DS didn't bring the school portrait envelope home

[3boymthr]

before they took pictures last week. The school sent out a notice reminding us to send them in the night before indicating that without the envelope we couldn't get pictures. I was very upset until he brought home the envelope after the fact and I saw the prices. The cheapest package to get the two 8x10 I need was $84

Is it just me or have school picture prices gotten totally outrageous in the last couple of years. Two years ago I paid just $34 for the same package that's now $84.

 

[brymolmom]

WOW - that's a lot. Are you sure your options are ONLY packages?

With ours - we have packages and 'add-ons' where we can add, for example, an extra 8 X10 for $10 or $12...I always need extra wallets - so I get one of the cheapest packages that include the class photo (for their scrapbooks) and then add on a sheet or two of wallets for $10 a sheet. I think my total was $36.

You should call the photo company and ask if they have add-ons. OR you should talk to your school (and get other parents to do the same) to get a different provider who offers more options.

 

[torinsmom]

I just bought my son's and it was $51 for 1-8x10, 2-5x7s, 4-3 1/2x5's and 4 wallets

 

[katybugsmom]

That is extremely expensive! What company does your child's school use? We use Lifetouch at our school-I purchased my son's pictures package for $28-this includes 2 5x7's, 4 3.5x5's, and 8 wallets. My DD's pictures were about the same even though it was a different company.
I would also call the company and make sure the prices were correct and not a mis-print. Good luck!

 

[gillenkl]

Once my kids got in 1st grade I stopped buying the school photos. The price is just too expensive and we don't have very many relatives to send them to anyway. Now we just use a nice family shot from our disney vacations in our christmas cards.

 

[RitaE]

I quit buying for a couple of years because they were just too expensive and terrible pictures. Much better and cheaper photos at Sears and Penney's etc.

A couple of years ago my kid's school dropped Lifetouch and started bringing in a local photographer. She's there a whole week and just does a couple grades a day and the pictures are always really good. Her cheapest package is $25 and she says go ahead and copy and print if you want but I hope you come to me for your family Christmas portraits and if you happen to know of a wedding, I do those too.

I think she's come up with a pretty good business plan there.

 

[mom2val]

Our most expensive package is : $35 and you get 2- 8x10's, 2- 5x7's,
2 3x5's, 4 - 2x3's, 16 mini wallets and your choice of a bonus add on of either 1 8x10, 2 5x7's, 8 2x3's or 16 mini wallets. Quality is crap though

 

[riley2008]

Just an FYI that I didn't know until recently. The school usually signs a contract with the photographer and gets a portion of the pictures - 20%-40% is standard.

 

[VirataMama4]

I must say I was shocked when I saw the prices for our kids' school pictures.
My SDS's, in 6th grade in Oregon, were the cheapest at $17... Then came my SDD, who is in kindergarten in Oregon, her's were $45, this did include shipping since we had to have them shipped to Maryland. My DD, 7th grade in MD, came in at $61.

We got roughly the same "package" for all the kids. 2-5x7s, 4-3x4 and something like 12-2x3s...

 

[Poohbear5]

My kids are older so I have not gotten photos in the past two years, but Target always had coupons for $10 1 8x10, 2 5x7s, 4 3.5x5 and ton of wallets for $10 with no sitting fee. It's definitely easier to just buy the school portraits but the price makes it a MUCH better value to lug the child up to Target after school twice per year or on a Sat. morning. I usually got their photos done in the fall and again in the spring.

We even got prom photos after they were dressed for the prom and saved a TON on the ones they sell at the dance.

We did senior portraits at Target and had a great photographer. Each child got a ton of photos for about $30 vs. all of their friends who spent $300+.

Lifetouch runs the studio at our local Target.

 

[neatokimmo]

Our last set was $15 a sheet, so 1 8X 10, 2 5X7s etc. Olan Mills came to school.

For about $23, I can take her to Olan Mills and get 6 sheets plus the big 16 by something picture using a promo coupon. I don't see why school is so expensive when its the same company.

 

[3boymthr]

The portraits are taken by Lifetouch.

I need 2 8x10s 2 5x7s (me and three sets of grandparents) 8 wallets (DH and the grandparents and BIL) and 6 of the middle size photos for the Great Grandparents and my DB & SILs. The smallest package that has the needed photos was $84. It also came with about 64 other smaller pictures and a DVD. I really don't need all those little pictures, but buying a smaller package and buying up to get the 8x10s or 5x7s or middle pictures was just as expensive as it was about $15/sheet as an add on or $20/sheet if you didn't buy a package.

But now while I'm SOL on the school photo as they absolutely won't take the money for the pictures after the fact I'm actually doing a happy dance that he didn't have the envelope - I just got an e-mail from penney's for $3.99 portrait sheets plus free sitting and free 8x10. So his pictures are going to cost me about $20

 

[torinsmom]

We use Lifetouch and from other posts, it seems like the rates vary widely. I don't understand it at all!

 

[kasdancer]

Our school uses Lifetouch too. I always choose the CD for $24. You get the rights to the pictures and when you open the CD they actually have the picture set with about 20 different backgrounds. You get so many more choices with all those backgrounds, some even have the year in a border. I then go to my local Sam's Club and get 8x10 for about $1.99. The quality of Sam's prints are great and it is so much cheaper to just buy the rights for $24.

 

[3boymthr]

Wow! to add insult to injury on the prices for Oldest DS's photos I was just handed the pricing page for the younger two kids - now their school uses a different studio - and we won't get any of the silly little pictures (Lifetouch called them mini wallets and exchange photos) and no DVD but to get what I need is $34 for the package and it comes with 16 Wallets instead of 8 plus $8.50 for the extra middle size pictures.

Hmmmm, would it be bad to only send wallets to the SILs????

 

[mdrob214]

With Lifetouch, I paid $15 for a package including 1-8x10, 2-5x7, 2-4x5 and 8-wallets. Sounds vastly different! The kids get their school ids as well (Jr High and HS) For that price I always get them--I never know if they'll be good ones, of course, but they were worth it this year!

 

[herdtoDisney]

My younger kids' school uses Lifetouch-the cheapest package was $42! I passed-and will hit Walmart for pics. I even did this last year for my oldest ds' senior picture-the school had some expensive outfit come in and take the pic for the yearbook, and to buy it was over $200!!! Walmart did a better job anyways, although you could not substitute it for the yearbook pic.

I have five kids and this picture stuff can get outrageous!

 

[mamalle]

Just pulled my lifetouch paperwork out of the trash..
I think they are too expensive.. for one 8x10, 2 5x7, 4 3x5 ad 8 2x3 comes to $33.00. I normally wait till the spring photos when I get to see them prior to paying for them..

 

[Maddle]

Hmmmm, would it be bad to only send wallets to the SILs????

No - it would not be bad...not if I were your sister-in-law, anyway. I guess I can't speak for them.

Frankly, I would prefer a wallet. How many pictures of my nieces and nephews do I need? Heck - how many pictures of my OWN kids do I need?A wallet sized I can put in my purse, and pull it out on occasion and think of them and smile...and maybe show it off now and then.

Just go to Penney's.

mj

 

[torinsmom]

SIL's would probably get nothing from me. The 8x10 and 1 wallet for me, sis and mom get the 5x7s, ex(his dad) will get a 3 1/2x5 and a wallet and ex's mom will probably get the other 3 1/2x5. That leaves 2 wallets to give to others. I will most likely be getting other pictures taken at Sears or somewhere.

I can't believe the difference in prices for the same company. Sounds like someone paid $15 for the same package I paid $50 for!