Dare to send back your child’s school photo?
The photography companies that take the school pictures have come up with the greatest marketing ploy ever to make you buy those photos. They send home the entire package, including plastic-coated key-ring photos, without you even ordering them.
No mother worth her salt is going to tell her child that he or she must return their own photo to school!
Or would she?
I told Walsh this morning that his spring photo wasn’t fantastic. I told him his hair needed to be cut and it was all in his eyes.
I didn’t say this to him, but he also has in the photo one big-boy front tooth next to a baby front tooth that looks a little crazy. His smile was forced and fake. Plus he was wearing a Halloween shirt in February.
I recognize that all of this is my own fault, except for the tooth and smile parts, because I didn’t pay attention to the spring photo date, but that doesn’t mean I have to pay $42 for five pages of bad photos. (I have plenty of beautiful photos of my son that we take at home.)
He put on fake tears at the breakfast table and told me I hurt his feelings.
I bought one page of the photos for $12 and sent the rest back.
If you don’t send them back in time you owe the full price for all five sheets of photos even though you didn’t ask for them.
Do you buy the school photo in the Fall and in the Spring? (They shoot twice a year now! Your order the Fall ones but the spring ones they just send on home.)
Do you think the photo companies are trying to guilt parents into buying or force them to pay for not returning in time?
Did you ever not buy your child’s school photos? Did you feel bad not buying them? Were their feelings hurt?
Do you find that the school photos are in general not very good? I get much better results with my kids when I take them in some place. I think they take more shots until they get a good one. With the school photos I think they take one or two and that’s it – kind of like the DMV.
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175 comments Add your comment
Jason
March 30th, 2010
3:44 pm
So you throw them away and claim your child never brought them home. How are they going to prove that your child brought them home? If they claim that they are going to report you to credit agencies for non-payment, challenge them. They have no record of your signature, and a minor can’t be held responsible for his signature.
Peter
March 30th, 2010
3:44 pm
If they send them to you without you ever have ordering them, then they’re free. I mean, what can they do? Did you sign a contract? why should I spend my time and money sending them back to the photographer? They take that risk.
HB
March 30th, 2010
3:46 pm
FCM, some photographers will sell that service to you, but you do not automatically have a right to it when you sit down to have your picture taken. If you pay $5 specifically for a print, then you do not have the right to copy and distribute that photo however you wish. That’s like like buying a CD and then sending free tracks to friends.
There are several common arrangements. The traditional one for these types of pictures is the photographer holds the copyright, but the people retaining the service do not give permission for sale and distribution of their likeness. So the customer can’t just make as many copies as they want, and the photographer cannot sell copies to anyone but the customer. Other times, a photographer might sell the digital file or negative as part of the service, granting an unlimited license to the purchaser to print/distribute as they wish, and price that service accordingly. That is becoming more common for social media purposes, and photographers will sell often low resolution digital files of suitable quality for Facebook, but not high res enough for additional prints. In my own work, I sell both prints and files. For a family shoot, I will usually sell low res downloads and prints, all priced individually, and they can pick and choose what they want from proofs. When I’m hired for an event, like a softball game, I usually charge an up-front fee and just provide a CD of files, but sometimes the team prefers to pay a lower price for me to show up and then individually order prints and downloads from my site. So there are many options, but the arrangement should be determined at the time of purchase and the price set based on those terms. If you pay $5 for a 5×7 print, as opposed to for rights, and scan and reprint it, depriving the photographer of additional revenue, then that is theft.
Dew Fuss
March 30th, 2010
3:49 pm
I like bannanners.
Matt
March 30th, 2010
3:50 pm
this is such a racket. My wife is a teacher and hates to send these photos home because 1) they take away from instructional time twice a year, and 2) it creates a lot more headache when parents keep the photos and companies have to go through the school to collect. It’s such a hassle, and the pictures aren’t that great.
My parents almost always sent the photos back because we were able to find other photographers that would do school-like photos and make me look good.
SouthEastAtl Mom
March 30th, 2010
3:53 pm
Jeff, are you single now?
Aileen
March 30th, 2010
3:53 pm
I sent the whole package back. My sons smile was forced and he was wearing the same shirt he had on in the fall pictures. Actually it looked like the exact same picture with a different backround. My son knows that the pictures don’t determine my love for him. They can try all they want, but they are not putting it past me.
Matt
March 30th, 2010
3:57 pm
If I did not order it, it’s going back.
Schools are just becoming giant funraising machines anyway. Between the candy sales, the PTO golf tournament, the Mother’s Day cakes, the school cookie dough sales, it is just plain insane!!
