School Pictures...Pay BEFORE seeing the proofs?

[disneybound2010]

Ok, this is my first time having a child with school pictures, but I do remember having my own done and I have NEVER heard or just blind ordering. DS's school expects me to pick the options, choose the package and then send in the money BEFORE I even get to see if the pictures come out nicely Since when did this become the norm? We always got proofs to pick from before ordering. What if the pictures are horrible and he needs a retake? Do they even do that anymore?

I'm sure I saound all ranty and yeah, I am kind of ranting, but packages are around $60 and that's a ridiculous amount to spend when you don't know what you are getting!

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Ours have always been this way. We pick a package and pay before the pictures are taken. I hate it, but that's the way it is.

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

I have always had to do that in school.
If you needed re-takes, you would turn back in your photos at the time of the re-take and when the new photo came out you would get those.

I hate it because what if the original is better than the retake?

 

[disneybound2010]

I'm just surprised by it is all. My nephew had his taken last year(different school in the county) and they sent home proofs BEFORE asking for money. I guess that's how they guarantee their money regardless of whether the parents are satisfied or not.
When I called and inquired about it, the secretary seemed surprised that I would even question spending that amount of money blindly.

 

[jrmasm]

That's the way it's always been done around here. Dating back to the 70s....

 

[Pigeon]

Ours are like that. I've stopped getting them. What I think is even wierder is that they do school pictures twice a year here. The ones in the fall are the mug shots that you can buy but also go in the yearbook. In the spring they do additional packages where you can pick a pose. I can get much nicer pictures done at a photography place for about the same money.

 

[allison443]

All of our pictures are like that-pay in advance and no choice of proofs. I don't know if they even take more than one picture of each child. School and sports are this way.
The only exception was senior portraits, we got a choice of proofs to pick from.

edited to add, for some reason our kids' sports pictures (basketball, soccer, and softball) often came out better than their school pictures. Maybe the kids were more relaxed?

 

[dodukes]

I remember mine were alwasy like that.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Ours were like that when I was in school (in Texas and Colorado) and the kids had the same thing in Michigan. I did not buy the school packages and went to Target instead. Better photos for less money and I could see the proofs.

 

[tlbwriter]

Ours are usually like that, but I think one year they took the photos first and then we ordered a package from the proofs.

 

[briannesmom]

Our are like that too. We have the option of ordering more pictures later so I just buy the cheapest package and if I really like them I can order more.

In preschool the company they used sent proofs home. They found they were losing money because people would just scan and print them at home and return the package.

 

[disneybound2010]

Looks like my previous experience was in the minority then! I think what I will probably do is order the smallest package and then if I want more, I will just take him to Olan Mills. I can spend the same there and pick what I want.

Thanks to all who clued me in

 

[ICF]

Even back when I was in school 30 years ago, we paid up front....same way today for my kids.

 

[fairestoneofall]

we don't pay up front here.

and when i do school pictures for a few local preschools, i do not have them pay upfront until they've seen proofs.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Welcome to the reality. You order before proofs. It is stupid. Unless it is spring pictures in which they send you sheets home and then you pay for what you want. I always get the magnet sheet no matter how bad the pic's are.....

Which reminds me, retakes were yesterday crapola. Oh well.

 

[minniebeth]

The ones in the fall are the mug shots that you can buy but also go in the yearbook.

That's exactly what my DH calls school photos!

edited to add, for some reason our kids' sports pictures (basketball, soccer, and softball) often came out better than their school pictures. Maybe the kids were more relaxed?

I agree! Although, a different photographer does our kids' sport pictures, so maybe that makes a difference.

We just had school pictures last week. I cannot believe how much the packages costs anymore! And yes, we also order blindly ahead of time.
I personally don't get that in today's digital age why they can't take the pictures, put them online and have parents order off there. If the pictures are good, I would think more parents would order, or order more. I still can't believe photo companies get away with charging what they do for junky, junky pictures. At least this year, my kids will get a real class photo, in the past they've just been composites of each kids' individual photos put together.

Last year, pictures AND retakes were taken in the height of H1N1 outbreak and EVERYONE's photos were horrible, most couldn't do either original date or make ups.

 

[KristinU]

When DS was at daycare and preschool they would send home the package of photos and we'd keep and pay for what we wanted. This was through Lifetouch. Then last year when he got to elementary school it was the pre-pay thing and I had the same complaint as the OP. This year they've changed companies and it is even more expensive, so I'll probably just get the class picture then take him to Target Portrait Studio for some individuals, where we've always had good luck in the past.

 

[jen0610]

With the exception of high school back in the 80's, even when I was in school, it was blind faith that they would turn out. Only in high school, did they take two pictures, send home the proofs, you picked which one you liked and the package you wanted.

We found, for the most part in grade school, the person behind the camera, did look at the picture on the screen to make sure their was no closed/squinty eyes. A funky smile, they didn't address, unless you could tell it was one of those smiles that kids force, because some younger kids just have quirky smiles.

Middle school, the pictures are taken the day of registration. They will let the parents take a look at the picture for approval. High school, didn't even try to go up there with my kid. I just told him to leave the glasses on and smile right, no goofy stuff.

 

[bethbuchall]

Our schools have done it both ways depending on the year, the photographer, and the person from the PTA running it. This year we pay first, though our cheapest package is $12.00, and the most expensive is $55.00, so we don't need to be out quite as much money. I usually go for one of the cheaper ones, because the photos generally aren't great.

 

[bethbuchall]

When DS was at daycare and preschool they would send home the package of photos and we'd keep and pay for what we wanted. This was through Lifetouch.

That is how our preschool did it last year, too. As a teacher, I hated it. We were the ones that had to track down missing packages/payment. We told the director that if they wanted to do it again, someone else needed to be in charge of making sure that photos and money were returned on time. I can see how difficult that would be for an entire elementary school. Not all parents would comply with returning the photos or paying for them, and it would be almost impossible to track them all down.