Sears wouldn't take our family portrait while nursing

[Photochef]

I don't know what I was thinking taking a 3 week old, a two year old, and my partner and I for a family portrait...

We had called the day before and asked about the hours for the portrait studio, and whether they took appointments. Well the hours they gave us were wrong, we showed up at 10, and they didn't open until 12. We walked around for 2 hours waiting. At 12pm we walked up to the counter and were informed that they had appointments coming in at at 12, 12:30, and 1pm and had no openings for a few hours. Since the 12pm people didn't seem to be there yet, we asked if we could just take a few pictures really quickly since all I really wanted was the 4 of us together. They agreed, but by then the baby was waking up and really wanted to eat. The photographer took a few pictures of my daughter and this prop and that background and I was bouncing the baby trying to get him to stay calm so we could take the family pic and leave. I started to nurse him and then asked if they could just take our family picture with him nursing, it's not like I wouldn't want to remember that ...

Nope, they would not. So it was a frustrating day with one sort of okay picture of all of us - with an unhappy baby and a fed up toddler and two parents who were kicking themselves for trying such a foolish act in the first place. That is the first place I have hit a wall as far as nursing. ugh. It would have been great, IMO to have a calm family picture with a nursing baby - it's not like anything shows, we are really good at NIP.

~sigh~

[LittleBlessings]

:
I am so sorry you had to go through this. Most photographers I know do not mind taking pictures of a nursing baby.

[KimberlyD0]

I don't think they're allowed. I know here they're not allowed to do even a bare belly shots while pregnant even, nursing shots are not allowed either. Although they have no issues with you nursing there, they waited 20 min for me to nurse DD#2 once. Sorry it was frustrating for you. Taking pictures at any stage is hard, but especially when they're so new. We had to find the best time for the girls which seems to be first thing in the morning. Even now with them older if we try to do it in the afternoon I have crabby kids.

Something to being up to the main office I would think. We sent a message to them about the belly shot too. I don't think the individual stores themselves have any control over it. It was like that with picture development for a while too, they couldn't print photo's, and it took time and some letters and its changed, or at least it has here, because I printed up my nursing photo's and had no issues with them.

[Equuskia]

I would recommend you post in FYT, to see if there is a photographer that could come to your home to take pictures, or if they have a studio, and let you take nursing pictures or whatever pictures you want. My husband is a photographer, and he would have no problem doing bare belly shots or nursing pictures. I know there are other photographers that do the same, and visit people in their home because it's easier for the children.

[mama516/419]

I use to take my kids there ( before I fell in love with Kiddie Kandids ) and when did was getting her 1 year shoots done I wanted to wear a big tu-tuu and big bow , but no shirt and they said I was lucky we went there 2 days before her first birthday becouse at the first birthday they refuse to let them do shirtless girls . I guess that makes sence in some ways - they shouldnt be able to do shirtless 7 year old girls but 1 year and 1 day ???Oh well

[jimblejamble]

I would refuse to pay.

[KimberlyD0]

Originally Posted by JessicaRenee

I would refuse to pay.

Only problem with that is that its not really a loss to them, and it would be to the costomer since they then wouldn't have the pictures.

[the_lissa]

I don't know what part of Ontario you are in, but here, Sears does bare belly maternity pictures. They even have big ones up on the walls.

But yeah I don't know of anything Sears that will do nursing photos.

[KirstenMary]

Originally Posted by JessicaRenee

I would refuse to pay.

I disagree with this. The service was rendered, and she needed to pay for it. It was her choice to wait and her choice to go ahead with the pictures.


OP, I really think that it was a crummy situation, but I know that a lot of "chains" like that have shirtless/ BFing policies. Next time, maybe make an appointment - then you won't have to wait around for hours and risk cranky kids. And believe me, I know how cranky kids can be (waiting in line for Santa was nothing short of a nightmare).

[ramama]

Originally Posted by KirstenMary

I disagree with this. The service was rendered, and she needed to pay for it. It was her choice to wait and her choice to go ahead with the pictures.


