***Updated to add photos at the request of the lovely and persuasive Bitsy Parker***

Every year since Joshua and Kate were six and four months old, respectively, Emily and I have taken them to get their pictures done together. The first three years we went to the portrait studio of a local department store that I really love whose logo features a red circle inside another red circle. I can’t bring myself to print the name of said store because I love it so much, and I can’t believe I m about to speak ill of it. But I am. The pictures were always pretty good, and the price was always very good, but last year, when the kids were two-and-a-half, the pictures were terrible. The photographer only got two shots total for us to choose from. TWO! Now I realize that have two two-year-olds as subject matter isn’t the easiest assignment in the world, but COME ON! TWO SHOTS??? Emily and I were pretty unhappy to say the least. The one day, while strolling in the new outdoor section of our local mall, Emily discovered Portrait Innovations, and the heavens opened, and the sun shone down, and a rainbow appeared. Ok, all that really didn’t happen but it was a momentous discovery!

Portrait Innovations is a photography studio that uses open layouts, real ACTUAL state-of-the-art digital cameras (instead of a “clicker” remote-controlled camera like the one the horrible photographer at the horrible portrait studio used), and they have a lot of neat backgrounds and props for your kids to play with and get their picture taken with. Plus, they cannot accomodate up to 40 people in one photo! The aforementioned department store photogrpahy studio will only take up to seven, which meant once Sophia was born, my sisters-in-law and I had to find a new place to get our yearly picture of “the grandkids” taken for my mom. Of course, the new place we found (thanks to Emily!) is Portrait Innovations! The pictures turned out great, and the price is excellent! They have an all-the-time, no-coupon-needed portrait package for just $9.95 that includes the following:
One 10 x 13
Two 8 x 10′s
Four 5 x 7′s
Four 3 x 5′s
AND 32 WALLETS
Plus 6 greeting cards!

All for $9.95! No sitting fees or other fees except sales tax! And here’s the kicker: you get your pictures printed out in about 15-20 minutes. FITFTEEN MINUTES! I used to wait THREE WEEKS at the other portrait studio!! And of course, the pictures are fantastic! The family photo I included in this post is from Portrait Innovations. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be getting Sophie’s one year pics done there and I can’t wait! So head on over to their website and see if there’s one in your area! I’m so glad Emily found Portrait Innovations, because it SURE works for both of us! Here are some examples:

My family photo, May 2007

Sophia’s 6 month photo, May 2007

For more great Works for Me Wednesday tips, check out Rocks in My Dryer.