JCPenney photo groupon-Update

There’s a groupon for photos and 60 Shutterfly Christmas cards for $25. Has anyone ever done this? Sounds too good to be true.

I remember my mom dragging me and my sister there to take pics when I was a kid and they always came out horrendous.

Update:

Never again. They took 22 pictures and DD was looking at the camera in 2 of them. They didn't try to engage her AT ALL, just kept telling her to stand on the red dot and show her teeth. DH and I got her to laugh and smile and they still somehow managed to catch her blinking or not looking at the camera. I wish I could have gotten digital copies to show you just how bad they were.

No deal in the world will ever convince me to go back there.

Message edited 11/4/2018 3:18:17 PM.

Re: JCPenney photo groupon

I'm not a fan of these places because I am not a fan of "posed" photos with fake backdrops etc.
You can always tell it looks off.
And tons of people have the same "background" as you.

I like mini sessions done outdoors or if it's in a studio setting, something a bit more customized and personal.
I also prefer more candid, natural shots.

That's just me though.

Message edited 9/26/2018 3:40:15 PM.

Re: JCPenney photo groupon

Re: JCPenney photo groupon

Posted by LuckyStar

Posted by NervousNell

I'm not a fan of these places because I am not a fan of "posed" photos with fake backdrops etc.
You can always tell it looks off.
And tons of people have the same "background" as you.

I like mini sessions done outdoors or if it's in a studio setting, something a bit more customized and personal.
I also prefer more candid, natural shots.

That's just me though.

I do, too, but for $25 I feel like I could get over it

Re: JCPenney photo groupon

My sister did them and they came out very well.

It came out to a little more $ I forget why, but still very inexpensive for a photo of the whole family.

JCPenney photo groupon

I personally love our JCP photos. They always get some great ones. We do annual photos and I switch them up between professional
And JCP and am very happy with both. We always get a really good family photo from JCP too.

JCPenney photo groupon

I didn't like our photos from JCP. I think it can be hot or miss. You don't have a very long session. With older kids, that's fine, but younger children might be in the right mood or might not. The photographer you get is important too. Some are just better at posing and getting children to smile.

JCPenney photo groupon

I've had photos taken of my kids at Target and JCP a few times and was very happy with how they came out every time. They will probably try to upsell you on buying a larger package but if you just want what comes with the groupon its definitely a great deal.

JCPenney photo groupon

I’ve done JC Penney’s and the biggest problem is they are never on schedule. You have to wait to take photos and then wait for someone to show you the pictures. They waste additional time trying to sell you packages with customized backgrounds. By the time you sit to pick your photos the kids are cranky and you are too. At that point you either buy the whole album and then get annoyed with yourself for not going with a private photographer.

Re: JCPenney photo groupon

Re: JCPenney photo groupon

We just went a few weeks ago to do pics at JCP and they came out AWESOME. We had a 1pm appt and were taken within a few minutes. We had a 5 yo, 3yo, and 1yo, so it should have been challenging but it wasn't. The photographer was really great to work with and we had more than enough pics to choose from. It was MUCH BETTER than any of our experiences at Picture People, where it would be a half day event.

My biggest complaint is there's no cell service in the basement of JCP

Re: JCPenney photo groupon

Re: JCPenney photo groupon

I always use the Groupon for JCP! I loved it when they had the studios in Target but all of those closed
They never really try to upsell me at the end. They always tell me they are required (by the company) to setup certain products at the end. I guess that's to try to sell you on those enhancements, but they never try to actually sell me on them. I just say no thanks when they mention them. It works out for me when the kids are cranky too because then they try to get me out of there quicker lol. I've only bought the whole session CD when it's offered for like $50.

I get the Groupon that gives me 3 digital images and then order the cards from Shutterfly, because then I can get prints and use it for photo gifts too. CVS and Shutterfly always give away free prints.

Use Ebates and a coupon code to buy the Groupon. It makes it like practically free. Then when Shutterfly sends out the free $25 for cards, you can combine that with free shipping. It ends up being super cheap for awesome cards. Last year, I had 4 of those $25 for cards offer with free shipping, I just place 4 separate orders. It takes 2 mins to place a reorder with the new coupon code.

