Portrait Innovations

I gave Portrait Innovations a try around Christmas time in 2011 and vowed never to return again. The place was a zoo, dirty, and we felt very rushed (did I mention I had a 3 week old with me)! The photos were also very expensive once you added on to the advertised deal.
Fast forward to Easter 2012 and they had a great deal so I thought I would try again. I went during the week, about 3 weeks before Easter, and first thing in the morning. In and out, and only purchased the advertised package. In and out, no problems with some super cute pictures.
Now, Easter 2015 and there is a great deal with a free canvas. Doing the math on the number of prints, I couldn’t beat my normal deals at JCP Portraits, so I decide to give Portrait Innovations one more chance. I make an appointment for a Friday morning at 9:10. I get there and am surprised that I am the only customer there and couldn’t be happier. We are a few minutes early, and there is only one staff member present. She gets the room ready while I get the kids out of their coats and get the props ready. I try to keep my 9 month old off the floor, but can’t and sure enough, it doesn’t appear to have been vacuumed in a while. He is shoving weird things in his mouth so I can’t even set him down to get the props. Gross!
Elizabeth, our photographer, was patient while we got the kids together, but after about 30 minutes of shooting (far longer than either kid has gone), I express that I think they are done. She tells me she has to get more pictures, that I can’t view them until she has a certain number (despite my repeating this several times). By the end of the shoot, which lasted almost an hour, the kids were spent and cranky. It didn’t take long to pick out the photos or print because it was still early in the day, but the prices were astronomical and I didn’t like the minimum photo quantity when shooting children so young. In my opinion, if the parent is happy with some of the shots, let’s wrap up and call it a day.
By the time we were done, other staff had shown up and I felt the conversation wasn’t appropriate for my 3-​year-​old daughter to hear. Late night shenanigans and personal time is fine and dandy, but I don’t need to spend the rest of the afternoon cleverly explaining «drunk» and «partying» and other things to my kids. Elizabeth though, was great. Only reason I’m giving this place 2 stars.

Okay, so the previous reviews were absolutely accurate regarding the wait time, overbooking, etc. We anticipated that from reading the earlier comments posted here. But that isn’t what, in my opinion, merits the low rating. What has me steamed is this places copyright policy.
We took our grandson here to get some Christmas pictures. After enduring the hour long wait (yes, we had an appointment– they were just running way behind), and dealing with the endless selections we settled on a $ 300 package. Included in that package was a CD with all of the images.
When we returned to pick up the pictures later in the day we discovered that many were exceptionally dark. The place was a zoo so we decided that I’d we wanted more/​different prints we could simply print them. My wife asked about that and was told that the clerk would put the instructions in with our order.
Those «instructions» turned out to be the corporate copyright policies. Basically put, you don’t own your images, they do. If you want to use a picture for, lets say a birthday cake, you must secure permission from them in writing!
Bottom line– don’t bother with this place. Go to JC Penny instead. Prices are about the same, MUCH more organized, much better quality and YOU OWN YOUR PICTURES!

An absolute disaster. Unprofessional and overbooked. We have used numerous studios in the past and always have great experiences. We always go to new studios so that we can get different styles and photo techniques so we never get board with our prints. We decided to try portrait innovations because of the deal they had going on at the time. BIG MISTAKE!
We made our appointment 3 weeks in advance for a saturday morning shoot. It was my husband and myself and three children family picture package. When we arrived the lobby was packed with all manner of chaos. We stood in line waiting for our appointment and the receptionist disapears for 45 mins. She then states that we are 30 mins late for our appointment. I am absolutly livid with anger at this point and exclaim that we have been standing in this line waiting for 45 mins. She points to a clip board that she has sitting behind the desk that says we needed to sign in here while receptionist is away. She then says that she needs to let other family’s ahead of us because they are running behind and the wait will be around 3 hours. I of course say that is unacceptable and I want a refund since we pre paid our package. She says that they do not give refunds for cancellations on the day of.
We waited 2 hours and they suddenly have an opening. Our photographer looked like clueless college student. He reaked of Marijuana and spent another 10 mins talking with his buddy about some vulger subject and how much beer they had drank the night before. Photographer then gives us a fake smile and keeps giggling. Photoshoot takes another 2 hours by which time everyone was completely grumpy and upset. Photgrapher then says he can’t finish because our family simply isn’t cooperating. That was the last straw. We immediately request the supervisor who says that «they can’t work miricles and make good photos if our kids won’t allow it». I exclaim that we have been there for over 4 hours and it has been a disaster. Manager gives us a half apology but that we are lucky to even be there because of the amount of business they do and that there was nothing they could do, no refunds, and that they would have to add on a $ 40 surcharge being late to our appointment even though it wasn’t our fault. STORE POLICY!!! Not only that but we later find out they tried to charge our card for $ 244.50, with a note that says «extra pictures» even though we actually received less than our package said was included. Pictures themselves were generic, dull, fuzzy, and like something we could have done on our own.
DO NOT use these guys whatsoever, they are thieves, liars, and cons. Many more alternatives. It’s amazing that they even exist.
We also filed a credit card chargeback for everything. Visa later opens a case saying the $ 244.50, and $ 40 were unauthorized transactions and would be refunded.

You must have patience to visit this photography studio. I expected families with small children. I didn’t expect a long wait, since I had an appointment. We went for a family portrait… a gift for my mother’s 70^th birthday.
I was very pleased with the amount of photos taken and the end result. However, the entire process took nearly two hours, much of this time spent waiting for our turn at photos, choosing from proofs, etc.
I think the prices are fair and I’m glad to have the entire process over. They’re probably doing the best they can although I think additional staff on busy Saturdays may help!