Unsolicited school pictures that you have to pay for or return

[dzorn]

Well I really don't see the big deal. If you don't want them send them back. If you do not want them what do you care if they are thrown away by the company. They are legally not yours. If they are lost I could see not paying on principal but why should I create such ill will and hassel toward the school I trust with my child every day, especially something that is so easy to just send back.

Denise in MI

 

[dzorn]

And if I choose to return it, what do you think they are going to do with that picture?

They took the picture without me requesting it.
They printed it without me requesting it.
They sent it to me without me requesting it.
It does belong to me.

What value does a picture of MY CHILD have for the school or photography studio?

They took all the pictures and printed all the pictures with the expectation that some parents would buy them and it would end up being a profitable photo shoot for them, which I'm sure will be the case. Nobody agreed ahead of time to purchase anything.

I'm fairly certain that any pictures that are returned are going to be thrown away. What other use would they have for them?

They still belong to the company.

Denise in MI

 

[RUDisney]

Our school does this, and a note is sent home however you do not have an opt-out choice. It clearly states that all kids will be photographed even if you don't plan on ordering. So, while you can send a note in, you are still going to be getting those unwanted pkgs sent home, at least in my kid's elementary school.

But our district doesn't tell you that you can opt out of medical exams for your kids either, but I send a note every year to tell them that I'll take care of my child's health care and they don't have to. They have abided by my request every year.

Just because they don't give you the choice of opting out, doesn't mean you don't have that choice.

 

[mjkacmom]

How is it more work for the teacher?
They can just tell the studio that we didn't return the picture and didn't pay for it. It seems that would be the extent of their responsibility.

Maybe the teacher would have to fill out a form, contact the parents numerous times - just send the stupid picture back! This is your school's fundraiser - you don't have to participate, but keeping the picture is stealing. Other people are paying money for that 8 x 10 you decided to keep. Please note that this is a common fundraiser - your child's teacher is going to think you are a nut!

 

[kirstenb1]

Maybe the teacher would have to fill out a form, contact the parents numerous times - just send the stupid picture back! This is your school's fundraiser - you don't have to participate, but keeping the picture is stealing. Other people are paying money for that 8 x 10 you decided to keep. Please note that this is a common fundraiser - your child's teacher is going to think you are a nut!

Especially the last sentence. At least the OP is letting everyone know she's a nutjob early on. News like that travels pretty good here. Way to set your child up for success with peers too.

Ironically, I just received the magnet/Christmas tag photo package yesterday. I didn't want it, and it took 1 second to put it back in dd's backpack. Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill, sheesh!

 

[luvmy3]

But our district doesn't tell you that you can opt out of medical exams for your kids either, but I send a note every year to tell them that I'll take care of my child's health care and they don't have to. They have abided by my request every year.

Just because they don't give you the choice of opting out, doesn't mean you don't have that choice.

comparing medical exams with school pics is apples and oranges.

I never said we couldn't opt out of the photo, however they will still take the pictures and send the packet home and expect it to be sent back if you don't want it. So while we still get our choice of opting out, it doesn't matter, trust me I've tried to save them the trouble of sending them home, it hasn't worked yet.

 

[disney_mommy]

I agree, I'm not really sure what the big deal is - if you don't like them, send them back.

 

[RUDisney]

comparing medical exams with school pics is apples and oranges.

I never said we couldn't opt out of the photo, however they will still take the pictures and send the packet home and expect it to be sent back if you don't want it. So while we still get our choice of opting out, it doesn't matter, trust me I've tried to save them the trouble of sending them home, it hasn't worked yet.

Not really, you should be able to tell the school any time you don't want your child to participate in an activity.

The fact that you've tried and they still take the picture is outrageous!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I guess I hate the unnecessary conversation I had to have with my children WHY I was sending them back. We take tons of photos throughout the year. I didn't like having to buy expensive packages for photos that were not usually flattering.