OP, I really think that it was a crummy situation, but I know that a lot of "chains" like that have shirtless/ BFing policies. Next time, maybe make an appointment - then you won't have to wait around for hours and risk cranky kids. And believe me, I know how cranky kids can be (waiting in line for Santa was nothing short of a nightmare).

Generally, at Sears, you only pay for the prints, so if you don't like the pictures, you don't pay. If the pictures, suck, then services weren't really rendered. Technically, there's a sitting fee, but they are literally always running some special where you don't have to pay a sitting fee. We've been there dozens of times and never had to pay a sitting fee.

I say don't order prints and just go somewhere else. It would be very awesome to have planned BF pictures (different from BFing so that baby will cooperate). Maybe call around and see if any studio does them, or if a particular photographer is comfortable with that. For me, I can only afford the "studios" like Target and Sears and JC Penny, so I'd call them (well, obviously not Sears LOL) and see if you can get a BF picture done there. I'd love a private session with a photographer, but that will never be in my budget!

[jocelynr]

Originally Posted by ramama

. For me, I can only afford the "studios" like Target and Sears and JC Penny, so I'd call them (well, obviously not Sears LOL) and see if you can get a BF picture done there. I'd love a private session with a photographer, but that will never be in my budget!

You may be able to find a student photographer or someone who's looking to build a portfolio. Look on craigslist or your local university!

[vegemamato]

Unfortunetely, that's how it goes with places like Sears..

We had a similar experience with Olan Mills (who is now a part of K-Mart) when my youngest was a baby. We went ahead with the pics (2 days old, 1 mos old, 2 mos old, 3 mos old and 18 mos old) because we had free 8 by 10 coupons.. We never bought the package, just kept the freebies

They really are ugly pics- minus my adorable babe. The backgrounds were cheesy, they never managed to get 'good' shot and the staff was intolerable- but I didn't have my own camera, so there ya go

Now we take our own photos and occasionally cruise craigslist for photography students looking for experience. We haven't actually gone through with any yet (since we have an awesome digital- thanks to mil!) but we are going to do some next month (since we're moving far, far away from our families).

"Real" studios are also more concerned with beauty and creativity, rather than just making money and following corporate guidelines. I would assume that breastfeeding/loving/natural photos would even be encouraged..

Hopefully your family will have more fun next time!

[frontierpsych]

hmm... can they take a picture of a mom giving a baby a bottle?

[2lilsweetfoxes]

Originally Posted by frontierpsych

hmm... can they take a picture of a mom giving a baby a bottle?

I would not be surprised. The "rule" is in place, from my understanding, to prevent accusations of "abuse" or "child pornography".

[pjs]

I've pretty much always had disastrous experiences with Sears bf'ing aside so I try and avoid them at ALL costs.

[KimberlyD0]

Originally Posted by frontierpsych

hmm... can they take a picture of a mom giving a baby a bottle?

Would anyone want too?? I mean at least to me that seems pointless.

I just go with the rule (no matter where I go) that I feed before the shoot so its not an issue.

[Phoenix~Mama]

Originally Posted by 2lilsweetfoxes

I would not be surprised. The "rule" is in place, from my understanding, to prevent accusations of "abuse" or "child pornography".

Seriously? They really think BF falls under this??




This is crazy, I don't get why there would be such a policy. Some of the best artistic photos I have seen is a Mom nursing. They are so precious!

[kriket]

Originally Posted by JSMa

Seriously? They really think BF falls under this??

nak

i can see some crazy saying the camera man *made* her nurse for the pic so he 'could see her breast'

if the world wasn't insane things would be easier. I would call a 'real' photographer. IMO those sears/kmart/target studios are more hassle then they are worth.

[polishprinsezz]

here is a pic of me breastfeeding done at sears in port charlotte florida. my sil worked there and took this image. she also got a verbal discapline for taking it.

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...mageID=4195849

[jocelynr]

Originally Posted by polishprinsezz

here is a pic of me breastfeeding done at sears in port charlotte florida. my sil worked there and took this image. she also got a verbal discapline for taking it.

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...mageID=4195849

Beautiful! Sorry your sister got a warning from it. Adorable baby!