I'm in the wrong business (Senior pictures $$)

[Belle0101]

My friends had an appointment with a photographer yesterday to discuss Senior pictures ... I had no idea how much they cost! I have 2 DS, a 6 year old and an 11 year old - I'd better start saving.

The sitting fee is $375 for 7 outfits. I forgot what she said about the number of poses with each outfit.

The package they are looking at is $900 which is one of the cheaper ones. There's a $1500 package even.

5 X 7's are $75. I don't know what the others are, she didn't mention it.

Honestly I had no idea, it's been so long since I graduated (23 years to be exact) or knew anybody who had a child about to graduate. Plus a ring, yearbook, gown and cap, Open House ... college

 

[beckmrk04]

My senior pictures were about $500 total. We got lots of pictures, but even at $500, it was kinda pricey, but not over-the-top.

I think $900 is outrageous. I would shop around.

 

[liamsaunt]

Where do you live? That sounds really expensive to me. They're not getting married, they are just graduating! Believe me, high school pics are not worth investing that kind of money in. Your kids will look back, see what they were wearing (or not!) and stick them under the bed. Save the money for the wedding (or whatever pics!)

 

[Jillpie]

Somebody is ripping them off. I have a senior son this year and just went thru it. Spent 25.00 sitting fee and about 200.00 for the whole package. It really depends on what you need for the package and how many aunts and uncles you are generous to give to! I personally wanted 1 8x10, 3 5x7's and several wallets. Thats it! Nice and easy. Don't worry about the cost of everything, its not all at once. Now college applications, thats another story...

 

[Lanshark]

We just paid a $35 sitting fee for 3 outfits. Our package was $200 which included 4- 8x10;8 5x7; 8-3x5 and 30 wallets.

Now graduation announcements were pricy. I believe over $150 for announcements.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I paid $300 back in 1992. I had the big Jersey girl hair and all lol

 

[bballmom56]

Wow, that's a lot! I don't remember spending over $100 for DD's high school senior pix 5 years ago and they were beautiful! DS gets his done this summer - I guess we'll see how much it has risen. However, we did not order DD's college senior pix. They were outrageous in price and were not that good. As for college applications, we didn't pay any for DD (applied to 3 schools) and won't pay any for DS (applying to 4 schools) - many colleges waive the fee for either visiting or applying online. Be sure to ask at any schools they are interested in. You could save a bundle!

 

[disney4us2002]

Does she have a daughter because 7 outfits is A LOT!!!? I have a junior son, so we're looking at pics this summer. He'll probably do 3 outfits - gap/gown, suit, nice sweater. His best bud is graduating this year and his mom said pics were appx $400 but they ordered 100 wallets alone.

 

[minkydog]

Holy cow! We paid about $100 for portraits in ONE nice outfit(and I was lucky to get him into that ). My DD is only 13, but I can easily see her toting 7 outfits up there--she would need them, you know Just in case...

 

[Mary Anne]

Count me as a terrible Mom. I passed on the whole thing. I just couldn't see spending the kind of money they were looking for on just pictures. I just hate those pictures that look so stiff and formal.

For the price they wanted for pictues, I bought 4 airline tickets to Disney, have an "old" cap and Gown in the closet that I'm going to pack and have a WDW Photographer take his picture for $12.00 (or whatever the cost is LOL) in front of the castle.

That to me will be a priceless picture.

 

[Belle0101]

Yikes! My friend (the mom) assured me these were normal prices for this area. I don't know who gave her the idea that these were normal prices but now I think maybe I'd better suggest that she do some shopping around.

The $900 package she is planning to buy, they're keeping all those. I don't how many photos / sizes / poses are in that package but they're not to pass out to her DDs friends, aunts, uncles, grandparents etc. Anybody who wants pictures has to buy their own which is how the subject of the 5 X 7s came up. She isn't trying to be mean or anything, just that for what they want for their own selves it'd be $900 so they can't afford to pass out pictures.

