Professional Picture Help!!!

we use portrait innovations and they specifically told us that you really can't print them yourself from the cd...you can use the cd to post them to myspace or facebook or whatever you prefer, but if you try to print them it will be super blurry....think about it, why would they give you a cd with all your pics on it if you could just print them yourself...you wouldn't need to buy anything from them at all! We use the cd to show family in case they want any other prints we didn't choose from the shoot...

JB,

It's not a mistake or anything you are doing wrong. Professionals copyright their pictures. You are not paying for the c.d. to GET the copyright, you are paying for the c.d. to have a digital copy of their images. They intentionally make them grainy so that you can't make reprints of them. They own the pictures. So they expect you to come to them for reprints. It's all part of their "professional photography studio".

If you weren't informed of this, call customer service to complain that you want your money back for the cd. I think they market this "add on" without telling the whole truth just to make more money.

We have found that we can download the pics off their websites to have a digital copy without having to pay for the cds.

If you want a copy of your pics, technically you are supposed to go back to the studio or online to order more prints. You could take your print to a Kodak kiosk and make a "photocopy" also. However be advised, that this is not recommended as they are copyrighted. The kiosks usually say on them or near them that they are not intended to be used to duplicate copyrighted photos or materials. With that said, I know someone who did this for a family portrait and said the copy was great. I saw the duplicate and it did turn out very well. It wasn't 100% the same, but their logic was that they wanted an extra copy for a distant relative and the quality wasn't as important as saving the money on a reprint.

JB,

Have you tried to take the picture CD into the store for reprints? I have purchased 3 disc since my son was born and I have had no trouble getting extra prints. I use Ritz/wolf camera to get them printed, as well as printing them on my own computer/printer.

If not I would go back to Picture Peple and get your money back. Especially if you paid fee to get them on a disc wich is understood that you can print as many as you want.

I will say this; last time I took my son to JC'P I was not as happy with the way they turned out, so I will be doing my own picture taking from now on. They come out so much better than the ones at the store. I have a nice camera and I have a few programs on my computer to make some cute enhancements.

Good Luck we work hard for our money and do not need to get poor quality items.

I heard on the news that ritz camera is going out of business, so I don't know if that's happened yet. But we've always printed our pictures there with really good results. They're kind of pricey but may be worth it for your professional pictures.

We had the same problem when we bought the CD from JC Pennys, I think they are doing that to prevent you from getting a more "professional" reprint. If you find a trick to getting the pictures to come out clearly...please share!

I learned this the hard way too. When photography studios offer a CD of the session (for free or for an up-charge of $25, etc.) they are only giving you the low-resolution version. As another poster stated, you can use low-res versions of photos in emails, for facebook, myspace, etc. However, a low-res photo will not reproduce very well in any size larger than 3" x 5".

There is no way to convert a low-res photo into a high-res photo. You can't create more pixels from what you already have.

You can ask to purchase the high-resolution version and see what they say. I was given a quote of $400! Otherwise, you option is to purchase additional prints from the studio.