Senior Portraits...

[Tinker'n'Fun]

How much did you pay?? DD brought home the paperwork and we are scheduling her session in the next couple of weeks. The photographer recommends that they get their hair professionally done and makeup is complimentary by a MaryKate specialist. Packages start at $80.00 but most have a minimum purchase around $250.00 to $300.00....

So what did you pay, and what kind of packages did you get??

Thanks, Diane.

 

[S. C.]

Thank you for asking this question. Just found out today that grandson who will be a senior next year needs to get his senior pics taken soon.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Thank you for asking this question. Just found out today that grandson who will be a senior next year needs to get his senior pics taken soon.

No problem, hopefully this won't be us after the replies..!

 

[Justanopinion]

I had a graduate in 05, 07 and 08.

In 05 the lowest priced package was $350.

In 07 we went through a different company and paid $425.

In 08 we went through another company and paid $800.

Sr. pics depends on how many you want, how many clothes changes you want, if you go through the school's company or another company. There are a lot of different factors.

I also know kids who just went to local parks and pretty areas, took pics, and then went to Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart can put their names and Sr. year on wallet size pics.

 

[powellrj]

Our cheapest package was right around $500. I am sorry I got it. I am now sitting on lots of wallets that kids don't pass out anymore. It seems with facebook, kids just don't pass out wallets like the use to.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am ashamed to admit we did not get a SR Portrait Pkg. The place we got the pic's for the yearbook were awful and I refused to buy their pkg.

I think that I am going to go to Sears or JCPenney's and get pic's there. I can still do it right?

I am still toying with doing my own.

 

[pyrxtc]

Do you ahve to go thru the school photographer ? If not look around at some local photog's. I offer a $160 package on location of your choice, with that you get $140 in credit or it's $60 for the session and no credit. You would pay for gas and/or travel time to locations beyond 30 minutes away.

A lot of smaller photog's have similiar packages.

 

[tar heel]

We've paid around $300 twice (two kids) and like, powellrj, have a lot of photos we'll never do anything with.

I can't imagine girls having their hair and make-up "done" for this being a good thing. I would think they would end up having photos that looked like glamour shots instead of themselves. We just got a senior photo in a grad announcement from one of the most beautiful young women I know. I'm not sure if I didn't recognize her b/c it's been three years since we saw her or because she had on so much make-up, especially eyeliner. It never even occurred to me that she might have had her make-up done professionally.

I know I'm an old fogey who just has boys, but I really hate to see young girls do that. Like extreme thinness, I think we've sold them the notion that they have to do a lot of make-up, get their hair highlighted, etc., to look good.

For that matter, us parents have been sold the idea that we have to spend hundreds of dollars on senior portraits, haven't we?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Do you ahve to go thru the school photographer ? If not look around at some local photog's. I offer a $160 package on location of your choice, with that you get $140 in credit or it's $60 for the session and no credit. You would pay for gas and/or travel time to locations beyond 30 minutes away.

A lot of smaller photog's have similiar packages.

Nope...you can get pic's anywhere. You just have to go and do the SR portrait sitting for the yearbook pic.

 

[tar heel]

As for whether you need to have the school photographer . . . For your own photos, obviously not. For the yearbook one, probably. At our school, you can have a yearbook photo made after school starts for free. It will just be the one formal picture in a tux or drape, and there's no obligation to buy them. Senior portraits made elsewhere do not get in the senior section of the yearbook. I'm not sure what happens if a kid moves in during the school year, though.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

For that matter, us parents have been sold the idea that we have to spend hundreds of dollars on senior portraits, haven't we?

Not me....My mom is totally pissed at me.

I don't know....with the age of digital photos, sr. portraits are just not the same, you know?

It better be a damn good pic for me to spend a chuck of change. Which hers SUCKED. It was a cattle call with seniors lined up. The photographers didn't care and it showed.

 

[SomePixiedust]

We just received a letter from the studio that will be doing DD's senior portrait with the date and time of her appointment....apparently they schedule everyone and send you the schedule. There was no mention of prices, when we get the proofs we will get a catalog with package choices. They did say in the flyer not to try out a new hair style or new make-up for the portraits as you do want everyone to know who you are when they look back years from now.....you want to look like "you"

 

[MaumeeMom]

PARTIAL

In 08 we went through another company and paid $800.

Wow! That is more than I spent on our wedding pics! I can't imagine what it will be when my kids are Seniors. I better start saving now.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If I could turn back time, I would have gone to Sears or Penney's or somewhere else to get a portrait sitting over the summer for you folks with incoming Seniors.

That way when the portrait place wants to committ hwy robbery on you, you will have a backup.

Esp. if it turns out like my dd's pics....they really were not worthy of spending the money on them.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Wow! That is more than I spent on our wedding pics! I can't imagine what it will be when my kids are Seniors. I better start saving now.

It more than we spent on wedding photos too

Way back when in the dark ages when I went to school we could have anyone take our portrait that appeared in the yearbook--we just had to hand in a proof with a signed release from the photographer (saying it could be printed in the yearbook) by a certain date. Not having to use the studio the school contracted with was one of the "perks" of being a senior.

I agree that having hair and make-up professionally done seems like the photos will not look "right."

 

[NMAmy]

I second the recommendation to find a local photographer. Have your child get recommendations from friends who graduated this year.

DD had two separate sittings in outdoor locations and had several changes of clothing for each sitting. It only cost about $300 and the photographer gave us a cd with all the photos. And her photos were fantastic.

 

[taximomfor4]

My dd needs to get hers done this summer as well. She told me yesterday she'd rather just go to Sears or JCPenneys photo studio and get some pix done. She's never really bought into all the "big" high school events. She opted to not have a class ring (wants to attend a summer orchestra camp instead).

So I guess we'll be paying what ever the current Sears Photo Studio Package Special costs. $9.99 or $19.99, I forget.

 

[monkey68]

Eek! I can't believe all of that, it's crazy prices! When I graduated high school in 2002, they had a photographer come to the school for a few days, and based on your last name is the time you had to come down and get your pictures. We only ended up paying something like $15 for an 8x10 photo, and then we took it to a photo place and they made copies of it for the grandparents.

For college, lets just say I learned a little photoshop by that point, so when they sent us the proofs, I was able to fix it myself

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I think we have to go to the "school photographer" for her actual portrait that is in the yearbook. They provide a "certain" top for the girls to wear. So everyone has the same top on. I just went through her yearbook from this year and every single girl had the top on. I totally agree on NO GO to the make-up and hair and hopefully DD will not disagree. Now to the next step, where does one find "pearls" to wear that don't look cheap and will not break the bank?? I was thinking about asking one of our neighbors to borrow some...

 

[RichNKatHolly]

WOW, that is crazy expensive. Who knows what they will be when my kids get to that stage.

Honestly, I cannot imagine having prof. hair and makeup done for senior pictures. Don't the kids want to look like themselves? I didn't even have pro stuff for my wedding let alone senior pictures - I would not have looked like "me".

I'm sure she has to sit for the yearbook photo, but you can have some great pics done on your own for much, much less.