I pay my taxes, provide for my daughter’s supplies and will participate in ONE fundraiser and that it ALL you are going to get out of me.
Stacey
March 30th, 2010
4:06 pm
Agree with everybody – the school photos are way too expensive and generally not as good as the ones we have done at Target. And this year our elementary school really made it difficult – they required us to choose and pay for a package before the photos were ever taken, and it was promoted as a fundraiser for the school. But it turns out the school only gets something like 1% of the purchase price! What a ripoff!!!
motherjanegoose
March 30th, 2010
4:07 pm
@ Mary…I live 45 miles from Hartsfield International and 30 miles from a Marta Station. I think I am the only one complaining, so here is the scoop:
I travel for business, I have 2 carry ons and 2 fifty pound trunks. HOW WOULD I HANDLE THIS ALONE AT THE MARTA STATION?
If someone drives me to the airport, that is 90 miles to drop me off ( round trip) and 90 miles to pick me up ( round trip). A lot of driving and yes my husband did do this 10 days ago…he arrived at the airport when I called to tell him I was sitting in Huntsville, AL….our flight was diverted due to weather. I was gone for 6 days and thought I would save the $66 plus $6 in tips ( for parking). He waited for me for 2 hours…not really worth his time.
I love how folks shoot off answers when they really do not know what is going on. This is not about getting to the airport….I do it 24 times per year with no problem. It is about being peeved at those who do not tip and tend to get the better service. ( Jeff mentioned tipping this morning)
I bill my clients for the parking and tips but it irks me when I drive a Chevy, park in the uncovered lot and tip the most…when I am dropped off last. Guess I will just have to deal with it and realize that I tip because those in the service industry rely on it. I am fully aware that those with the most money are not always the best tippers.
I am all about public transportation, when it is convenient. I have taken it in DC, Boston, New York, Chicago, Denver and Philly….anyone else? Taking 4 suitcases…not so much.
@ HB…I am with you on the copyright. I have children’s CDs and often hear teachers say:
I am going to buy a set of her CDs and then I can burn you a set…we can split the price.
There are many out there who do NOT understand what a copyright is. I have given up trying to make folks understand.
I Love Latinas
March 30th, 2010
4:07 pm
If Jeff’s personality is as good in real life as it is here, a lady would do well to get to know him (if he’s single now).
Jeff, if you are having a hard time in life travel on down to South America and get a latina woman. Real women, very loving, not fatties like here, and your opinion will actually matter to them. I speak from experience. :)
A Way Around It?
March 30th, 2010
4:10 pm
I don’t know why anyone didn’t suggest this:
If you like the way the pictures look, why not make copies and send back the originals?
You can go down to Wal-Mart, etc., and make copies of the original photos, including resizing them. They’re fairly inexpensive using the Kodak machine.
Then send back the originals.
After all, if you didn’t order the photos, they’re taking up your time. Why not get a benefit out of it?
JesusFreak
March 30th, 2010
4:12 pm
No problem sending them back! I have trained my son to know when companies are trying to take the consumer for a ride or at the least trying to turn a quick buck as in this case. They did the same thing with us and unfortunately for us, one of the times he really did look great so we ended up buying one of the sheets though the other time we had no qualms about sending them back. They just did Spring photos (like once a year isn’t enough) so we’ll see what they send back, we didn’t sign up at all. Smart move on their part, who can resist when their kid is particularly adorable? :-) But, $14 for a class photo?? That is a ripoff, especially considering they are digital. We recently went for a church pictorial directory photo shoot, talk about high pressure sales! When we informed the saleslady that we weren’t purchasing their $45-110 package, just getting the church photo for the directory, her smile turned into a scowl so quickly that we couldn’t help but chuckle as we left, it was THAT dramatic. The photo companies are obviously hurting though they have to realize that as demand dwindles, they have to adjust their prices downward or they will be making even less money. Like I told the lady, our choice is to blow a lot of money on photos, or pay a bill. She can smile or scowl all she likes, we weren’t going to be swayed either way. I doubt we’ll forget that moment of hilarity for years to come, it was worth it to endure the heavy sales pitch!
Mike
March 30th, 2010
4:12 pm
It’s been a long time since anyone foisted a school picture on me, but I’m reminded of the people who do the pictures at the Peachtree Road Race. They’re set up across the road on a bridge, snapping photos, then they send you a dozen solicitations by mail. The “last chance” letter somehow really wasn’t, and I got another one a few months later.
I’m not a runner, but I have the stamina and determination to do a 10K. By the time I reach 10th Street I’m sweaty and unattractive. That’s not something I want a picture of.
