Senior Pictures

[PUZZLDY5]

My son got his senior picture "proofs" back for us to review. The cost of these pictures are . My question is has anyone else just refused to pay what the school wants and have them done by an individual. If so how did they turn out? Was is wwaaayyyy less expensive or should I just bite the bullet and just buy the things.

 

[dismom2]

I got mine at a different place and they came out great. This was many years ago, though.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

My senior pictures were HIDEOUS. I made my parents refuse to buy any. I had taken some lovely pictures the year before and used those. Other girls in my class took independent senior pics. Many kids have done and will do this. If you dislike the official senior pics, don't buy them. Go to another photographer - you're absolutely in the right to do this!

 

[babytrees]

At our HS they don't use the school company for senior pics...that is a cost borne on the parents. It is way expensive around here and I take good photos (and I know my kid) so we have been doing them around the state on the weekends for about a month now. I have been happy with the pics...this is one in the running for what will go in the Yearbook(though I did just get a new camera):

But this way I can have them developed whenever I want to...in any amount or size I want.

 

[clh2]

My son got his senior picture "proofs" back for us to review. The cost of these pictures are . My question is has anyone else just refused to pay what the school wants and have them done by an individual. If so how did they turn out? Was is wwaaayyyy less expensive or should I just bite the bullet and just buy the things.

How long do you have to decide what pic's you want to buy?

One of my co-workers used the prestigious JC Penney's Photo Studio for sr. pics for each of her 4 children.

Why not see if you can get a photo session scheduled, and IIRC, you can see the pics on the screen while they are being ordered.

If the "alternate studio" pics turn out - no need to buy the expensive ones.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Very few people, if any, around here use the school's senior pics. At my high school, we were required to have theirs in the yearbook, but I don't remember anyone buying any.

I don't know that it is cheaper to go somewhere else, depends on where you go. It's been a long time since mine, but from the IL's, cousins, coworkers, etc., the average cost is anywhere from $500 to $1000 by the time they're done.

 

[Plantlady]

One of my co-workers did her son's herself.

He's good with photoshop, and added his signature to the bottom corner. They printed out wallets. They looked as good as the professional.

Maybe you are a photographer, or you have a photographer friend. It doesn't have to be a pro.

 

[PatsGirl]

After talking prices with alot of the other parents, I hired a photographer off Craigslist for $100 (instead of the $250-400 most were paying for professionals in the area). Of course, she was a stranger but did give me names of references and was clear that unless I was happy with the shots she would not charge me, so a 100% money-back guarantee

She agreed to a one-hour session at my choice of locations. She also agreed to do family shots, shots of just the two kids, and shots of each of the kids alone. For this I paid $100 and got a CD of more than 100 pictures. She also provided (10) 5x7 of her favorites, 6 of them of my senior DS and then four of other poses.

I couldn't be happier! It cost me another $80 to order the copies I wanted from Shutterfly.

 

[Justanopinion]

I did not buy the school ones for my DS.

Most parents around here go to the same well known photographer one town over. So we went there. I paid about $800. Loved the shots but not the service.

And then I wanted shots at the football field because DS played football. The photographer insisted that because of the sun, he needed to do those shots first thing in the morning. Well, we get there that morning and he couldn't do them because the sun was at the wrong angle. I had tried to tell him this.

I ended up hiring another lady friend. For $35 she did a bunch of shots...at the football field and then did some with DS and his younger sister which the other company wanted $100 just to include her in one shot.

So it really depends on who you hire and what you want.

Doing it again, I would probably either do it myself or hire the last lady I hired and print them at Walmart.

 

[RitaZ.]

DS had his pics taken in June or July. They came out pretty good. The school uses an assigned photographer. It's the same company that took mine in 1983. Anyway, we paid a minimal fee for the YB pics, ours was $10. If you wanted to have pics taken with other outfits, for clubs, etc., then there were additional fees. Once we received the proofs, I went online and chose my favorite pose from the approved YB poses and submitted it. That's it.

If we would have had to purchase a package in order to get his pic in the YB, then there wouldn't have been one. Their prices were ridiculous. I did order a couple of pics of poses that I liked, but we'll scan them and print our own. Some girls had several outfits to change into. It was crazy.

