Curious: School Pictures

supergrover · Guru

Curious: School Pictures

Alyssa · Guru

I always get the cheapest package. I only order cause I feel bad not--like I'm saying I don't want pics of my kid. Plus I want a pic of the class.

I don't have a lot of family to send pics to though so that helps.

I have only taken Ethan to get pictures done once when he was 6 months old. But he's gotten school pics since he was about 9 months because of daycare.

supergrover · Guru

Yeah, I figured for the least expensive package it would be worth $12 just so he got a picture envelope when everyone else did.

But for $70 more, I think I'll just get both kids done somewhere when a special comes up.

My RA actually just made me feel a ton better. I was mentioning pictures and she said "oh god, we never bought them. They were so expensive for not a lot of picture". I love her.

Cheap package it is.

Lucy · Senior Member

At Joe's school they have an a la carte order form, which I love so I just get an 8x10 and 2 5x7 for grandparents then I get the class pic. For Bel's school they did the package thing which I hate since we don't need 12 different versions of the same pic for $39 (we just don't send out pics to that many family members). I cant wait til Bel goes to Joe's school. Plus yes I have a problem paying all that money for pics when I think our Nikon is just as good at pics as the photographer's camera, plus I'm not fussed about posed pics.

Juni · Guru

Last year I ordered one of the "cheaper" packages. I think it was around 35 bucks. This year I actually looked at the ala carte and found out that was a better deal for me. I wanted at least 3 5x7's and 1 8x10 plus wallets. I could do those separately and paid about $25. It's still too expensive but I want those yearly pictures.

supergrover · Guru

I wish we had an a la carte option. Ours requires a package, and then there are a million add-ons which immidiately kill the price.

supergrover · Guru

Oh, and Juni- I agree that I think I would feel different if I intended to keep them in regular school. I would want that year to year progression to. But in reality, until much later if either chooses, these will be the last traditional school pics.

3s_a_crowd · Guru

I love how our school did it.

They do pics twice a year. But they take pics and send a bunch home with the student. Then you go through them take what you want and send the rest back with your payment. If you didnt return them it was added to your school bill.

CoffeeQueen · Guru

Does your school offer a cd? Mine does and we buy that and just print them.

Michele · Senior Member

OMG they are crazy expensive here too. No a la carte option or CD option either. If you want an 8x10 and 5x7's you are in the $60-75 range. I'm going the cheaper route too just so I have something for her 1st grade book. I found a photographer to take pics of the girls for me and she will give me the CD.

supergrover · Guru

CoffeeQueen wrote:
Does your school offer a cd? Mine does and we buy that and just print them.

The CD only comes with the $76 or higher package.

crazy.

CoffeeQueen · Guru

Ouch. Cannot believe how much all of your pic packages are. Our highest package is 33 and you get a ton. The cd alone is only 25. If I had those prices I would get basic.

Sonya · Guru

Wow, you don't get to see the picture first?

We don't pay anything to get the pics taken and then you can buy whatever package you want - when the proofs come home.

Ours is a fund raiser for the school so I don't mind paying a bit for them but I dont' think they ever came in around 70$.

Alyssa · Guru

3s_a_crowd wrote:
I love how our school did it.

They do pics twice a year. But they take pics and send a bunch home with the student. Then you go through them take what you want and send the rest back with your payment. If you didnt return them it was added to your school bill.

this is how they did it at daycare. I still ended up with the cheapest option. but I could choose the pic I wanted.

Michele · Senior Member

Alyssa wrote:
3s_a_crowd wrote:
I love how our school did it.

They do pics twice a year. But they take pics and send a bunch home with the student. Then you go through them take what you want and send the rest back with your payment. If you didnt return them it was added to your school bill.

this is how they did it at daycare. I still ended up with the cheapest option. but I could choose the pic I wanted.

Preschool was this way too but not school. You don't get to see them first. Thankfully Lauren's K pics were good. It's a gamble for sure but seriously robbery the way they charge. I'm going el cheapo because like I said I have someone to do our pics much cheaper and I'd rather have cute pics to give family in something other than her school uniform.

Juni · Guru

I definitely hate paying before seeing them but I always assumed if the pictures turned out bad I could contact the place and get a refund. It would be nice to see them before buying though.

crystal · Guru

Yep, I decided not to order them this year. I find it very annoying that they make you order it before you can even see if they are good.

CoffeeQueen · Guru

Do they not do picture re-take day at your schools? We get them and if you do not like them, they retake them for free.

sappy · Guru

melissa said exactly what we do.

i ordered the cd for caroline and mikey.

bennett's school just took pictures yesterday but they didn't have the cd option so i did a little a la carte thing and it ended up being $33

so ... $83 for my 3 kids. hmm but have a lot of family and i can print as many off the cd as i want. PLUS if they don't turn out well we can do retakes.

gogona · Guru

We got proofs first with two options so you could see whether you liked the picture or not.

I was not crazy about the picture but I ordered the cheapest package anyway.

It was $14.