Susan
March 30th, 2010
4:13 pm
Have only had time to read a few of the comments, but as to the price of the school portraits, I don’t think they’re that expensive. If I had to dress my kid, take him to a studio and get his picture made, then sit through their sales pitch, my time and frustration would be far more valuable than the $42 I just paid for 5 portrait sheets from his school. If I don’t like the pictures, I don’t buy them, but I personally appreciate the opportunity to have pictures of my kids taken twice a year for a nominal fee because the reality is that I’m not going to make it to a portrait studio that often and kids grow fast. As to whether the kids look like movie stars in their school portraits, give me a break. I want a record of my kids’ real growing up years. All kids go through awkward phases when they’re missing teeth or they refuse to brush their hair in the morning. Those are part of the memories I want to look back on when they’re grown.
EmptyNestMom
March 30th, 2010
4:14 pm
By the time we finally graduated/escaped from our Cobb high school, I never wanted to hear the word Lifetouch again. They beat you down with annoyance on so many school issues, though.
Pro Photographer
March 30th, 2010
4:16 pm
I am a part-time professional photographer. When my son was a mere sprogling of 8, he told his teacher that he didn’t need to take the picture package home, “My dad is real photographer. We don’t need these.”
School pix look like what they are – cheap mementos. I don’t blame folks for buying them, however. They are less expensive than hiring me, but then, you get what you pay for.
“A Way Around It?” – what you suggest is violation of federal copyright laws.
YUKI
March 30th, 2010
4:23 pm
Well said, Susan!!!
mac
March 30th, 2010
4:26 pm
I buy one school picture for each kid every year and stick them in an album with all their school pictures. It’s nice to see the progression of time, but I don’t think any of them are really outstanding photographs.
If I want nice portraits of my kids, I take them myself. I’m a hobbyist and have even had several of my photographs published in a national magazine, so I feel somewhat qualified to do it. The pics look a lot more like the kids I know and love, and my cost is much less.
chris
March 30th, 2010
4:30 pm
Its a racket top to bottom and the schools have so blocked out competition from other photographers because of the kickbacks you get as many have stated an hourly employee shooting pics and under unrealistic time constraints to shoot as many kids as they can. On the other hand one must also remember these are school pics and if you choose to want more than that – take them to a local photographer and have them take the time you desire and ultimately have a product worth investing money in. Bottom line – send the crap back if you dont like em
TechMom
March 30th, 2010
4:31 pm
@ A way around it – most stores won’t let you make copies of professional photos. I’ve seen many a person turned away at our local Sam’s club who were trying to do that. Plus get real, those copies are definitely not good quality and as crappy as school pics are, the copies just make them worse.
I can’t stand school photos and I’d put Olan Mills, JCP, Sears, Target, etc. in the same category for quality. They just aren’t real photographers (b/c real photographers wouldn’t work at any of those places!) Hire a REAL photographer every couple of years and you’ll cherish those photos way more. I’d rather have a handful of awesome photos, blown up and framed on my wall than 12 years of crappy 8X10s. (I can do crappy 8X10s with my digital any day I want!)
Art
March 30th, 2010
4:35 pm
I agree with Greg! If you didn’t order them, I don’t think you’re under any obligation to send them back. This is an out-and-out scam and the school system should be ashamed that they are involved.
Gail
March 30th, 2010
4:38 pm
Every Spring I send them back. I didn’t ask for them. I buy the Fall Photos. I have asked that they not even be taken, to no avail.
TechMom
March 30th, 2010
4:41 pm
You know, speaking of things that you didn’t order. I remember when I was like 13 or 14 signing up for one the mail order CD clubs. I got the 8 for a penny or whatever and then they kept sending me CDs. My mom was mad because you had to pay to return them and I was evidently under contract to buy 4 more or something like that. She called and ended up getting me out of the contract because I was underage (she of course threatened me with my life if I tried it again) but it just goes to show that this isn’t anything new.
pam
March 30th, 2010
4:41 pm
At the elementary school where my children attend, they actually sell the packages to the parents, photos unseen. That’s right! They expect me to order photos whithout seeing what they look like! They are crazy! I would never buy anything, even school photos, without proofing them. Yes. Even photos of my children. These folks must be nutty.
Bcatl
March 30th, 2010
4:43 pm
Original poster sez: “If you don’t return them, you owe.” Really?
I tend to disagree with that. The child is under 18, and is unable to form a contract.
It is the photo company that takes the risk of sending the photos to the parents without being asked to do so. They can’t create some liability for you by sticking a piece of paper in with the photographs containing legal jargon.
One thing for sure, let the school administration know what you think about this. Call the district, not the local school. Make noise.
A Way Around It!