ETA: I get a plain background and let them use the props that JCP provides (like the ornaments, or wrapped gift boxes). I think it's cuter than the fake backgrounds.

Message edited 9/27/2018 11:37:49 AM.

JCPenney photo groupon

Ive done this the last two years and just bought one for this year. The first year I did it I went early in Nov we were in out and done in like an hour. I just had to go back to pick up my cards. Last year I went on like veterans day and I was late so i missed my time slot and it was crowded and it was a nightmare bc no cell service to boot. So go early in the season on a non holiday if possible. The pictures are NOT the greatest however I am super indecisive and would otherwise spend hours and days choosing cards and photos.. with this.. there are two or three good photos and a choice of like 10 different card designs you need to choose on the spot. The limited options work out welll for me and Ive always gotten compliments on the way the cards come out and its sooo cheap so win win win. It doesnt replace pro pics for me.. its just a cheap easy way to get xmas cards out and theyve never tried to upsell me. Oh and the best part is last year they allowed me to pay an extra 7 bucks so they could ship me the photos when they were done instead of going back and forth to pick them up =))

ETA: You cannot do the xmas card package with an outdoor photo session.

Message edited 9/27/2018 3:12:11 PM.

Re: JCPenney photo groupon

Posted by LuckyStar

Posted by NervousNell

I'm not a fan of these places because I am not a fan of "posed" photos with fake backdrops etc.
You can always tell it looks off.
And tons of people have the same "background" as you.

I like mini sessions done outdoors or if it's in a studio setting, something a bit more customized and personal.
I also prefer more candid, natural shots.

That's just me though.

I do, too, but for $25 I feel like I could get over it

Re: JCPenney photo groupon

My friend always gets her pics done at Penney's and they come out amazing. She got a lifetime sitting package for reeeeally cheap when her daughter was born in 2015. She goes there for every holiday for very little $$. I forget the exact details of the deal.

JCPenney photo groupon

I used them once and had a bad experience, so I never went back. I used them for DS's first birthday pictures and the photographer expected my one year old to sit on the dot and smile. He crawled everywhere. I left in tears. This was years ago though. Luckily a friend of a friend started a photography business and she is incredible, so we've used her ever since.

JCPenney photo groupon

I do the groupons through JCP all the time and love it! In my opinion, if you dont like them you only wasted $25. Christmas cards are stupid and get thrown out and i wouldn't spend more than I need to.

With that said, their cards are actually really nice. My advice would be to go on a weekday and get the first appt of the day. they can get massively backed up. I usually take off one day of work in late oct or early november and snag a 10am appt

JCPenney photo groupon

We did it last year for the boys first Christmas, they came out ok, but I will just do them myself this year

JCPenney photo groupon-Update

Update in original post.

Re: JCPenney photo groupon-Update

Re: JCPenney photo groupon-Update

Re: JCPenney photo groupon-Update

Aw crap really?? I bought the same groupon. What location did you go to? What were the backgrounds like?

Re: JCPenney photo groupon-Update

Re: JCPenney photo groupon-Update

I'm so sorry! That's awful! I can't believe you had such a poor experience. We just did ours and it was great. We went to the one in Bayshore though.

I would call the number for the main company or send them an email to complain. They can't just waste your time like that, it doesn't matter if it was discounted. You should have gotten pictures you could use.

We complained to the main company once (years ago when it was in Target). The photographer smelled like she just smoked a pack of cigarettes on her break. She got some pics, but not the exact shots I wanted. I figured for the price, the pics were good though. I called the company just to let them know about the woman reeking of cigarette smoke because that's just unacceptable to me. Her job is working with kids, at least air yourself off and wash your hands. They gave me another session with a manager and digital images for free.

We've only had positive experiences since then, and I literally go a couple times a year because I like to take milestone pictures with the kids. They don't want unhappy customers, so I'm sure they will make it up to you.