Senior Pictures

[disfan07]

We HAD to do ours at the school. They were 1) part of our senior fees 2) yearbook pics.

We did 1 formal outfit (yearbook pic), 2 casual outfits, and one in cap and gown.

I think the part of our senior fees for these was like $50 and this was only about 4 years ago.

 

[clh2]

OP here - I did contact the photographer (just by e-mail, I did not actually talk to her.) She suggested that I contact her in the spring, just as soon as I find out a specific week that my DD will NOT be available. She will be doing less weddings next year, due to expecting her 3rd child in Feb. And she sent me her sr. picture brochure. She actually has 4 packages to pick from:

LEvel 1 is 1 location, and 1-2 outfits, and is $100, approximately 30 minutes

Level 2 is 2 locations (studio and 1 other) and 2-3 outfits and is $150, approximately 60 minutes

Level 3is 2 locations (Studio and 1 other), 4-5 outfits and is $250, approximately 2 hours, and comes with a $50 photo printing credit

Level 4 is 3 locations (studio and 2 others) 6-7 outfits and is $400. Includes a $100 photo printing credit.

All levels include the CD with all photos on it.

Even her charges for the photos seem really reasonable - i.e. we would definitley want an 11x14, and that is only $18; 8x10's are only $10.

She did say her senior pic packages would be having some minor tweaking, but nothing major. (I hope she leaves package 3 alone)

Yes - sr pics are a regional thing. I'm just hoping to not spend a fortune on this expense!

 

[wenrob]

I would JUMP at the chance for that deal. You can then take the CD to a photo processing place like Target, Walgreens, etc. and print exactly what you want/need. You will probably spend less than $300, including the $250 sitting fee. It is a GREAT deal.

The thing about Target, Walgreens, etc. is that no one is watching what's coming out of the printer. It's literally print, here you go. No calibration and it really, really screws up a professionally done photo. As someone else mentioned Mpix, Smugmug, printers who actually print for pro photographers are the only way those pics are going to look worth the $250 spent on them. They're going to be watching to make sure exposure etc. is right. I promise you the people running those machines in the drug stores will not be. Sure it's little more but far less then if you bought the prints from the photographer.

I think $250 is a bargain. Real, pro photography is a lot of work.

 

[aprilgail2]

I am surprised to hear that some areas let you get your own pics done and they put them in the yearbook--not here....if they are not taken at the school they do not get to go in the yearbook! Also senior pictures are taken towards the end of Junior year, not senior year. I was skipping 11th grade so I actually had my senior pictures taken when I was in 10th grade. We also get class rings here Junior year.

 

[diz8297]

Wow!!!! I had NO idea it was this elaborate. Back in my day. Ahem.....1985, there was a trailer set up in the high school parking lot. You went in with one outfit on your back, smiled a few poses, and you had senior pix for about $75. Hours at a time, various locations, props, and outfit changes? Good grief!!

 

[fairestoneofall]

i am a photographer. and that is amazingly cheap. but, if you like her work then go for it. my lowest, bare bones, senior package is $400 (includes session fee and some prints, but no digital files).

i also agree with those who recommend using a better lab for your printing. not only are walmart, walgreens, target, etc. run by people who really don't know photography, but they are also geared towards customers who point and shoot. so, their machines automatically increase saturation, vibrance, etc. a good photographer will process the images and they won't need that extra applied from the printer.

 

[klfrech]

My DD's pictures were taken on Saturday with a local photographer who has a similar deal (as I previously described). I picked up the disc yesterday and the pictures are awesome! She included 497 pictures on the disc that we are now free to do what we want with. I'll be using Mpix.com (as others have recommended). The whole thing should cost us less than $300. I'm thrilled!

 

[MichelleVW]

Wow!!!! I had NO idea it was this elaborate. Back in my day. Ahem.....1985, there was a trailer set up in the high school parking lot. You went in with one outfit on your back, smiled a few poses, and you had senior pix for about $75. Hours at a time, various locations, props, and outfit changes? Good grief!!

I graduated in 1985 and I probably had 6 or 7 different outfit changes and even had one taken with my cat (just like my DD above ) and it cost a lot more than $75. Just depends on your school.

 

[clh2]

Thanks for suggesting the mpix.com site!

 

[klacey1]

The idea of senior portraits is so foreign to me! We didn't buy my senior picture back in the day (looked awful!) or having a portrait setting. My mom wasn't (and still isn't) into the "posed picture" thing. She said she'd rather have pictures of me on vacation, hanging out with friends/the dog, etc. I definitely agree.

 

[MichelleVW]

The idea of senior portraits is so foreign to me! We didn't buy my senior picture back in the day (looked awful!) or having a portrait setting. My mom wasn't (and still isn't) into the "posed picture" thing. She said she'd rather have pictures of me on vacation, hanging out with friends/the dog, etc. I definitely agree.

Good professional photography isn't really "posed" anymore. It's not like the silly Olan Mills pics with the library background. I take a million pictures myself (and I'm told I'm good at it) but the professional pics I have of my girls are amazing and totally worth the money.

 

[PatsGirl]

LEvel 1 is 1 location, and 1-2 outfits, and is $100, approximately 30 minutes

While most people around here spend the $500+ for senior pictures that alot of you are talking about, I find it absolutely ridiculous, but of course, that's just my opinion

I hired an amateur photographer off Craigslist who charged me $100 to come to a site of my choice and was willing to take not only pictures of DS in two different outfits (one with a polo and the other with his letter jacket over it), but also took family shots as well. It took her about 30 minutes and she handed over the entire CD. The pictures were gorgeous!

Sure, there was a chance that they wouldn't have been great, although she did show me her portfolio prior to my sending a deposit. My whole point being I guess that this LEVEL 1 choice is great! and I would have definately done that as well.

If you spend $500-$1000 on their senior pictures, what are you going to spend for their wedding photographer?

 

[horseshowmom]

The thing about Target, Walgreens, etc. is that no one is watching what's coming out of the printer. It's literally print, here you go. No calibration and it really, really screws up a professionally done photo. As someone else mentioned Mpix, Smugmug, printers who actually print for pro photographers are the only way those pics are going to look worth the $250 spent on them. They're going to be watching to make sure exposure etc. is right. I promise you the people running those machines in the drug stores will not be. Sure it's little more but far less then if you bought the prints from the photographer.

I think $250 is a bargain. Real, pro photography is a lot of work.

Another satisfied Mpix customer here! I found out about them on the Dis. As I understand it, Mpix is the consumer side of Miller's (which serves professionals and is highly rated/recommended. I used them for my daughter's wedding pictures (purchased the CD from the photographer), and they were wonderful!

Also want to add that there customer service is exceptional. I didn't realize that I needed to go in and position my photos after the were loaded to the site. Some of the pictures had the photographer's name partly cropped. Even though this was my own fault, Mpix offered to reprint those prints. It wasn't necessary though because the frame wound up covering the name anyway.

By the way, Mpix has a half off 8x10s that ends today!

Code: 8x10printsale

 

[MichelleVW]

If you spend $500-$1000 on their senior pictures, what are you going to spend for their wedding photographer?

I'm not going to go cheap on wedding photography that's for dang sure.

edited to say that I don't think any of you are cheap for not spending tons on senior pictures if you don't want too, but I'm just saying that to me wedding photography is something very important and worth paying big bucks for.