Honestly I think "oh no....it's that time of the year again?!" When we receive the picture forms. I find self taken pics much more enjoyable to look at than these awkward portraits. Not to mention the offered packages are outrageously expensive. No offense to the photographers, I understand their time and expertise are valuable. When possible, we try to purchase one photo or the least expensive package. Last year for preschool, we paid $16 for a class photo and another $20 for a 8×10 graduation photo.
What do you guys think? Do you purchase any? I do feel like there is an obligation to purchase since they take every student's picture. I guess they do that so no one feels left out? Additionally, these pictures were like traditions, we would pass them out to family...but nowadays nobody really carry a wallet...okay speaking for myself.
You might also enjoy...
-
I purchase the school photos (preschool) for both my boys each year. The photographer they use is pretty good, and he takes the photos outside, so it's natural lighting and trees in the background, which I like. He has a digital package where you can get all the digital photos for around $50, which I think is a fair price. I make prints for the grandparents and I also add the pictures to the family photo album.
-
We purchased the bare minimum package up until high school for my step-daughter, so she has all of her elementary/jr high years, but we haven't actually displayed them, we did give out a few wallets to close family.
We do individual's when we take family photos so use those instead, and now I prefer to take my own with my DSLR anyways.I will probably do the same for my two littles, (cheapest package), and I do like having a class photo for them to look back on. I still have all of my elementary years!
-
At our preschool the smallest package was one individual photo and one class photo. It was perfect- I took a picture of it with my iPhone to send it to my family but didn’t need any additional prints or anything. And that was $16 I think, which I thought was very fair. Plus the pictures actually came out really good! I don’t know how he got adorable natural smiles out of my girl both years!
-
I do it for the memory book and the grandparents but it's not absolutely essential. The cheesy smiles make me laugh.
-
Our school photos are really reasonably priced ($38 for 2-8x10, 4-5x7, 2-3x5, 4 wallets). I put them up in our house and the grandparents want them too. We do family portraits with a photog every year too, but I think these are fun to have.
-
We purchase a small package - I think we got two 5x7 last year, which was her first year of school photos. We'll likely do the same for photo album/memory sake and to pass them along.
I think personal or other pro photos are WAY better but there's something about the school pic that is classic to me - even when it turns out poorly or there's a cheesy background or whatever. It captures my kid in a different light than I would and it's interesting to see that and to have to give to them someday. -
My oldest started Kinder last year, we purchased spring and fall pictures because they were really cute. But this year I think we will just do fall.
Our daycare also does pictures, I usually just buy the digital files. The photographer usually has a coupon code around holidays so I wait until then. My oldest was in pre-k when the baby started at daycare, they were able to get them together and I have the cutest pictures from it!
-
I buy them - I don’t usually love them and they’re too expensive, but I feel like it’s a tradition that I want to have. I don’t know. It’s purely something in my own mind.
-
Normally we purchase the school photos, but this year I will be going through a different company. Doing so will allow me to purchase singles rather than the packages, therefore saving some money.
-
I buy the class photo and the one 8X10 that is set up like a calendar. That's it.
These are fundraising events for the schools, so while I agree, they're kind of outdated feeling, I support the process.
-
@looch: good point. I feel like the school must be getting some sort of commission from it and that's probably why we've been getting something each year (2 preschool years so far) she's in kindergarten now.
I'm curious about what the school would get though. If they are more transparent in that aspect, we might consider more expensive packages as a way to help out. -
@josina: that's what we think, if we are on a budget, it'll be the class photo that we would purchase. I still have mine from 1st to 4th grade! And it's such good memories to look back at the faces, some I can only remember vaguely, some I can remember playing with, etc.
-
Growing up, my parents NEVER purchased the school pictures. There wasn't any room in the budget for crappy school pics. We did go to sears and get our pictures taken every Christmas, which was much more economical and better quality. Especially with our current photo-society, I cannot imagine purchasing school pics!
Free yourselves and don't purchase them!
-
My parents rarely purchased school pictures, and I'm a little bitter about it. They also didn't own a camera, and most of my childhood photos are from family and friends who occasionally visit. My upbringing plays a big part in the decisions I make, and I will always buy school picture for my kids (to make up for my lack of pictures). I will opt for the cheapest/smallest package or purchase just the file. We also have yearbooks ($20) and class photos ($10). It adds up, but I think it's worth it.
-
I purchase the cheapest package so far.
-
@Snowybreeze: Our school uses Lifetouch, and they provide a free class photo (printed with everyone's name, which I like for the memory-keeping purposes that other posters mentioned) to each child, along with the proofs they send home to encourage you to order (if you didn't pre-purchase). I'm also fairly sure you can get just the digital image for not a ton of money - $15 or $20 - and can make prints as you see fit.
-
I always buy them so far, but in daycare they’ve done seasonal ones and I think they’re cute! Like there was a pretty fall setup, and then a Christmas tree one. I do like to get the wallets for our families because both sets of parents cover their fridge in grandkid pics and the wallet size is perfect for that.
-
I've been teaching for 9 years and I'm not aware of it being a fundraiser at all. Almost none of our parents buy, but it is a Title 1 school. The pictures are used for IDs and the attendance/student records system.
-
Now that DD is elementary school we get the group class photo and sometimes one of her. They usually have a cheap option if you jist get a few prints without all the add ons
-
I always buy them, even if they are cheesy. I like to have the class photo and they are a fun souvenir of the age/class. Those are the only professional photos we’ve ever had of our LOs because I do a lot of photography and take portraits of them regularly.
-
I definitely try to get the class photos. Our preschool photos have typically been cute and they sell one sheet with the year, class photo and individual photo. The pic for kinder last year was really awful though! This year I’m expecting the same and planning on just the class photo. It’s kind of a fun snapshot in time.
-
I actually thought about offering up my “skills” at my daughters preschool and taking photos of her class. Do you think parents would think that is weird? Maybe meeting them at the park (which is a block from my house). I loathe the regular school pictures and they are SO expensive. I’d rather get a jpeg and print myself but maybe not everyone feels that way
-
I would happily purchase affordable options, but at our daycare, the only option was to buy each digital photo individually - and they were $30 each! To buy one picture and the class picture would have cost me $60, which I can't justify when they're not good photos.
-
@Littlebit7: I would personally LOVE this!
-
I always get them - I like that they are “old school” and not professional pics
Ours are cheap though - I get
2 8x10
2 5x7
4 3.5 x5
16 wallets
32 miniFor about $20
-
Yes, I purchase the least expensive package that includes a class photo, a few prints (for grandparents), and a digital download.
-
I always order them - not a big package but with the digital download. I like seeing how they change each year. To me, they are traditional memory photos!
-
Lifetouch offers the option to put together a yearbook (using their files and software) that the PTO can then turn around and sell. That's how it's a fundraiser. AFAIK, there is no kickback that the school gets from sales of the individual student packages.
We also offer a professional portrait session, that time is donated by a parent that is also a photog. You can purchase a time slot for $30 and we offer it in the fall. This is completely separate and the school community goes nuts over it.
-
@Littlebit7: our preschool has been a profession parent photographer the last 3 years. my friend did it previously too, but it's a big undertaking!
-
@birdofafeather: That was my thought. It might end up being more work then I’m anticipating
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
30 comments