Rant on School Pictures

**xtena** · 05-16-2008, 03:17 PM

When did schools start pushing photos TWICE a year instead of just once? And when did they become so *darn* expensive?

I went ahead and purchased the fall pictures which included the 'class' picture. I did have a major STUPID MOMENT that cost me $25 extra. I had recently closed a bank account and hadn't shredded that check book. Like an idiot when it came time to write out the check for fall pictures I grabbed that book by mistake. Instead of just calling me when the check bounced (I would have driven straight to their office with cash in hand) the studio sent it to collections. But that was my fault so I can't get mad at the studio for that.

I can and did get mad about the following. When we got notification for SPRING photos I carefully explained to my daughter that we didn't need a second set of school pictures. Heck, the last batch is still sitting on the counter since I forgot to take it to my folks for Christmas (where I would have distributed to the relatives there) and never got around to mailing them out. We have a decent and very well used digital camera so it's not like this is a rare opportunity to have my daughter photographed like it was when I was a child! So I let her dress nicely on picture day but did NOT send in any money and told her to tell her teacher we did not want to purchase any spring pictures. The studio folks took her picture anyway, and yesterday she came home with a set of prints in her backpack!!! The teacher (no doubt forced to by the school) told the kids who had NOT opted to purchase Spring pictures to take them home anyway in case their parents changed their minds. Luckily there were no tears. Although my daughter was hoping I'd change her mind we had a gentle talk about how I thought it was 'wrong' of the school to try and guilt-trip parents into buying the pictures which are very expensive. I told her if she wanted to dress up in the identical outfit we could take a hundred pictures any time she wants, and print out the best ones for a fraction of the $44 asking price for these prints!

I walk my daughter to school each morning so I handed the pictures right back to the teacher and explained that I didn't think it was 'right' of the school or the studio to develop pictures and send them home when we had clearly opted out. Frankly I can afford them, but choose to spend the money on something else. What about the many parents who probably can't afford these pictures but felt guilty enough or pressured enough to cave in? Especially if they have multiple kids in school (we just have the one). It doesn't seem right.

**cissylu** · 05-16-2008, 03:21 PM

I so agree with you. they are so exspensive I quit buying them.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 05-16-2008, 03:25 PM

I'm pretty lucky here with DS #1 because his school doesn't charge me for the 'year end' class picture. I only get the bare minimum package when school pictures come up anyways, and I know DH is going to want to splurge when DS #2 goes to school. I think what we're going to do is start getting just one picture and buy the photo paper for at home. Our printer will also print out pictures so we can definitely save money that way.

I think you did the right thing.

**IntlMom** · 05-16-2008, 03:27 PM

I buy the fall only pictures....you know, the kind that we always had. I don;t buy the end of year pictures. Period, End of story. I only get the basics in the fall as well.
1 8x10 for me
2 5 x 7s for the g.parents
I think it comes with a class photo,......whoohoo
and a sheet of wallets

it's like 17.00. No extras, no fancy backdrops. just the basics, after all, that's all we had and we are still alive to tell about it!

**emily_hope** · 05-16-2008, 03:36 PM

The twice a year pics have gone on here ever since my two started school and one is a Freshman in college and the other is a Junior in HS. So there ya go. I buy, but buy the smallest package there is which usually runs about $12.

**G'MaDebbie** · 05-16-2008, 03:39 PM

I look at those spring pictures like I look at getting something in the mail I didnt sign up for...if they send it to me and I didnt request it, then its mine to keep for free!

**Nishu** · 05-16-2008, 03:44 PM

So what if one of hte little kiddies dropped the pictures in a mud puddle or accidentally lost them? I'd be a little ticked about them sending home a $44 package of photos that they're essentially holding you responsible for.

**YankeeMom** · 05-16-2008, 03:47 PM

I stopped ordering them years ago. Now I just take the kids to Kmart or Sears or JCPenny for pictures. It's cheaper than the schools and I have more control over what the pictures look like.

**lisettelovebug** · 05-16-2008, 03:55 PM

They didn't do this at ds's old school, but they do here. Why do they need pics twice a year? Plus they automatically send them home. So if you don't want them you have to have the kid bring them back to school. I think they're hoping that when parents see them they'll decide to buy them. that doesn't work with me. I send them back every time. What a waste that must be.

**halloweenfreak** · 05-16-2008, 04:15 PM

i buy both sets of pics, but i buy the littlest package i can get. im sure its copyright infringement or whatever, but i then make copies on my printer of whatever size i want. i splurged on a really good printer just for that. you cant tell the difference between the real pics and the copied versions and it doesn't cost me a fortune. but i cant belive they would send pics home hoping you'll cave in and buy them. sheesh.

**justpeachy92** · 05-16-2008, 04:30 PM

We have never bought the school pictures, they are expensive and in my opinion the quality isn't any better then what walmart does for much less. I do buy the class picture for my kids, so they have the photo of them with all their class friends.
It also ticks me off when they send the packages home hoping we will buy them. If they get damaged or we don't return them we will be charged for them.

**momof2joys** · 05-16-2008, 04:33 PM

My step daughter has her pictures done twice a year also, and we used to buy both sets, that was until we had the other two children. At the school here, they take the picture, send them home with the student then if you want to buy you can or if not then just send them back. I do hate that they waste all that material in printing the pics, but what can you do?? I did find out this year that they are using the "spring" photos as a fundrasier for the school, like they need another one of those!!! We no longer buy the set of pictures!!

**LuvMyHubby** · 05-16-2008, 05:36 PM

I don't know about the Spring pictures, at least it never happened in my DD"s school but I always thought school pictures were expensive even way back when.

**Nishu** · 05-16-2008, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by momof2joys

I did find out this year that they are using the "spring" photos as a fundrasier for the school, like they need another one of those!!! We no longer buy the set of pictures!!

The school photos are always fund raisers for schools. That is partly why they are so expensive.

And, in response to PP, scanning said pictures is usually copyright infringement and illegal.

**mickee311** · 05-16-2008, 05:58 PM

They had spring pictures when I was in school in the 80's and 90's.....It's nothing new here. I only buy them if one of the kids weren't there for the fall pics, which they charge $10 for retakes, regardless of if the child was there or not for them. It's ridiculous.

I have a brand spankin' new dSLR now, so I won't be doing that anymore. I actually bought seamless paper backdrops to do pics at home myself. Poop on them.