is to look for a groupon. These coupons are perfect for couples looking to get engagement photos or for seniors who are interested in getting some group pictures taken before they have to bid farewell to friends. Groupons can be found all over the internet so you won’t have to spend hours looking for a way to save you big.
7. Order Small
One major problem with ordering portraits is many people actually want to go after the biggest package the company offers because they feel like they’ll never be able to get the prints again. Most of the time the extra prints end up in a shoe box in the top of the closet which makes ordering such a large order a huge waste of money. Instead of going crazy over the package deals you may want to take a step back and breathe before you end up wasting hundreds on prints. When it comes to purchasing your pictures you should always buy as little as you can. Most company’s require you to purchase a basic package which usually doesn’t cost a lot. This is pretty much all you will need if you also order the disc that contains your pictures. With the disc you’ll be able to go to a department store and get prints for mere cents a piece, which will really save you hundreds in the long run. It will also mean you’ll always be able to keep the photographs even if the pictures end up getting water damage or lost later on.
8. Keep it Comfortable
Wrangling up the family can be one of the toughest aspects of getting a portrait. One way to avoid making everyone entirely miserable during the process is to have everyone wear clothes that make them feel comfortable. A lot of family’s love to have the traditional dressed up look, but this can really ruin a photograph if you have small children. Until your kids are older you may want to just give in to the Spiderman t-shirt and light up sneakers, after all it is what your family looks like on a daily basis anyway. Without having to dress up for the pictures you won’t have to spend a lot of money buying new clothes for photographs anyway. This can really help you save on the amount your portraits cost your budget. Of course, with everyone feeling comfortable and relaxed you’re more than likely not going to spend as long in the studio and you won’t have to pay for pictures of a family that looks less than spectacular.
9. Schedule It
Knowing when you make the appointment for your portraits can be one of the best ways to avoid spending too much money on your portraits. Typically around major holidays prices can really sky rocket and the longer you wait to get the pictures taken the more you’re going to end up spending. Instead, try to get your holiday photos taken care of before the rush begins. You may end up having to sacrifice the holiday props, but if you bring your own the photographer usually won’t mind using them. Another thing to consider when scheduling is your own schedule. If your kids have a specific nap time or a busy day at school then you may want to wait until they aren’t tired or stressed to take the photo. The same can be said when it comes to any of the adults in the photo. If there is anything that might make getting to the studio a problem then you should always avoid it as it may make you purchase photographs that are less than perfect.
10. DIY
A lot of people tend to overlook their technology when they think about family portraits. Most people have good quality cameras that have automatic buttons so you can easily set a timer to take a family photo. Doing your own photography could allow you to capture priceless moments your family has, rather than staged pictures that tend to look stiff and unnatural. Using your own skills to capture your children is one of the best things you can do as it will help capture how they really are rather than forcing them to smile or taking them out of the element in order to capture them at a certain age. If you really want to get into the images then you can digitally edit them with software you already own or a wide selection of free software that is available online. This will allow you to give the pictures the professional edge they need so you can feel proud to present them to people you love. You may also want to try to print them at home to get the entire DIY experience. Of course, this isn’t an option for everyone so you may want to looking into department store prices so you can save the most on your final product.
Capturing the essence of your family is an important way to document they way everything has changed. With children growing before your eyes and new additions added to the household all of the time you’ll love having portraits of your family through the various stages of your life. With these simple tips you’ll be able to afford getting your family’s portrait captured as often as you like, so you won’t have to miss a single moment of your family’s change over the years.
