This Morning I Parted Ways with Lifetouch

[Toby'sFriend]

Lifetouch studios that is.

It is time for the annual school photos. I started to make out the checks and all of the sudden it occured to me.

These packages aren't cheap. These pictures are never good.

Why do I keep doing this when every year I end up taking my camera and hauling the kids off to the park or somewhere scenic to take photos to give to the family at Christmas while the Lifetouch photos of kids with badly combed hair, not looking at the camera, sitting in front of a boring background just sit in the envelope?

I feel guilty. Do the teachers think you're a bad parent if you don't buy the school photos?

 

[Christine]

I feel your pain. My kids haven't had a good picture in I don't know how long. I don't know what those Lifetouch photographers do. But each year I am compelled to buy the pictures (just spent $38 on my DD's) and then end up getting stuck in a drawer because they are too bad to send out.

 

[FreshTressa]

Just get the cheapest package, with like 12 wallets.

 

[babytrees]

I went almost 8 years without buying a package...but DD convinced me to get a little package so she could share with friends.

My daughter's are photogenic but I think there is something in Lifetouch's cameras that make everyone look horrid!!

I do buy the whole class picture though.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

but even the cheapest package is like $15.


I can order wallet sized photos from snapfish for around 25cents each.

 

[EthansMom]

Do the teachers think you're a bad parent if you don't buy the school photos?

The teachers aren't making any money off the pictures, so why would they think ill of you?

I won't be buying DS's school pictures unless they look really good.

 

[poohandwendy]

Btdt, very happy now.

Let go of the guilt, release it.

And repeat this a few times:
"I am under no obligation to buy overpriced, poor quality pictures of my kids."

You will not go on the bad parent list for this, I assure you. And if you do? Who cares?

 

[KelNottAt]

OMG!!! Here's another reason I'll never win Mother of the Year!

For 10 years I've been asking my kids to smile better in their school photos. Now I find out it hasn't been their fault at all! It's been Lifetouch all along.

 

[RUDisney]

At our last school, we used Lifetouch. The pictures were awesome and the packages offered creative and different items. I was very pleased.

Our present school uses a local photographer who doesn't offer the unique items that Lifetouch did. He's about the same price as them and does an equally nice job. I'm glad we're using him. He does an awful lot for the community. I like that we get to pay him back for that through out orders. He even hands out free 5X7s each Halloween for each child in costume, plus a candy bar.

 

[Melissa M]

I always order the smallest package. If the pics turn out really good (which they never do), then I'll order more.

Honestly, whenever DD takes the camera and turns it on herself and snaps a picture - these pics turn out 10 times better than Lifetouch's.

 

[hentob]

While I agree with you that the pictures are not that great, I know my children would be very sad if everyone was getting their pictures handed out in class and they didn't have any. They are young though (7,7,8) and school pics are still cool to them. I can see an older child not caring

Also--Will you get them taken so the yearbook can have them?

I feel the same way as you do about baby hospital pics. My kids are pretty cute , but those hospital pictures made them look like aliens

 

[buzzlady]

Gee, I wonder why we have to pay for the pictures BEFORE we ever get to see them? Add me to the non-buyer list.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

I won't be buying DS's school pictures unless they look really good.

The problem that we have is you buy the pictures in advance. So when they comes back "not so good" you are stuck with them.

 

[Tinks]

I only buy them because I scrapbook and feel like I need the class picture for their albums. I buy the cheapest package I can. I wish I could "just say no"!

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I never buy them and don't care what the school thinks. You can get a basic package at Wal-Mart for cheaper, and you can be there to make sure hair is combed, etc. I think school pictures are a rip-off. I do get the class photo, though.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

. He even hands out free 5X7s each Halloween for each child in costume, plus a candy bar.

Is he giving out pics of other people's kids, or coupons for 5X7's?

 

[CajunDixie]

The teachers aren't making any money off the pictures, so why would they think ill of you?

Actually our schools use the spring photos as a fund-raiser.

After helping out at our school escorting classes down to the photographer I no longer purchase the pics either. The photographer just wants to snap as fast as he can so he can go home and the kids have no mirror to check their hair so it's a no win situation.

 

[golfgal]

The kids' new school did things differently this year (Lifetouch). No upfront money and they took 2 poses of the kids, a head shot for the year book and another pose of the kid's choice. I saw the digital of DD and it was an amazing picture of her. I can hardly wait to see if it turns out as well as it looked in the camera view finder. I have NO idea how much more these will cost though.

The old school used Herff Jones and they were not so good. They switched to Lifetouch last year and the quality of the pictures was MUCH better. It really depends on how good the photographer is though.

 

[jennyl772003]

I always hated how my son looked in his school pics. He was never looking at the camera. I hate having to pay in advance.

Then, his school started offering spring pics also. With these, they take pics and send home. If you like, you keep and send check. If you don't, you return pics. The pics are posed and super cute.

Wouldn't you know it though, It's still Lifetouch! How can one company take such good spring pics and bad fall pics?

 

[Tamarap]

Our schools use Lifetouch as well. Does anyone else have school pictures taken twice a year, fall and spring. We do, in the fall we order and prepay and in the spring they take the pictures, send them home and we can pay after seeing them. I always end up buying both because I cannot stand the idea of someone having pics of my child that I dont have. I know, I know that doesn't make any sense, but thats how I see it.
My oldest DS just had school pictures taken, his first year at middle school. I got to see a preview already as they immediately received their student ID cards. I am not happy, though, as I requested a blue background and they used purple! My youngest DS's school pictures are next week and he just absolutely hates to have his picture taken so those are always interesting to see.

I know they are not the best pictures around, but I cannot imagine not having their "school pictures".