Imagine if they sent cookies home with your child and said keep the cookies for $50 or have your child bring them back.

 

[disney_mommy]

I guess I hate the unnecessary conversation I had to have with my children WHY I was sending them back. We take tons of photos throughout the year. I didn't like having to buy expensive packages for photos that were not usually flattering.

Imagine if they sent cookies home with your child and said keep the cookies for $50 or have your child bring them back.

"We take lots of pictures during the year and don't want to buy these" is the unnecessary conversation you don't want to have?

In the above example, I would tell my son: "We're not interested in the cookies, take them back." It's not that hard.

 

[LisaR]

I guess I hate the unnecessary conversation I had to have with my children WHY I was sending them back. We take tons of photos throughout the year. I didn't like having to buy expensive packages for photos that were not usually flattering.

Imagine if they sent cookies home with your child and said keep the cookies for $50 or have your child bring them back.

Have you actually tried to have a conversation about this with the teacher or someone that is in charge of this at the school? Why have repeated unnecessary conversations with your child every year when they send these pictures home instead of having ONE conversation with the person in charge and simply stop the pictures from coming home in the first place?

I am all for complaining on a message board when something bugs me. God knows, I have done it myself numerous times. However, this seems like such a simple fix. Tell the school to stop. If they don't, keep the pictures but at least give them one chance to rectify this. They can't fix something if they don't know it is bothering you.

 

[luvmy3]

Not really, you should be able to tell the school any time you don't want your child to participate in an activity.

The fact that you've tried and they still take the picture is outrageous!

We don't need to opt out of medical exams, the only time they are performed in school is if we don't get them done on our own. It must vary from State to State.

As far as the pics, I was told the PTA recieves money for each picture being taken, on top of what is ordered. I don't have an issue with me personally having to return them, but I think its such a waste of other people's time, money and resoures.

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

I would opt out if I could, but I would either throw-em away or keep-em, I wouldn't pay or send them back strictly on principle.
if it's more work for the teacher, she'll bring it up at the next union meeting.
if they asked me for them back I would simply say "they can be picked up at my house at a scheduled time."
if it becomes difficult/troublesome enough on their part it'll stop.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

No one has answered my question from page one. Did the school notify you that pictures would be taken on a specific day so you could dress your child appropriately?

If they did, you should have sent a note that day to tell them that you didn't want your child photographed.

Failure to advise the school of this would make the photo solicited as you went along with the school's plan.

I would bet strongly that the school has the picture day listed somewhere on their school calendar and that a notification was sent home. Whether or not the parents read it is a different story.

I feel sorry for the child involved. Don't like the practice, just send ALL of the pictures back to the school. I get paperwork weekly that I have to sign and return, fieldtrips, grade reports etc. All part of school. Many schools do this picture practice, so I am sure the legality of it has been checked and most likely even fought against re: the legality. Since it happened years ago when my kids were little and still happening now, I would assume the photo companies and schools are within their rights. Even OP stated she allowed pictures to be taken of their child.

So on graduation day, while still standing their ground, the OP can give their child this 8x10 while all their friends are graduating. Because being right always trumps the occasional sucking it up for the good of the school/child/family.

 

[mill4023]

No one has answered my question from page one. Did the school notify you that pictures would be taken on a specific day so you could dress your child appropriately?

If they did, you should have sent a note that day to tell them that you didn't want your child photographed.

Failure to advise the school of this would make the photo solicited as you went along with the school's plan.

That last statement is nonsense.

No, we didn't get notification.
But it's really irrelevant.

What you are suggesting is the same as a company sending you a letter, telling you that they are going to ship you a product next week and if you don't want it, you have to notify them that you don't want it or you will be required to pay for it or send it back.

Are you honestly suggesting that failure to specifically take action and tell a company that you don't want their product is the same as soliciting that product?

That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.

