I am also wondering if I could get the CD with all the proofs? Paid 75 just for poses for DD's senior pics, and then the cheapest to buy some valets and two small pics was almost 200 dollar for one pose! Does anyone know if I can order proofs for all poses? I am about to give them a call, but I am sure that is a rip off too.

Anonymous wrote:It is a fund raiser for the school just like the over priced cookie dough/wrapping paper etc. Buy it or don't.

In MCPS? I have never Heard of it being a fundraiser. We buy the digital downloads. It’s the cheapest option.

Anonymous wrote:Just don't buy them. We take tons of great pictures of the kids in interesting places doing cool things. Who needs school pictures anymore.

Yup, this is us. Rarely are the pics good, especially if they slate them after PE!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a fund raiser for the school just like the over priced cookie dough/wrapping paper etc. Buy it or don't.

Woah. I read this post and thought it couldn't be true that schools make money off picture day, but they do!

https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/Money-Schools-Earn-From-Student-Portraits-Varies-Widely-369744951.html

Yeah, duh. They tell you straight up, it’s a fundraiser!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow! I had no idea but it makes sense to me. I hate those photo companies. The prices are exorbitant. The photos are always awkward and my son with glasses always has bad glare. For years I bought them out of guilt but I’m over it.

I really don't mind that it's a fundraiser, just... Choose a different company, and be more transparent.
I would rather have our small business photographer from preschool come, give him a fair shake, and then charge more so they school can make money too. The pictures would certainly be better.

I worked for a law school, and we tried this once. Horrible process and results.

Large-group portrait sessions are a specific skill set. You get what you pay for on a group scale. Herff-Jones FTW.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I buy the digital image, and pick only one. Done. Print as many copies as you need, in whatever sizes you want.

Unless you want huge pictures, you can buy just one 8x10, scan it on a good scanner or take a picture of it with a good camera, and do the same thing. A single 8x10 is usually cheaper than the digital image.

You are stealing, pure and simple.

Don’t say hack. You sound like you are throwing up.

I agree the cost is getting out of control. I finally gave up and now just hire a professional photographer for either fall or spring mini sessions. I get shots of each kid and some of them all together. In the end it’s about the same price and I have professional photos that we all love. Good luck!

I buy just the Class Photo. If the pictures turn out very good,then another one. That's it. We take pics every year at the studio so I don't want to pay for the singles when I can get them for $5 at JCP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didnt know you could do this but you can buy just the CD which is super cheap. They have it as an add on so I thought you had to buy a package then you could add it on. But I have a friend with a kid now in middle and a 1st grader and she said she has always only bought the CD. Genius.
This is not ripping off a photographer, the companies are ripping us off, the cost for public school photos is double what we paid for pre-k pics.

Who do you think pays the photographer? The company.

It’s stealing. Don’t do it. Take your own damn pictures if you don’t want to pay the professionals.

Ok, Madame photographer... we get it.
Isn't there a Sears portrait studio waiting on you?

Don't buy them if you don't want to. In a lot of ways, school photos are a relic - of the days when not everyone had a camera, when developing film was expensive, when getting a photo of a kid smiling at the camera on film was difficult and aided by a professional.

For me, they are a way to get a professional printed photo of my kid into my house. Because no matter how often I say I'll print some of the dozens of photos I take of my kids, I almost never do. But you have the tools (phone) available to you now.

And yes, the school photo companies are for-profit businesses and it is reasonable for them to cover their expenses, pay their staff, and make a profit at the work they do. If you want school pictures to be free, set up a photo booth at your school and charge parents "at cost" for you to have the photo professionally printed.

Anonymous wrote:Wow! I had no idea but it makes sense to me. I hate those photo companies. The prices are exorbitant. The photos are always awkward and my son with glasses always has bad glare. For years I bought them out of guilt but I’m over it.

I really don't mind that it's a fundraiser, just... Choose a different company, and be more transparent.
I would rather have our small business photographer from preschool come, give him a fair shake, and then charge more so they school can make money too. The pictures would certainly be better.

Wow! I had no idea but it makes sense to me. I hate those photo companies. The prices are exorbitant. The photos are always awkward and my son with glasses always has bad glare. For years I bought them out of guilt but I’m over it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a fund raiser for the school just like the over priced cookie dough/wrapping paper etc. Buy it or don't.

Woah. I read this post and thought it couldn't be true that schools make money off picture day, but they do!

https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/Money-Schools-Earn-From-Student-Portraits-Varies-Widely-369744951.html

Really? You thought the schools were opening their doors to a private company and disrupting education so you could have a nice photo of your child?
Why do you think your kindergartners have year books?

Anonymous wrote:It is a fund raiser for the school just like the over priced cookie dough/wrapping paper etc. Buy it or don't.

Woah. I read this post and thought it couldn't be true that schools make money off picture day, but they do!

https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/Money-Schools-Earn-From-Student-Portraits-Varies-Widely-369744951.html