School pictures - do you get to see them before ordering?

Question

Our elementary school has a picture company that comes in twice a year to take the kids pictures. The prints cost an arm and a leg. And we have to send in the order with payment latest by the day they are going to take the pictures.

I don't like to order without seeing a sample. In our previous school, they sent home a sample or 2, and then we got to choose. Here they don't.

Do you place order for print/copies before seeing the pictures, or do you get to see a print before ordering more sizes, prints?

I know no one here will know about my school's pictures policy. I was asking about schools other than mine.

Answer 1

This varies from schools and photo companies. At my nieces elementary, they have to purchase fall pictures without seeing proofs bu int he spring they send home a wallet size sample pic to decide if you want to order any.

Answer 2

I do the same thing every year, I always say I'm not going to order the school pictures but I do. Most of the time it ends up with them having to get the retakes and those are a little bit better but not much. I just don't think they spend enough time trying to get a good picture because they have so many they need to take. But with me I'm afraid if I don't get the picture done at school I'll probably never get them done that year. It's just convenient. So, I think if I had time that I knew I could get them done else where I would.

Answer 3

I work in a school district, and deal with photo companies. Many of them do not have an option to view the picture prior to placing an order. When the picture envelope comes home, contact the photo company directly to discuss the options available for ordering prints at a later date. This would allow you to order just the minimum order to get a picture, and you would be able to order additional prints later if you so choose. Generally, I recommend students have their photo taken whether they are purchasing a package or not, as schools often use the photos for class composites, yearbook photos, student ID's, etc. If your photo order envelope doesn't have contact information, call your school's office; they should be able to help you. You will often be able to get photos that are of comparable quality by going to a department store photo department, but at a fraction of the cost. Good luck!

Answer 4

This is the way my school did it too.

Send in the money, for package X, Y or Z.

Get the picture taken.

Receive the pictures you bought in 6-8 weeks.

If you hate the pictures, there will be ONE re-take. You must send the first pictures back and order a re-take. If your child blinks in the re-take then you just bought a lovely set of way-too-expensive pictures with their eyes closed.

Great deal, huh?

Just to to walmart or another store like that with a photo studio, they have good quality pictures, friendly staff, and cheap prices. You'll get to see the pictures on the computer and order exactly how many of which pictures you want.

Answer 5

I never order my kids pictures! Just because of that reason. It's not right when you have to pay BEFORE you see the pictures. I take my kids up to a photography place every year cause you know your going to get a good picture.

Answer 6

At most our schools - Fall pictures we don't get to see proofs. - I usually get the smallest packs - since this is they picture in the yearbook. Spring we usually get to see a proof.

But I never worry about not having enough pictures for family as I am a photographer. So I always have pictures of my kids.

Answer 7

I've seen it both ways, over the years.

The 'order how many you want up front' way lowers paperwork back & forth for both the photo company and the school office/teachers/parents. And, whether you pay later or pay first, there is always a picture retake day scheduled, in case you end up with a goofy-looking one.

Answer 8

At my son's school in the fall they take pictures and you pay before you see them. If you don't like them you can have them retaken on the make up day.

Then in the spring they take pictures and send them home before we pay for them. This makes no sense to me at all. I mean why do it one way in the fall and another in the spring. I like the spring pics better because we get plastic book marks, key chains, and all kinds of cool stuff.

Yes they are outrageous!! What I usually do is order just one sheet and take him to Walmart because they are cheap and they are good pics and you get to see them before they even print them up.

EDIT you know what I did one year? I worked on the PTA board and they said if you go in for the day of the pictures you'd get the pictures for half price if you worked half a day. If you worked all day you got the biggest pack free!!!

All you have to do is go to the classrooms and tell each teacher it's their turn and walk them to the photo place. Then you help keep them in line and comb their hair if it's messy. They use a different comb for each child. I don't know if that's an option for you but it helped me out. You have to ask at your school to see if it's possible. They don't go around asking for help because they don't want every parent signing up for it!

Answer 9

At my kids' schools, they always bring home a sample picture with a package for ordering information and payment. I have always seen the picture before paying anything for it.

Answer 10

For several years we got to view the proofs, then last Fall suddenly they had a new picture company who did what you have to do, pay up front. They botched up the pictures so horribly that they ended up having to take make up pictures (technical issues with equipment). Then in the Spring, probably due to all the complaints they received, they switched over to offering proofs before payments....