If that's the way you feel, then please send me your address, because once again, I have a great business idea. I'll just send you a notification first, then if you don't send a reply telling me you don't want the product, you are "going along with my plan" and that makes the products I send you "solicited". So I can send you stuff every week and require you to pay for it or send it back. Woohoo, I'm going to be rich!

 

[The Pink Cupcake]

if they asked me for them back I would simply say "they can be picked up at my house at a scheduled time."

I love this idea.

How dare a company come into a school, take a picture of my child and then send it home demanding action (pay or give them back to be shredded) on my part.

What if they start doing this with more items (candy sales, Tupperware, Scentsy Sales, etc). I don’t want things sent home from companies without my consent. Don't use the school data base to sell your overpriced items.

 

[npmommie]

And they gave it to a child to transport home.

What if the child lost it? Are the parents responsible for paying for it?

They own the copyright to the picture. That doesn't mean they own the physical prints. It just means that it would be illegal for us to scan or otherwise copy the pictures.

Amazon cannot send me a DVD of The Lion King, then ask me to pay for it or return it. If they send it to me unsolicited, it is a gift and I'm free to do whatever I want with it except make copies, which would violate copyright law.

Making prints from digital photos is cheap. Yes, there is some cost, but just like advertising, they recoup those costs through increased sales that they wouldn't have received if they only sent a proof sheet and an order form.

I totally agree with you OP I am on your side and I would keep it on principle alone.
I was just offering their argument as to ownership.
but I think the whole thing stinks.

what if your kid loses the pic? are you then responsible to pay for something you did not ask for?? I wonder if that has ever happened, would be interesting to find out.

I agree with you OP


my kids are homeschooled so we don't deal with this, but we do deal with sports photos, team photos etc. they always inform when this will occur and ask you to sign off if you don't want your kid included.
then they only give you a proof so you can see the pic then decide if you want it. they don't print it til you pay for it.

which makes way more sense to me.
seems very costly and wasteful the way the school is doing it.

 

[mill4023]

Especially the last sentence. At least the OP is letting everyone know she's a nutjob early on. News like that travels pretty good here. Way to set your child up for success with peers too.

Ironically, I just received the magnet/Christmas tag photo package yesterday. I didn't want it, and it took 1 second to put it back in dd's backpack. Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill, sheesh!

Not that it matters, but I'm the father, not the mother.

I'm not sure why you decided to go to name calling when we seemed to be having a pretty civil discussion on the subject, with plenty of differing opinions on both sides.

 

[disney_mommy]

It's not like they are requiring you to package the pictures up and drive over to the post office. Just slide them right back in your child's backpack.

I would be the first one to say stand up on principal, but this seems like a lose-lose-lose situation. The photo company loses the money for the pictures they don't get back, the teacher loses out on time and effort trying to track down the pictures or money, and the kid loses because the teacher tries to get the parents to cooperate through the kid. Why make such a big deal over something so small?

 

[mill4023]

I would bet strongly that the school has the picture day listed somewhere on their school calendar and that a notification was sent home. Whether or not the parents read it is a different story.

I feel sorry for the child involved. Don't like the practice, just send ALL of the pictures back to the school. I get paperwork weekly that I have to sign and return, fieldtrips, grade reports etc. All part of school. Many schools do this picture practice, so I am sure the legality of it has been checked and most likely even fought against re: the legality. Since it happened years ago when my kids were little and still happening now, I would assume the photo companies and schools are within their rights. Even OP stated she allowed pictures to be taken of their child.

So on graduation day, while still standing their ground, the OP can give their child this 8x10 while all their friends are graduating. Because being right always trumps the occasional sucking it up for the good of the school/child/family.

Having to sign paperwork is different. Permission slips, grade reports, etc., are not products that they are trying to sell you.

I never said what they are doing is illegal. As a side note though, the exact same marketing method would be absolutely ILLEGAL if they had mailed the pictures instead of sending them home with our child.

But what I said is that it was annoying and shady and that parents have no obligation to return the pictures or pay for them. In other words, they are legally allowed to ask, but they have no right to force the issue.