Portrait Innovations

[mlewis]

Has any one used Portrait Innovations? I know they're a digital studio, and we have appointments set for Saturday, but they're making me irritated. I know there's always 9.95 deal, but I want to know their other packages. I've talked to two different sales persons, and they will only tell me their "most popular" package, which is $179. I want to know package prices. I've also heard you can buy a CD with all the photos. Does anyone know if the CD has high quality photos that could be used for digital scrapbooking or holiday cards or will they be very low resolution?

[ribbit1019]

Here 's a couple of threads.

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=37&topic_id=260596&mesg_id=260596&listing_type=search
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=60&topic_id=16233&mesg_id=16248&page=

I can't answer your pricing question. The guy I talked with said it was a base price per sheet and then the more sheets you buy of each pose the cheaper it gets per sheet. Each pose you buy goes on the CD. He did not make it seem as though all the photos went onto the CD at all.
The guy I talked to also said the pics were low resolution for emailing and not suitable for reprinting (as they would be at Kiddie Kandids).
There are high pressure sales techniques that some have encountered.

I had an appointment with them and just cancelled because DH has to work. :( So I can't give you any first hand info, sorry!

Christy
"My Mommy" to Maddy born 06/09/04
http://lilypie.com/baby2/040609/3/4/0/-5/.png
and soon to Little Man due 03/02/06
http://bd.lilypie.com/cKLom4/.png

Join the BBB Preggo Pals!!
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[sarasmom]

We have used them twice. They do a great job. Much better than the Picture people, or Olin Mills if you have used them. In order to get the CD I think you do have to spend a min. They are tons of "Packages". This last time we ended up buying 9 shots(1-8x10, 2-5x7, sheet of wallet)one of those was the $9.95 package whick also adds an 13x10 and a page of 3x5s and 6 Cards. I also ordered 25 more Christmas cards. My total came to just under $200. With that amount they also throw in a 10x13 black and white, 2 different 10x13 collages(3pics) and the CD. The CD is great and has all 131 shots. The CD seems a good quality to print from but I haven't yet. If you do not buy enough poses I think you can buy the CD for $70. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Carol
Mom to Stephen 7/1/95
Alyssa 4/15/97
Sara 9/2/03

[MelissaTC]

They base the price on the number of poses. I usually spend around $100 and get more pictures than I need, that is for sure. I believe that for that price, I have gotten the 9.95 deal, and 4 or 5 poses plus 2 special effect sheets (10x13 black & white and silhouette) and cd. I have printed from the cd on my home photo printer and the resolution is totally fine. You can totally use them for digiscrapping although you will run into a problem for holiday cards since they are copyrighted. I have never had a problem with high pressure sales (had one girl try to push something on me the first time I went there and basically told her what I wanted and that was the end of it). They take a large amount of photos and I find it easy to weed them down. Depending on the photographer, they will play around with effects on your photos, free of charge. I go in there with a commanding attitude. I know what I want (cost wise) and know what shots I want of DS. I have no problem telling them that and they respect it. And for that, I am a repeat customer.

Here are some PI photos of us-

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/MelissaTC/Matthewclapping.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/MelissaTC/Professional%20Photos/d66c73da.jpg

[kboyle]

I did DS2's newbie pics there and used the $9.95 deal + I bought 25 cards. We also have an appointment for there on Thursday to do our family pic & boys pics. This is what I remember about packages:

$9.95 deal can only be used once every 3 months. It includes:
1- 10x13
2- 8x10
4- 5x7
4- 3x5
32 wallets
bounus- 6 cards + envelopes

3 pose for $69.95 or 4 pose for $79.95 incl
3 sheets (any pic size...8x10, 1 sheet or wallets or 5x7s or all sheets of wallets) of each pose. so for 3 pose 9 sheets total/ 4 pose 12 sheets total
1-10x13
1- CD-- on this CD is ALL of the poses taken by the photographer, not just the ones purchased.

Extra sheets or by the sheet price is $24.95

To make blk & white or sepia or make any type of change is extra, except *I think* in 3 pose pkg and up.

Cheapest pkg that includes CD is the 3 pose pkg. You CANNOT buy the CD separate. I've asked a million times and they won't do it. At least not at my store.

I know I paid $19.99 for 24 cards+envelopes. They sell more or less. I can add more info after Thursday if you want.

The pics develop in about 15 to 20 min. It took me longer to pic out which poses I wanted.

You can use the $9.95 deal with other package deals, or with cards.

I got a headache when they were done explaining everything to me, and now I've got one again. And on thurs they will have to explain everything to DH so another headache then too, ugh!

HTH! Oh, and the quality was great!

[MelissaTC]

I guess they all operate differently. Here, you can use the ongoing $9.95 special once every 6 weeks. You can also buy the cd for $30.

[BethS]

We were just there today for Jack's 2 yr pictures and we walked out only spending $25.00. We just don't have have a need for tons and tons of pics as we mainly prefer to frame/send candids. Anyway, the $9.95 package was free because their cameras were down on Sunday (our original appt day). I bought one extra "pose" at $24.95 that included:
1 8x10
2 5x7
8 wallets

As someone mentioned, you can mix and match the pose using any combo of 3 sheets.

I think they told me extra sheets were $15.00 each.

I enjoyed the whole process so much more than at Picture People. We'll be heading back in a couple of weeks for DD's 6 month pics.

[mlewis]

Thanks for all the information! I'm not a big fan of high pressure sales (who is!), but DH will be with me, and he'll be able to do a better job than I will of not being pressured.

ETA: I just remembered that they told me that they do not keep records of the photos except for the CD that is available to buy so it seems that the resolution should be good.