If you’re a parent of a school-aged child, then right about now you’re probably dealing with picture day. I can still remember the excitement I felt as a child about gearing up to picture day. Except for the holidays or my birthday, it was the one time of year when I was allowed to get a new outfit–from hair bows to tights and new shoes.
Back in fourth grade I was particularly stoked for picture day, because it was the first time I’d chosen my entire new outfit, from head to toe–no input from mom and dad this time around. I had my new yellow dress, yellow barrettes, yellow tights and black patent leather shoes.
It was the morning of picture day, and I was all dressed, sans the shoes, and in the bathroom to brush my teeth. I recall needing a new tube of toothpaste or something that was stored in the cabinet above the toilet in the bathroom. So I did what I always did when I needed to reach something up high in the bathroom–I stepped onto the closed toilet seat to give myself a boost. Except this morning the toilet seat wasn’t closed and I stepped in to the toilet itself.
Though the toilet was recently flushed and the water was clean enough, there wasn’t time to wash and dry my tights before I had to leave for school. I was crushed that I would have to change out of my beloved yellow tights and wear an alternate white pair, and I never again looked to step up on a toilet before checking to make sure the top was closed.
But the reason that I’m bringing up picture day–and my memories of it–is because we just went through picture day at the middle school with my daughter Annie, and next week we’ll be doing the same with my daughter Jane at the high school. I don’t know about you, but I find picture day to be a complete rip off (maybe my mom did, too?). Why? Well, I think my friend Denise said it best over at her blog “Confessions of a Mean Mommy”:
We all have cameras. Many of us have very good cameras. Even our cheaper cameras take good pictures. That was not always the case, of course.
No longer do we need these companies to “capture” our child’s likeness. I mean, really, don’t we all have way too many pictures of our kids as it is? I know that I do try to use the school pictures as ready-made gifts for the grandparents. We frame the 5X7 shots and give them away. Sure, they may not be the best pictures of the kids but it’s the thought that counts, right?
My biggest pet peeve with today’s class pictures, besides the prices, is the way they set up the actual class picture: it’s just a group of headshots from each kid’s portrait. No more do they gather together a bunch of chairs and have kids sit and stand in a group, along with their teacher. There is something very nostalgic about that set up, and I miss it.
So how can you make picture day more affordable? Well, I know you can’t just keep your kid home to avoid the whole problem, because there is always picture retake day. However, you can try some of these tricks:
Forego the fancy colored background. Just by choosing the “regular” gray background, I saved about $8 on the “package.” (The pictures here are from a few years ago when we experimented with letting our kids choose a colored background for their school photos. I’m not sure they did anything to enhance the images.)
Order the class picture only. I know that on picture day for the travel teams my girls play on–yeah, more pictures we don’t need–you have the option of ordering just the team or class picture, and there is no charge for that. See if you can’t finagle that with the company that does your school’s class pictures.
Find ways to reuse the pictures. If you find yourself with a bunch of wallets, trim them into strips for bookmarks and slip them into book gifts you give this holiday. Or use those smaller, “I don’t know what to do with these” pictures as Christmas ornaments. You can find teeny tiny frames at a craft store, and you can put them in there and hang them on your tree and everyone else’s tree, just to get rid of them!
Talk to your parent-teacher group about changing how they handle picture day. Someone mentioned to me that photographic companies negotiate with schools and the parent-teacher groups to get in as the class picture vendor by offering to share some of the profits with the school. This was a new one on me. If this is the case with your school–and they’re not actually making money from the photography companies as promised–then suggest they come up with a Plan B. At the very least ask them to do away with the spring portraits that seem to have become commonplace in many districts. Why do kids need to be pulled out of class for another period during the school year to have their pictures taken and I have to pay for that, too?
What are some of the ways you make picture day doable for your family?
READ LEAH ON HOME GOES STRONG
Our school makes us pay for the photos in advance, plus we can only buy packages that are completely inflexible and contain things we don’t want. And, the prices went up this year so that the minimum package is now $27.
Last year’s photos were terrible, even with re-takes, so that was $50 that was wasted. This year, I’m making a stand and not buying any photos at all. I’ve already talked to my children about it so that they understand.
I agree with Jennifer: Just say no to picture day. My kids are used to it by now and expect it. Between two pictures days at school, a yearbook, swim team, soccer team and baseball team pictures (all x2), it’s too much. I do sometimes buy a team photo, but other than that, no thanks.
I’m curious–how is it for the kids at school when you just say no? Do they feel awkward or anything?
my kids’ picture day was like two weeks ago and it was pre-pay packages. the cheapest package was $30 and I have twin boys!! no way. We are taking Christmas pictures with a photog here in our town and package will be about $30 with way more pictures and poses.
btw…I never took a big class photo at my schools. lol! Our class photo was those seperate head shot photos.
Gee, maybe I’ve dated myself by alluding to those kinds of class photos!
From the teacher perspective — Amen, sisters! I’d love to do away with picture day. Middle and High Schools take pictures at registration so it’s not a disruption on a regular class day. I’d dearly love to see that done – or no pictures at all! – at my elementary school.
I just found out this year that many schools/picture people offer those who help during the day (volunteers) free photos. Unfortunately I found this out while volunteering at my daughter’s middle school the day AFTER I didn’t help out at my son’s elementary school. At least I got one set of photos gratis. Worth asking at your school, isn’t it?
Great suggestion, Michelle!
What about taking your own photos? There are some amazing cameras out on the market nowadays, with some excellent freeware for manipulating the photos. Take the highest quality image you can get on your camera, RAW if possible. Then take them into CVS, Wal-Mart or some such and have them printed out. WAY much cheaper. I am looking right now at the “package” deals my sons school is offering – no single image options, and the least expensive package is $47.00. 30 minutes out at the park, or in your living room, $10 bucks for printing and you are good to go.
I’m not a parent, but my mother never bought any of my school pictures when I was a kid – because it was a total rip off. I remember being upset about it, because all of the other kids’ parents bought them, but when I think about it now, my parents took so many other pictures of us, that they didn’t need those class pictures.
Now that I work as a videographer, I see that those photos were actually really poorly set up and taken. They all looked terrible.
When I have kids, I won’t be buying my kids’ school pictures. I’ll take my own.
Picture day at my son’s school was a few weeks ago. I think all of the children have their picture taken regardless of whether their parents buy any. The school uses student pictures on library card and lunch accounts. So there’s no problem about hurt feelings over not having pictures taken. I’m with Leah on just ordering a couple 5x7s for the grandparents. I have to say, my child does a better job smiling for the professional photographer than me or his dad. We tried to do nice family “Christmas card” shots while on vacation and the six year old is goofing off in most of them.
I also vote for class photos– not yearbook style head shots– for the kids. I am still mourning the loss of all my grade school class photos.
JUST ASK YOUR SCHOOL PRINCIPLE FOR A 40% DISCOUNT!!lifetouch pictures are actually 40% less than what the order form show!! The other 40% goes directly to your kids school principle!! thats right, lifetouch cuts a nice fat check back to the school $thousands$(possibly $10,000+per school) of dollars. I’m a parent of two and after all these years have just discovered this fact…You would be suprised what they do with all that money, no PTA or parent approval required.. It’s public information!! So, don’t get mad at lifetouch, just ask your kids principle to send you that 40% rebate check plus interest you be suprised what they’ll say..They’ll take your $$ without full disclosure and try ot spin it like it’s a “FUND RAISER”. Show me an investment opportunity where I can get 40% with no money out.
I’ll have to ask the principal at the school about the principle of this whole thing. Thanks for the heads up.