 

[MichelleVW]

We lived in North Dakota when DD got her senior pics done and the school doesn't take Senior pics there. All the kids go to the photography studio's in town.

Here are a couple of them...they weren't cheap, but I loved them!!

A lot of the kids go there for their prom pics too instead of the cheesy ones they do at the school....I miss this studio so much!!

 

[snoopybabe]

My son got his senior picture "proofs" back for us to review. The cost of these pictures are . My question is has anyone else just refused to pay what the school wants and have them done by an individual. If so how did they turn out? Was is wwaaayyyy less expensive or should I just bite the bullet and just buy the things.

DD senior picture package prices are ridiculous & she doesn't even really like them. We plan on doing a JC Penny pkg with a coupon (off of jcpenny.com)

For yearbook you don't get to choose which one you want in the yearbook so why bother.

 

[golfgal]

The schools around here don't do "school" pictures for senior pictures. Everyone goes to a private photographer. DS had his done a few weeks ago. We are having a hard time deciding which ones to buy!

 

[PUZZLDY5]

How long do you have to decide what pic's you want to buy?

One of my co-workers used the prestigious JC Penney's Photo Studio for sr. pics for each of her 4 children.

Why not see if you can get a photo session scheduled, and IIRC, you can see the pics on the screen while they are being ordered.

If the "alternate studio" pics turn out - no need to buy the expensive ones.

We have til September 1st. And they are great pictures just way to much money. Thank you for the suggestion on JC pennys. Didn't think of that.

 

[PUZZLDY5]

We lived in North Dakota when DD got her senior pics done and the school doesn't take Senior pics there. All the kids go to the photography studio's in town.

Here are a couple of them...they weren't cheap, but I loved them!!

A lot of the kids go there for their prom pics too instead of the cheesy ones they do at the school....I miss this studio so much!!

Those are great pictures!!!

 

[Jillpie]

We just went thru this. We got our son's proofs back 2 weeks ago, used the school's company. He also got to use his guitar in his pictures. Out of all the proofs, one came out fantastic. Their packages were priced outrageously, but I called and they gave me their "introductory" pkg, which was an 8x10, 2 5x7's and 25 wallets for 170.00. I went with that, that is really all I wanted. I was very happy, and they came out terrific. So to the OP, I would call the co. and see if they would be flexible in their packaging, and ask exactly what you want and see what they can do for you. They want your business!

 

[MICKEY88]

I did order a couple of pics of poses that I liked, but we'll scan them and print our own. Some girls had several outfits to change into. It was crazy.

Just an FYI, that is copyright infringement, if you get caught, which is quite easy if pictures are exchanged with classmates, it could be quite costly for you.

If the studio has actually registered the photos with the US copyright office, each infringement could cost you up to
$ 150,000

 

[MichelleVW]

Those are great pictures!!!

Thanks!!! That studio is AMAZING!!! If I had time I would take a vacation there next summer to get DD16's Senior Pics done there too...its about the only thing I miss about North Dakota.

 

[MsLeFever]

We lived in North Dakota when DD got her senior pics done and the school doesn't take Senior pics there. All the kids go to the photography studio's in town.

Here are a couple of them...they weren't cheap, but I loved them!!

A lot of the kids go there for their prom pics too instead of the cheesy ones they do at the school....I miss this studio so much!!

It's worth it to see these again! These look like professional modeling photos and your girl is gorgeous! Whatever you paid was well worth it.

 

[MaumeeMom]

PARTIAL the average cost is anywhere from $500 to $1000 by the time they're done.

OMG - that's a ton of $! I better start saving now!

PARTIAL
I did order a couple of pics of poses that I liked, but we'll scan them and print our own. Some girls had several outfits to change into. It was crazy.

I hate to tell you this but that is illegal. Those pics are owned by the photographer and they have all the rights regarding duplication and distribution. Unless you purchase the rights, which some photographers allow, you could be in serious trouble.

PARTIAL
Here are a couple of them...they weren't cheap, but I loved them!!

I LOVE these!!!

OP: Good luck and congrats to your son.