I have a question about school portraits

[cna]

Do you have to pay before or after picture day? Every single year my children have been in school, they have sent home proofs and let us choose the pose, background, and package we want to order. This year they won't even take the pictures until you order the package. Is this normal practice or does it seem bassackwards to anyone else?

[quesyrah]

We had to pre pay and I am annoyed because I don't like the picture. I would have preferred to not purchase and wait to see if the spring photo is better

[momin2013]

Yep, that seems 100% backwards. I mean, how do you know which package you're going to order if you haven't seen a proof yet? Like, crappy picture = smaller package, awesome picture = bigger package.




....I think there's a TWSS in there somewhere...

[lattelady5]

When I was in school we had background options (just a few colors) and package options parents selected prior to picture day. Parents filled out the form and sent money placing order. The "photographer" took everyone's picture, even of they didn't order, for yearbook purposes. Then a month or so later, we got the pics and of parents weren't happy there was 1 retake day. It was always pay before picture day. DD's soccer's pictures were the same last year.

[gastro]

When I was in school it was pay before and there was a retake day.

[charlatti]

Prepay but you can order more later or get your money back if you hate them. Everyone gets a photo taken, paid or not.

[nicolewi]

We have to prepay.

[Deleted]

We prepay but you can prepay for touch ups and also retake if you don't like the pic. You choose background and package ahead of time when you pay.

[cna]

I really dislike paying for things when I don't know what I'm paying for. They said it was because of the number of people who have their picture taken and then don't order anything. I think there were other ways to get around that, personally.

[mamaalysson]

Feb 8, 2016 11:03:27 GMT -5 lattelady5 said:

When I was in school we had background options (just a few colors) and package options parents selected prior to picture day. Parents filled out the form and sent money placing order. The "photographer" took everyone's picture, even of they didn't order, for yearbook purposes. Then a month or so later, we got the pics and of parents weren't happy there was 1 retake day. It was always pay before picture day. DD's soccer's pictures were the same last year.

This, exactly.  This is how we did it as kids, and it's the same now.

[lala]

Feb 8, 2016 11:06:02 GMT -5 gastro said:

When I was in school it was pay before and there was a retake day.

This at both preschool & public elem. it's how it was growing up, too.

You can always get your money back.

[melew]

Feb 8, 2016 11:06:02 GMT -5 gastro said:

When I was in school it was pay before and there was a retake day.

Same.  This is how it has been for DD1 the past 3 years.  I usually order the same package most years because the grandparents and aunts/uncles love to get a copy.  I know that school photos aren't the best quality, but they make me nostalgic and am a sucker and will buy them every year.

[quesyrah]

I wonder if I could have gotten a refund. I just did the digital copy so I could print my own because none of the packages met my needs for photo size. It's so bad I haven't printed any.

I'm hoping spring will be better

[cna]

It's just weird for me because we saw their proofs this year for fall pictures but for spring pictures they changed their policy and we're not used to it.

Also, for soccer pictures there is one team picture and the same pose for everyone and it's outside so everyone has the same background. We get to see them while they're happening and order right there.

[cna]

And I know I can get my money back or do retakes. I just don't wanna.

[vettymama]

When I was in school it was prepay. Parents filled out the form, picked the package and sent the check. Then we handed the envelope to the photographer. One background, one pose, same for everyone. Everyone had their picture taken regardless if they were ordering or not.

Not sure how it is now. The boys aren't that far yet.

[minismama]

I've never had to pre-pay for school photos or photos at dancing school. We get the option to buy after.

[thecheshirekat]

For the last two years our preschool has had a company come who takes the pics first and then shows up with an ass-ton of prints and lets you decide what package you want. It's a colossal waste the way they do it, but I did like that you could see the pics and choose which ones you wanted and how many of each. This year they switched to a company that made you purchase packages in advance, the digital option was CRAZY expensive (like $200 per kid!), and I was annoyed because for two out of my three kids I would have wanted more pictures of one pose and instead they gave me more of the other one that wasn't as cute.

[dizzycooks]

We've had it both ways (2 schools, same photo company). I dont like paying ahead.

[penguingrrl]

We prepay. I never order, though, because they're always lousy.

[expectantsteelerfan]

Feb 8, 2016 11:11:07 GMT -5 @itsbritt said:

We prepay but you can prepay for touch ups and also retake if you don't like the pic. You choose background and package ahead of time when you pay.

This.  But I'm not a big fan of school pics to begin with so I always order pretty much the minimum package...1 pic for us and 1 for each set of grandparents and the class picture.

[lala]

Feb 8, 2016 14:08:08 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

We prepay. I never order, though, because they're always lousy.

yea, I think I'm giving up. They're never good and with our phones and digital cameras school pictures aren't as important as they once were. 

[penguingrrl]

Feb 8, 2016 15:29:23 GMT -5 lala said:

Feb 8, 2016 14:08:08 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

We prepay. I never order, though, because they're always lousy.

yea, I think I'm giving up. They're never good and with our phones and digital cameras school pictures aren't as important as they once were. 

That's my feeling. They're always unflattering and I have tons of pics of my kids. I'm really not a fan of studio photography for anything.

When I remember I do order a class picture only.

[lala]

Our elem doesn't even do a regular school picture anymore. They do a big sheet w/ each kid's individual picture. I did love having every class picture K-5, but my kids will have to suffer.

[penguingrrl]

That sucks! The only thing worth considering having is the class picture!

[Kcthepouchh8r]

For fall pictures we prepay. For spring pictures they send us a bunch of pictures and we pay for what we want to keep. Last year I was stuck with a bunch of terrible pictures of dd because we were away the day of retakes. That sucked. This year I didn't buy fall pictures due to that and will buy spring if I like them.

[auroraloo]

Feb 8, 2016 11:06:57 GMT -5 charlatti said:

Prepay but you can order more later or get your money back if you hate them. Everyone gets a photo taken, paid or not.

this is how it works where i work. 

[jag01]

We always see the proofs before ordering. We only have fall pictures, I've never heard of spring pictures before.

[lexus]

Dd's preschool sends home proofs first then we pay. The dance studio required us to prepay. I ordered a huge dance package and the individual picture is awful! So I have a million pictures of dd. Looking like she is on something. I was upset because I saw the lady take it with her digital camera, I know she looked at and didn't take another shot.

[mamaalysson]

Feb 8, 2016 15:50:51 GMT -5 lala said:

Our elem doesn't even do a regular school picture anymore. They do a big sheet w/ each kid's individual picture. I did love having every class picture K-5, but my kids will have to suffer.

Ours does this too! I was so disappointed. My mom has all of our elementary class pictures, and they are awesome to look through. I also have all of my classes from my teaching years. I'm so bummed that my kids won't have that!