Comments on: The High Cost of Picture Day

By: Persephone

Persephone — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:02:16 +0000

I think candid photos create the best pictorial memories. Portraits seem outdated, forced and often result in unflattering pictures being displayed for years to come.

By: Ann

Ann — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:23:57 +0000

Being older, I find that the pictures I enjoy best are the ones that were taken at famiy or friend gatherings. The school ones gather dust, but the ones of swimming at the lake with my dad or of me and my friends are the ones that bring back the most precious memories.

Now my brother, on the other hand, still has professional pictures taken of his (grown) family for Christmas cards, etc. Considering the hours he works, maybe it’s how he keeps track of what his kids looked like at various ages! LOL

By: topwaystosave

topwaystosave — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:48:44 +0000

I remember how expensive senior pictures were back in high school. That was almost 15 years ago so I can’t even imagine what they are now.

I know for our little girl I had a 50% off coupon at JC Penney and I still paid over $100. Yes they made great xmas gifts for family and it was nice having a “professional”, but I think it was a one and done deal.

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:42:28 +0000

Our church has actually gone the opposite route for confirmation pictures. We don’t use a professional photographer. For a while, we had a skilled parent come in and take the photos and then print them up at Walmart at cost for families who wanted to purchase them. Now, we still have a church member there as photographer (so that the church has some to keep), but we just load them all onto a CD and give that out to the families. They can print whichever ones they want however they want.

By: savannahzmomma1

savannahzmomma1 — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:19:13 +0000

I agree with this post. My little daughter had a ballet/tap/tumbling picture day this year, and I thought, “For almost a hundred bucks I’ll get, what?” I skipped bringing her to the picture day, skipped buying the pictures. She complained a bit, but it is all forgotten. I spend time with her making ornaments, cookies, reading, taking pictures of my own… the pictures mean next to nothing. Her world was hardly shattered and it was 79 bucks I’m glad we kept.

The elementary school has school pics with an ugly background, and we had to pay for the pics before they were even taken, so I said, “No thanks!” Why would I buy a picture that might turn out terrible? With no proofs or chance to review them? The daycare she attends at the beginning of the day has a firm that makes nicer pictures, and you can buy, or not, after you look at them. Yep, I’m not going to permit myself to be guilted into participating in the insanity anymore.

By: L

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:50:49 +0000

I work in a daycare and we have local companies come in for picture days. It’s a complete ripoff. Employees get 50% off, and even at that, my co-workers pay between $30-50 for pictures anyone can do with a digital camera and a sheet for a backdrop!

By: mom-from-missouri

mom-from-missouri — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:48:06 +0000

Another advantage of homeschooling. Our yearbook only cost $12 from the homeschool coop. At that price I can buy one for each child and for us (parents). Sports teams around here don’t do all the photos as you described. Usually parents all bring their cameras and take their own.

By: Ann

Ann — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:26:43 +0000

With the high cost of school activities and now photos, I have to admit that I’m REALLY glad that I decided early in my marriage that I was already raising an adult (’cause his mother obviously hadn’t) and didn’t need a child to complicate the issue!

I feel very sorry for parents these days. Kids definitely have their positive points, but they’re expensive!

By: disneysteve

disneysteve — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:56:12 +0000

We buy one photo per year, the school one, and we buy the cheapest package they offer which is under $20. Then we just make copies as needed. We really don’t need that many. One for us, one for each grandmother and a couple of other relatives.

When she performs in a show, we usually buy photos from that because we can’t take our own and would like a remembrance of that.

I see no reason to buy more than that. If your kid is in multiple activities that all do picture days, just skip the ones you don’t want.

By: Monroe on a Budget

Monroe on a Budget — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:52:03 +0000

It gets even more complicated for the high schoolers. Here’s a post I wrote on “How to limit the budget on senior year pictures.”
http://www.blogsmonroe.com/budget/2008/10/how-to-limit-the-budget-on-senior-year-pictures/