March 30th, 2010
4:43 pm
““A Way Around It?” – what you suggest is violation of federal copyright laws.”
Oh, lawds!
So what. A black van labeled “SWAT” is not going to pull up in your front yard with guns drawn.
Please, no more melodrama.
Sam
March 30th, 2010
4:46 pm
Your School gets a 60-70% commission of the package price, the reason the school takes pictures twice a year is that they need the money.. School pictures are the largest single fund raiser for most schools.
Polytron/E2M Sucks
March 30th, 2010
4:46 pm
If you’re taking copies of the pictures for personal use, and keeping at home (as opposed to selling them, distributing, etc.) there’s no case to pursue for “federal copyright super mega laws.”
Case dismissed! Lack of merit… :)
HB
March 30th, 2010
4:46 pm
TechMom, thanks for the info on Sam’s — I’m glad to know they are prohibiting reprints of copyrighted material. In my experience, Kinko’s is pretty good about that too. I print notecards there and have been questioned about my copyright on the back. I show that my ID matches the photo credit and then they make the prints, but I’m pleased that they are checking.
KDFatlanta
March 30th, 2010
4:48 pm
The’ve gotten smart at my child’s school. They no longer send home the package because, apparently, parents were not returning them NOR were they paying for them. I’ve been suckered into buying the entire package a few times in the past just because they sent them, but there were those photos over the years that got sent back because I, like you, was unaware that it was picture day and my child looked unprepared for the occasion!
BL
March 30th, 2010
4:52 pm
Legally, if someone sends you something with out you authorizing it, it’s considered a gift and you are not required to pay for it or return it.
Wayne
March 30th, 2010
4:54 pm
If you do come to an agreement with a photographer about copyright laws, make sure you have it in writing. I’ve worked with a couple of photogs now and when I buy the pictures (printed and on DVD) I get a release of copyright from the photographer, in effect transferring them to me. That way, the photog can’t come back on me, and I’m covered when I want to print them out anywhere.
TechMom
March 30th, 2010
4:55 pm
You know it’s a slow day in the news when this blog makes the front page of ajc.com. Did all the gangsters and baby-killers take the week off or something?
FormerSchoolPhotographer
March 30th, 2010
4:58 pm
All are correct when you say that the quality of the pictures are bad. When you are shooting 80 -150 kids a day (many not in a very good mood or plain PO’d) at some point you stop caring about how the kids look or that you are off on the focus a bit. It quickly becomes an assembly line….sit, turn to your left, turn your head a bit to the right, smile, SNAP!…Next!..all of 5- 10 seconds a shot.
I do however buy a sheet of the school photos as some of the money benefits the PTA and sort of a sympathetic gesture for some 20 year old working for $8.00 an hour. ( like myself 20 years ago )
Pro Photographer
March 30th, 2010
5:08 pm
Full of myself? Not really. I’m a good photographer. There are others who are better. I make a decent supplementary income shooting sports, portraits, weddings, etc. I have been published most recently in Atlanta Magazine and Creative Loafing.
There’s no need for animosity. School pictures are like school lunches – cheaply made of questionable quality, but sometimes the best you can do.
Richard Bagge
March 30th, 2010
5:14 pm
Just lay the photo on your flatbed scanner, get a 600 dpi copy to send to friends and return the package. Nothing simpler.
Polytron/E2M Sucks
March 30th, 2010
5:14 pm
“I’m glad to know they are prohibiting reprints of copyrighted material.”
That’s right, because you’re a good little woman, and always do what you’re told. Please pass the Kool-Aid.
;)
HB
March 30th, 2010
5:28 pm
Polytron, as I said before, I’m a photographer, so yeah, I appreciate businesses helping to prevent theft of my intellectual property. No Kool-Aid — just a financial interest.
fer
March 30th, 2010
5:36 pm
Who ever heard of a child being upset because his/her school pictures were sent back? Oh, my goodness, it’s just amazing what happens in today’s world…. The pictures are often too expensive, so what’s the big deal? (Do keep in mind, tho’, that they are a fundraiser for the school.) My parents sent mine back, I sent my children’s back, and in 30 years of teaching, I saw many sent back. Never ever heard of a child getting his/her feelings hurt!
In the Industry
March 30th, 2010
5:42 pm
I have been in the School Photography Industry for over 12 years now doing everything from photographing on pic day to training other photographers to being an account rep trying to sign new schools and have worked for both nationwide companies and smaller local ones. Most of you are correct, for the most part the industry hires people with no experience, does some training and sends them out. And for the spring pictures, most of the time they are done as “spec” jobs, and the company has no idea who returns the packages and who does not unless the teacher keeps track of it (and most do not).
