One of the biggest ripoffs---school pictures for the kids.

[RiffRandell]

When I was a kid (I'm 43) we got them once a year in the fall.

My son is almost 12, and my daughter is 7 and since they started school they have fall and spring pictures.

I always just do the fall--and the cheapest package is like $40.

I get an email Friday from my son's 6th grade homeroom teacher saying "Please pay for Ian's pictures or return them on Monday."

I never filled out the form for the damn pictures because I didn't want them, so why were they taken? I turned the form in with a check for the fall pictures.

Then I got onto my son because I'm like do have school pictures in your backpack you never showed me? Of course.

I told him he better remember to turn them in today. I'm not cheap, but I only see the need for school pictures once a year.

[In_The_Wind]

1. I'm 64. When I was in school there was one photo per year. Plus the class photo.

I agree with you.

[RiffRandell]

2. The class photo isn't even included in most packages.

That's extra. I know it's a stupid rant, but I had to vent. I don't understand why they took them if I didn't pay for them--I asked my son and he said he didn't have a choice. I could email the teacher, but I really can't be bothered at this point---just a lesson learned for next year.

Thanks!

[woodsprite]

6. We just went through this with our 12yo. son.

Nowhere did it say in any of the communications sent home that it was "dress up" picture days. Even though we did send him in with a basic package order, they wouldn't let him have his pic taken because he was in the school uniform. And pics were taken 2 days AFTER dress up day - where kids had to earn the right to dress like they were going to a dance. He did bowtie, white shirt, cumberbun, dress pants and dress shoes.

Makes no sense at all. I'm thinking some parents somewhere started putting the bug in the photographers ears that they'd like some Easter pictures taken and this saves them a trip to Sears or the mall plus the hard sell that goes with it. Either that, or the school gets a bigger kickback from spring pics. Only the one taken in September is official. The 2nd pic cannot even be used in the yearbook.

[RiffRandell]

9. I think it boils down to money going to the school.

Call me a bad parent, but I only got Santa pictures taken once with my son (I always felt bad for the guy playing Santa having to deal with crying, germy kids) and never Easter pictures with a real rabbit that's so stressed and traumatized being held by kid after kid.

My husband is very artistic and takes tons of pictures around holidays and then makes videos with music he puts on Dvds for our families.

He did it for my son's baseball teams (2 teams won the championship) and they were so awesome--he gave a copy to each parent. They covered the entire seasons and the parents were so impressed they were like, everyone's going to want Ian on their team because of you!

He also posted them on youtube and people had family in other countries so they were able to view it.

Sorry for rambling---bottom line the pictures we take are much better than the formal ones.

[In_The_Wind]

8. I am a great photographer. The class photo is the only one I would have paid for.

imo: [img][/img] Your's is not a stupid rant.


Even if it was [img][/img] that's what friends are for.
I'm so glad we've gotten to know one another.






[img][/img] [img][/img]

[raccoon]

3. Wonder if anyone is getting the money other than the studio who does the pictures? nt

[RiffRandell]

4. It woudn't surprise me if the school gets a cut.

Same with yearbooks---they were $43.

[raccoon]

5. Wouldn't surprise me either. $43 for a yearbook!! nt

[woodsprite]

7. That's a bit more than our yearbooks - $38 for middle school

They make up for it though in high school - $75, or $95 if you want your name engraved on a brass plate on the front.

[hobbit709]

10. When I was in school the only yearbook was in high school.

[Broken_Hero]

11. I don't know why they do spring pictures

at all, unless its only for kids who transferred in and didn't have fall pictures taken. I dislike that they send these pictures home in the spring, and tempt your kid into thinking they are free and that they can give them away. I think this is a very dishonest gimmick and have never seen it before til my child hit the 3rd grade.

As for the price, our price isn't that bad I think for our last package we paid around 12 bucks, 1 5x7 three 4x3's and about 30 wallets or so.

[pipi_k]

12. My kids have told me that

they don't really mind the school photos for their kids as much as they hate that couple of times a year the kids have to sell stuff...raffle tickets or whatever.

I've bought stuff from my grandkids and it's way overpriced.

Not to mention that we don't live close to them, so it makes more sense for the stuff to be shipped to us, which adds to the cost.

They feel badly about asking friends and relatives and coworkers to buy raffle tickets and all, so they usually just buy a bunch themselves. And actually this is what my son's co-workers have decided to do...they all agreed not to inflict that crap on each other.

[RiffRandell]

15. We always buy the stuff ourselves.

I don't want my kids bothering people.

[hamsterjill]

18. That's what I did!

The stuff is usually overpriced junk, too.

There was NO way I was allowing my daughter to go trapsing around the neighborhood to sell stuff, even with parental supervision. Too many crazy people out there. I cannot believe that the schools still sanctify this.

[OriginalGeek]

13. We just found out with our granddaughters

that they don't even ask you any more - they just give your kid a bag of pictures and you have to pay for them or bring them back. I don't see how they can legally hold a child responsible for a debt that a parent has neither approved or even asked for much less transfer that debt to the parent if the kid does what kids do and loses or forgets it or destroys it.

It's bullshit if you ask me.

[RiffRandell]

14. You're a grandfather and a DRI fan?

Nice! I'll be there someday too--well a grandmother.

[OriginalGeek]

16. Yep I sure am :)

To be fair, my granddaughters are from my oldest stepson, however my daughter is 22 and could have kids so I still count. I never saw a good enough reason to stop liking the music of my misspent youth just cause I got older.

We just went to a Led Zep tribute band last Friday and next month I'm going to Cannibal Corpse and Napalm Death. Oh, and in a couple months the place I saw the Led Zep tribute band (Get The Led Out if anyone is interested - fantastic show - I highly recommend them for a fun Zep night out. They are not amateurs up there) is gonna have Suicidal Tendencies and Sick Of It All. I love ST and will be happy to see Mike Muir again but I'd go and pay full price just to see Sick Of It All. They freaking slam.

[RiffRandell]

17. I posted about ST last week because I heard them on the radio.

We have Sirius, so I hear lots of good old stuff. Never saw them live unfortunately. I think I did see Sick of it All because I saw Murphy's Law and Agnostic Front a few times (they are one of my favorite hardcore bands) but I can't remember for sure.

Have fun!

[alphafemale]

19. Especially since they are already printed.

So they are throwing all these expensive pics...away. I'm guessing it costs them about a buck or so per kid.

It wouldn't kill them to offer an 8 by 10 and a few friendship shots for $15 bucks or so.

[Lars39]

20. One of the cuter things I've seen on Pinterest is where

a kid's picture is taken on the first day of school, then again on the last day. The kid is usually posed in front of the front door outside. In the spring picture, the kid is holding the framed photo of him/herself on the first day of the school year. Cost is sure as heck a lot less than 80 bucks.