Smile! Computerized Photography Takes The Suspense Out Of Holiday Family Pictures

WASHINGTON - Less than an hour after she arrived at Sears to have holiday photos taken of her small sons, Vicki Girdis was sitting at a computerized television monitor, selecting the shots she wanted.

Computer technology is new to traditional portrait studios. In the old days, she would have endured the shoot without a clue as to whether any of the photos would be any good. Three weeks later she would have returned to sit down again and examine several print packages.

But in today's world of microchips and milliseconds, she could watch each shot as it was frozen momentarily on a computer monitor. ("Oh, that's so sweet I'm gonna cry!") She could nod her approval to photographer Anita Stead, or ask her to reshoot the pose. A few minutes later, she could review all the poses on another monitor and order the ones she wanted.

If she couldn't make up her mind, she could purchase a color proof sheet to take home with her and phone in her order later. But Girdis did make up her mind. Instant success for her and, for Sears, instant money - about $42, in fact.

Sears, which claims about 20 percent of the U.S. portrait business, this fall introduced its computerized picture-taking - a $50 million capital investment - in 892 U.S. locations, including most of its department stores. Millions of customers will use this "portrait preview system" firsthand between now and Christmas at more than 1.6 million sittings, according to Rebecca Phoenix,

portrait training director. Other chain stores such as Kmart, Wal-Mart and JC Penney also have updated their technology to a certain extent.

And the mass market ain't seen nothing yet. Industry leaders say that within a few years, they will be able to enhance and retouch photos in ways that only the Liz Taylors of the world used to be able to afford.

Some private studios already offer sophisticated computer imaging. And some people are willing to pay an extra couple of hundred dollars for the perfect portrait.

Cindy Goldstein, owner of Brooks-Glogau Studio in Bethesda, Md., had one customer recently who took a look at her new family photos and observed that in her favorite shot, everyone looked great except her 14-year-old daughter who wasn't smiling. OK, said Goldstein, for $200 I can send your negatives to a lab where a computer can remove the head of your daughter in the pose in which she's smiling and put it in the place of the head where she isn't. Do it, said the mother.

Don Greenwood, a vice president of CPI Corp., the photo company that operates Sears studios, says CPI currently is testing similar services: taking separate photos of a sister in Florida and a sister in Oregon, for example, and putting them together in the same photo. Printing photographs on site, so the customer can get them on the day of the shoot, is also in the not-too-distant future.

-------------------------------- SOME ADVICE FOR PERFECT PICTURES --------------------------------

With babies and young children:

-- Bring items that will comfort and entertain - a blanket and stuffed animal, a toy, books. Also something to eat - a bottle, non-staining snacks.

-- A brush, diapers, washcloth and change of clothes are a must. "There's nothing more frustrating than a drool-stained lacy dress," says Phoenix.

-- If your child is old enough to understand, explain what is going to happen. Practice a sitting at home. Encourage your child to think of stories to tell the photographer. Above all, "be realistic about your children," says Cindy Goldstein, owner of Brooks-Glogau Studio in Bethesda, Md. "You may want a formal portrait but think first about making them comfortable."

-- Don't get rattled if your child starts to wail. Most photographers are used to crying babies and are able to stop the tears momentarily. If you tense up, your child is likely to also.

In general:

-- If taking a family portrait, coordinate clothing style (casual or formal) and, to a certain extent, colors and designs. Avoid busy patterns or lots of lace around the face. Avoid white socks and white shoes except on babies.

-- Schedule the photo session for the time of day that your children are at their best.

-- Find out the deadline for getting pictures back before the holidays. At Sears, it's about a week before Christmas; at more traditional studios, it's Thanksgiving.

-- Avoid scheduling a session on Saturday. Midweek is ideal, but even then you may have a wait as the holidays approach. With customers more involved in the photo shoot, individual sessions can take longer.

-- Be prepared for a hard sales spiel. For example, being able to view multiple poses gives you more choices, but it also means the photographer will try to sell you on more than one.