Photography section at Babies R Us

[kass617]

I saw a little photography room set up at a babies r us, set up to take family portraits, baby pictures etc. Most of the pictures I saw didn't really look that great. Do they just set up equipment (lighting backdrops, etc) and just have the camera on a preset or something, or is it an actual "photographer" running the booth? Some of the baby pictures, family portraits, newborn stuff etc on the Beginners forum on this site look 100x better.

 

[Rosshole]

I think that the answer is that you get what you pay for (or who they pay for) in photography (and hired photographers)

 

[vtf]

On some portrait studios such as those in Kmarts and Walmarts there is usually 1 full time employee and one part time. Those same studio companies have traveling people who do home shots, pet portraits at pet stores and kid shots at various locations including hospitals. Babies are Us could be same deal. These employees are usually not the highest paid. I know some are good at what they do because I've had a few of them as friends but then again you do have new ones rotate through as the rehire rate I believe is pretty high. As far as presets are concerned I would believe most have a certain range they use for simplicity of shooting simple portraits.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Joe usually bags groceries and run the cash register. When they have a customer at the studio, he'll be the photographer LOL.. JK

 

[Aayria]

"26 portraits for 7.99. NO session fee!"


??!??? WHAT?

I came across a board with ladies raving about the babies r us studio. One mom said " I can't see paying a lot for pictures..And the photos I had them do all turned out SO cute!"

*GAH* :banghead:

 

[Robin Usagani]

Hmm.. im selling all of my gears.... good to know all of you.. Ciao!

 

[Gaerek]

"26 portraits for 7.99. NO session fee!"


??!??? WHAT?

I came across a board with ladies raving about the babies r us studio. One mom said " I can't see paying a lot for pictures..And the photos I had them do all turned out SO cute!"

*GAH* :banghead:

Should have linked them to a site that showed what paying more could do. Even non-photographers could probably see the difference. You always have to remember that a mother (especially non-photographer) will always think a photo of her child is "SO cute!"

 

[vtf]

Joe usually bags groceries and run the cash register. When they have a customer at the studio, he'll be the photographer LOL.. JK

Not quite, most are outside companies that would never allow a store employee to touch their equipment. usually if the studio manager is absent either the part time employee covers or the studio remains closed.
They make their money from the prints and add ons, not the shoot. Its a sales job.

 

[kass617]

In my limited time with a DSLR, and taking pictures of other people's kids (when they come over my house not on any official "shoot") and then email it to them...I have NEVER gotten a criticism. I've heard things like "you should do this professionally!!!". Now, I'm not naive enough to believe that I'm on any level even close to a pro...or even an advanced beginner for that matter, and wouldn't imagine charging anyone for pictures BUT I think people just think pictures of their kids/family ALWAYS look good unless there's something terribly wrong with them...and I've tested my theory out. I emailed a friend of a friend who came over for a BBQ some pictures of their kid. a couple were pretty out of focus. and again "Oh my God, these look so great!"

I would post them but I'm not comfortable with posting pictures of other peoples kids without their prmission.

 

[Josh66]

Most of those "extra services" you see at stores (portrait studio, salon, fast food chain, eye doctor, etc...) are just there to get you into the store so you can spend money on other stuff.

From what I understand, many of them actually operate at a loss because due to the extra traffic they bring to the store - there is still a net gain.


edit
Knowing that the 'real goal' of the studio is just to get you in the door, hoping you'll buy other stuff while you wait - I wouldn't expect much.

It would probably be very hard to beat the price, but very easy to beat the quality. Which is more important to you?

 

[dak1b]

go to a real photographer.

 

[vtf]

Most of those "extra services" you see at stores (portrait studio, salon, fast food chain, eye doctor, etc...) are just there to get you into the store so you can spend money on other stuff.

From what I understand, many of them actually operate at a loss because due to the extra traffic they bring to the store - there is still a net gain.


edit
Knowing that the 'real goal' of the studio is just to get you in the door, hoping you'll buy other stuff while you wait - I wouldn't expect much.

It would probably be very hard to beat the price, but very easy to beat the quality. Which is more important to you?

I would disagree, they do get you in the store but as they are separate companies they themselves have to be profitable otherwise they go out of existance. For example Picture Me runs the studios in most Walmarts but are not owned or operated by Walmart. Their costs can be low because those are intoductory shots usually wallet sizes. When you go in to pick them up or at time of shoot they will offer you special packages of bigger and more prints that are developed in their labs.
Look up Picture Me's website or Olan Mills.
They do a service for those who need that low end product.

 

[kass617]

go to a real photographer.

I wouldn't even think of using a service like that. My wedding photographer, although pricey, did an extraordinary job. I plan on using his for all my family photography...and have given him countless referrals.

 

[dak1b]

go to a real photographer.

I wouldn't even think of using a service like that. My wedding photographer, although pricey, did an extraordinary job. I plan on using his for all my family photography...and have given him countless referrals.

good to hear! leave it to the pros!:thumbup:

 

[Josh66]

Most of those "extra services" you see at stores (portrait studio, salon, fast food chain, eye doctor, etc...) are just there to get you into the store so you can spend money on other stuff.

From what I understand, many of them actually operate at a loss because due to the extra traffic they bring to the store - there is still a net gain.


edit
Knowing that the 'real goal' of the studio is just to get you in the door, hoping you'll buy other stuff while you wait - I wouldn't expect much.

It would probably be very hard to beat the price, but very easy to beat the quality. Which is more important to you?

I would disagree, they do get you in the store but as they are separate companies they themselves have to be profitable otherwise they go out of existance. For example Picture Me runs the studios in most Walmarts but are not owned or operated by Walmart. Their costs can be low because those are intoductory shots usually wallet sizes. When you go in to pick them up or at time of shoot they will offer you special packages of bigger and more prints that are developed in their labs.
Look up Picture Me's website or Olan Mills.
They do a service for those who need that low end product.

OK - I can see your point. Still, the store would not lease the space to these 3rd party vendors if they didn't think it would bring more business to them.

For example - the local Walmart here used to have a McDonalds in it, lol. Used to. The sale of alcohol was recently (maybe a year ago) legalized in my town, so they booted McD's out and now use that space for beer & wine. They're probably making much more money on that space than they were previously.

Even if they don't operate at a loss, I'm sure their profit margin is on the small side.

But yeah - where there is a market, there is a product.