A lot of the issues are not necessarily with the school photography company, but the demands the school is placing on the photographers. Most schools want the photography company out of the school as fast a possible, and will actually set the schedule during the picture day, only allowing 30-45 seconds with each student. With the current cash strapped situation our schools are in around Georgia, most of them rely on the school picture program to pay for a lot of extra items around the school that are not covered in their budget. As for the prices, trust me, the company is not getting rich, especially in Georgia. The industry standard for Georgia is to give 50% of the sales back to the school for the fall shoot and up to 25% of the sales from other shoots throughout the year. The schools need to do a better job letting parents know that this is a fund raiser for the school. For some of my larger accounts, I could be giving the school as much as $20,000 – $30,000 back in commission per year. But a lot of schools do not generate enough sales to cover the expense of equipment, backgrounds, and the salaries of photographers throughout the year and the company can actually loose money in those schools.
Just giving you guys this information so you are properly informed.
Denise
March 30th, 2010
5:46 pm
We tried to make a copy of a school picture of a deceased cousin for a family collage at Wal-mart and were told that we couldn’t make a copy of a school picture that was less than 75 years old. They took our copies, tore them up, and put them in the trash. Kind of ticked me off but I guess the rules are in place to protect photographers. Of course there are plenty ways to get around that (scan and print at home) but I’m sure most people won’t go thru the hassle and will find another way to get pics of the kids.
Mike
March 30th, 2010
6:14 pm
I wouldn’t feel bad about returning the photos. In fact I wouldn’t have bought even one sheet. I might have told my kid either one to stop crying, and if he did, have fun with the digital camera and photoshop next opportunity, or even at the table if she/he mellowed out fast.( Mine generally do if the tears are fake. ) I hate school pictures as a rule, and that method is the real hard sell. I would also make a point to contact the school and complain about this method. If they make money off of guilting parents, return the guilt.
Linda
March 30th, 2010
7:07 pm
Most of the parents keep the pictures without paying for them. It is difficult to get them back. Of course there are some who pay while the rest steal them.
A
March 30th, 2010
7:28 pm
@In the Industry–I really appreciate your comments. Our elementary school doesn’t state anywhere (weekly newsletter, etc.) that picture days are fundraisers. I personally think it is unnecessary to have picture days more than once a year, but if I knew for certain that the school was getting a kickback, I wouldn’t feel so bad about the inflated picture prices. We all do have a choice: buy the pictures or don’t buy the pictures, but schools needs to be upfront about if they are making anything off our sales, and if so what specifically are the funds going toward. Parents like to know these things!
catlady
March 30th, 2010
8:55 pm
Our school won’t send them home because too many parents keep the pics and refuse to pay.
I agree they are expensive. Ours are not nearly as bad as yours, however.
Teresa, Please remember that this is how Walsh looks NOW. In 20 years you will love these pictures, scraggly teeth, bad shirt, and all. Take my word for it. Buy a few.
FCM
March 30th, 2010
9:16 pm
HB I was agreeing with you, that the photographer holds the copyright.
I just think that practice should become obsolete. I think I should just pay for the service and the digital version of photos be mine. I don’t see the purpose in buying photos when I can print them myself. Or better yet send them via email and let the various family print if they want too.
I think the days of packaged photography should come to an end…I realize on that aspect you and I will agree to disagree.
JATL
March 30th, 2010
10:00 pm
I love the pure retro, kitchsy memorabilia factor of these photos! We have lots of photos we make and we have professionals make, but I already love my album of my oldest’s preschool pictures. I have some real doozies of school pictures (especially those awkward junior high years), but they’re kind of priceless now! Not sure about all schools, but our preschool makes a lot of money off of the photos and uses it as a fundraiser. Considering how much help most of our schools need, I wouldn’t be too proud of keeping them without paying. At least send them back!
starr
March 30th, 2010
10:10 pm
I buy both the fall and the spring pictures.the prices are way too high and your right the pictures never turn out good.but i cant say no.my kids wouldnt care if i bought them or not but i cant say no.so i’m one of the dumb mothers that they sucker into buying them everytime.
HB
March 30th, 2010
11:36 pm
FCM, some photographers, including myself, will agree to selling digital files, or retaining copyright but granting you an unlimited license to reproduce, but it will likely be at a higher cost or at least a higher sitting fee (they have to make it profitable). Most home printers are not as high quality as pro print shops, so I think many people will continue to want to purchase pro quality prints. Most pros I know have their own equipment or have scouted out reliable printers that work primarily with pros. Shutterfly and CVS don’t match up with the company I work with who hosts my site.