Experience with local portrait studios (Raleigh, Durham: professionals, price, budget)

[dcgrl]

My mother has requested a family portrait for Christmas (pic of my family for a gift for her). So far, we have resisted "portraits" by "professionals"--we've been happy with the snapshots we take--mostly only of our kid because we are no longer photogenic.

So, what local portrait studios have you had a good experience with? We are looking for budget, and while we would rather pay an actual photographer with an independent studio, we can't afford it right now.

We're in Durham, but could probably head to Raleigh or Cary if the options there are measurably better.

[NCSUDisneyGirl]

I have had wonderful luck with Portrait Innovations, and there's one right there at Southpoint. It's in the section across the street near Best Buy, etc. The only time we didn't do well there was because DS (who was right at 12mos) was having a bad day, totally not their fault. They offer a $9.99 package, although we typically spend more. I think you can get out of there for a reasonable price, especially if you're good at turning down what you don't need.