Each week, our resident Couponista, Amy Leneker, shares her personal shopping experiences and extreme couponing tips so that you too can be a Coupon Expert!
I am almost as crazy about pictures as I am about coupons! I love taking pictures and giving pictures as gifts, too. And of course, I always use coupons!
Know When to Splurge on Professional Photography
One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was to know when to splurge on photographs. My husband and I spent a mini-fortune on our wedding photos and, to this day, I am so glad that we did! We also splurged for several sessions with a professional photographer after our children were born. The photos are priceless and I am glad we spent every penny.
Know When to Save with JC Penney
It’s also important to know when to save! After our son was born I took him to JC Penney for photos each month until he turned 1. Each and every time I never spent more than $10. How? By using coupons!
JC Penney regularly advertises in BabyTalk, Parenting and other magazines. They offer a photography 
package for only $7.99, and no sitting fee. Note: you do NOT need to pay to join their photo club—with coupons you will never, ever pay a sitting fee!
The key is to find one pose you like, because you are limited to one pose per package. For less than $10 each month, I got a ton of photos, including enough for my son’s baby book, and plenty to send to relatives, too.
Plus there is one other important perk to having photos taken in a department store: If you need a quick change of clothes for your child, you’re in the right place!
Save Big on Prints from Shutterfly
Before I order prints, I always check Ultimate Coupons for Shutterfly coupons. The free shipping coupons are my favorite. Shutterfly is a great place to order other photo gifts (like photo books) and greeting cards, too.
Don’t Forget Costco
When thinking about photos, don’t forget Costco. They offer great deals on photo enlargements and canvas prints. While their everyday prices are great, they will often run coupon deals on photos as well.
I especially love Costco for their photo greeting cards. They offer 50 photo greeting cards for only $14.99. I have yet to find a deal as good as that! Plus each year they offer new design options. One tip: order cards online and just pick them up at the warehouse. Of course you can have them shipped to your home, but I’m never willing to spend money on shipping. Besides, there is always something I need to pick up at Costco!
So whether you need to just order a few prints, or need hundreds of holiday cards, deals are out there and waiting for you. Say Cheese!