We live near Fort Wayne, Indiana. Not anyplace high -falutin' or fancy schmancy ... just regular people in regular (albeit small) town.

We had invited them to Disney with us this year and they turned us down because of the picture prices. That's totally their business but like I said, I'll have to talk to her, I don't want to see them get ripped off.

 

[Belle0101]

For the price they wanted for pictues, I bought 4 airline tickets to Disney, have an "old" cap and Gown in the closet that I'm going to pack and have a WDW Photographer take his picture for $12.00 (or whatever the cost is LOL) in front of the castle.

That to me will be a priceless picture.

I love your idea!! I have several years before my kids graduate but I'll have to remember this.

I'm a bad mom too! I only ever buy the class pictures for my kids, elementary school. I take so many other pictures of them plus the price of school photos ... no thanks. Now if I could ever get caught up on scrapbooking

I'm thinking the $1275 at a min. they're spending on photos ... how long could I vacation at Disney? I love my kids but Disney ... I guess my priorities are messed up.

No seriously, aside from politely letting her know that other places may be cheaper then it really is their business how they spend their money. I just don't like thinking they may be getting taken to the cleaners.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I suddenly think I got the fuzzy end of the lollypop when I got the special of the week 7.99 deal at Target for my graduation pictures...

-em

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

We have a digital camera. We decided we will buy NO school pictures from the school anymore.

 

[Hannathy]

That's outrageous! Do you know how many college books that would be. Why does she need 7 outfits? I can see 2 cap/gown and street clothes. These senior pictures have really got out of hand this generation of parents really don't know how to say no. My Mom would probably still be laughing if I had said I was having pictures taken in 7 outfits. My nephew had his taken in one outfit his school blazer and tie end of story, nice picture. I also would be annoyed if my sister tried to charge me for a picture-I don't expect an 8x10 but for heaven sakes I think Aunts should be entitled to a 3x5 or 5x7. Skip a few outfits and spring for the aunts IMO.

 

[ksjayhawks]

That is a lot of money! And then to not give any out, but make people buy their own???

There are other options available--target, walmart, some kmarts. You can get a nice package with a lot of poses and pictures for $100 or even less if you don't need many and do the $5 (or so) package at WM. You'd even have pics to hand out!

 

[CarolG]

That's an awful lot of money!! I think we paid between $300 and $400 for DS's senior pictures last fall, and that included several poses, some in a tux, some in casual clothes. The package includes several 8x10's, 5x7s, 3x5s, and a huge stack of wallets.

Another vote for shopping around!

 

[motherhen17404]

My father's business was school pictures and I am in shock at the sitting fee price the OP listed. I was in charge of our senior department for 3 years, so I know what prices are like. The highest price we ever had for a sitting fee was $25 and if you ordered a package that money was put toward your package price. I think the most expensive package we had was $800 and that included a canvas 11x14! Even when I made my living doing school photos I thought it was nuts to spend all that money on photos. But if you think senior photos are outrageous you should see the prices people will pay for dance studio photos!

 

[Lynn CC]

My DS got his done last year at Sears, Before you think Cheap Looking Pictures, they were just the opposite!

He got to change outfits 3X, choose different backgrounds and several different finishes including Black and White. He got to go casual, dress w/ tie for college pics, school golf jacket, include his trumpet, etc.
He was there for about an hour and they were $100 total. I had enough 8X10's and every other size to please the whole family and his friends.

Sears is worth looking into, unless she wants a specific scene, like on the beach, which a lot of students got here on the Cape, I would try to save some money with a place like Sears, they did a terrific job and they can touchup the pics too!

 

[phorsenuf]

My DS got his done at Target. He said it was dumb to spend so much for senior pictures. They came out just as nice as the pricey ones and since he worked there at the time they only cost $25.00! LOL
We also did some nice family pics at Sears that were great!
That's the way to go. $900. for pictures is outrageous and I can't imagine anyone paying that.