|
Post by iamkristinl16 on Sept 19, 2017 15:02:08 GMT
Lifetouch does our school photos and it seems that there could be a much more streamlined process. Usually in the fall they send home an order form but you can still order after the pics are taken. In the spring they send home a full packet and you choose what you want (which I think is not the best idea).
This year, we have to order before the pics are taken. They said they won't take a photo unless there is an order. So not only can you not see what the pic looks like, you also won't be in the yearbook or class photo if you don't buy a package.
What is so difficult about sending home a proof first? Or even a digital image to view before you order? What if the picture is horrible and you would like a retake? But you have already paid?
I'm curious how other schools/companies do this.
|
|
Belle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,309
Jun 28, 2014 4:39:12 GMT
|
Post by Belle on Sept 19, 2017 15:04:37 GMT
Pictures for elementary, middle school and high school are done a few days before school starts. Everybody has their picture taken for ASB cards and the yearbook. If you want to order pictures, you can do so on picture day or a couple of weeks later when they send home the proofs. If you miss picture day, there is a make up day scheduled once school starts.
|
|
|
Post by myshelly on Sept 19, 2017 15:05:45 GMT
Lifetouch basically has a monopoly on school pictures in a ton of districts, so they can do whatever they want.
The way you describe is pretty much the way it's done here. Pre order in the fall and send pics home in the spring.
For jr high and high school you have a pic taken for your ID and yearbook regardless of whether you pay for a package. For elementary you only get a pic if you pay.
|
|
pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,643
Location: The Grand Canyon
Jun 25, 2014 20:18:39 GMT
|
Post by pudgygroundhog on Sept 19, 2017 15:06:13 GMT
We do LifeTouch too. I guess I hadn't really thought about it before. I always buy the cheapest package - a few individual pics and a class picture. I never do anything with the pictures but put them in my daughter's file (I take my own pics that go to grandparents, etc.) - so I haven't been that concerned about quality (although all the pics have been fine).
They do retakes here or a makeup day - but not sure how it works if you already bought a package.
|
|
|
Post by bianca42 on Sept 19, 2017 15:18:46 GMT
We have to order ahead of time here, although they take everyone's picture for the yearbook even if you didn't buy anything.
Middle school son - we got the order form in the mail before school started and pictures were taken on the 3rd day. Elementary school son - order forms came home last week and pictures are taken next Friday.
In both cases, we'll get the pictures back in time to give as Christmas gifts.
|
|
bethany102399
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,521
Oct 11, 2014 3:17:29 GMT
|
Post by bethany102399 on Sept 19, 2017 15:19:45 GMT
we have to order before the pics are taken This is how it's always been done in our area. You pay the day pics are taken. If you don't care for them there is a retake day. For years a local photographer did it. I loved it as I could get a very cheap package that included a 5 x 7, and each year just add the next one. how cheap? DS's photo package is $13 bucks. I paid the same for DD a couple of weeks ago. All I really want is the one 5x7, so at the end of both of their school years I'll have the progression from pre-K up through Senior year all in the same size. DD's 4th grade year the school switched to lifetouch. I about choked when i saw the prices. We ended up paying over 40 bucks between the 2 of them JUST so I could get my 5x7 to match the other years. We switched schools for 5th grade and we're back to the local company which they're using this year as well (both middle and elementary). I was SO happy to see them come back. I still follow the old elementary on facebook and it appears they still use Lifetouch. They do offer a retake day, we've only used it once when DS, who has become very self conscious about his teeth decided to do some kind of wonky smile where he sucked in his lower lip and pushed out his upper lip. It was just bad. Any other time I just say this is where they are at this stage and let it go. Helps that my oldest is a ham hock and is always excited for picture day.
|
|
|
Post by workingclassdog on Sept 19, 2017 15:26:13 GMT
Our school used Lifetouch for a short period of time.. I am guessing they didn't like them, cause they switched to a local company. We have fall and spring pictures. Seems like every year they change something up. Uniforms must be worn sometimes, sometimes not. This year no uniforms and free dress day for two days. (Takes two days to get all the pictures done). New admin this year so hopefully we will get this process streamlined. Prices not not bad, $20 something for the smallest packet. I don't send out pictures anymore, so I have a slew of pictures. I guess I should just order one 5x7 but I always think, I'll send one to my mom or dad, but usually forget or stick it in the Christmas card.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 5, 2024 10:56:29 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2017 15:28:07 GMT
For my kids' school district, lifetouch does the elementary and middle school pictures. High school pictures are done by a local studio that is owned by an alumni (she does it very well and loved the boys high school pictures far more than the ones by lifetouch). There's no longer a picture day during school. It's done at registration about a month before school starts. Re-takes are done during the first conferences in early October. Pictures are pre-paid. Didn't pay? Then the only thing that happens with the picture is that it goes into the yearbook and is used for the student ID. Every student must have a picture taken for ID. At least at the middle and high school, they do.
I know a few families in the other districts. One district does (did?) picture day on count day to ensure the highest # of kids present. Another had theirs yesterday.
|
|
breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,893
Location: PNW
Jul 20, 2014 21:57:23 GMT
|
Post by breetheflea on Sept 19, 2017 15:30:53 GMT
The photographer varies by school in our district. We've had Lifetouch at one school, someone else at another and a local company at our current school.
You always pay before the photos are taken, and if you need a redo then they will retake the picture and give you the same package you ordered the first time.
No spring pictures here, only fall.
|
|
AmandaA
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,501
Aug 28, 2015 22:31:17 GMT
|
Post by AmandaA on Sept 19, 2017 15:51:24 GMT
Ours are done by Interstate Studios.. the same people that did mine back in the 80's! And you can pay for a backdrop upgrade and still get the laser light show effect if you want 😂. We pay up front with one chance for a retake, but they do take everyone's photo regardless for the class photo "collage".
|
|
|
Post by hdoublej on Sept 19, 2017 15:58:08 GMT
Our schools use Lifetouch as well. Pay upfront in the fall and they are sent home in the spring.
|
|
|
Post by busy on Sept 19, 2017 15:59:23 GMT
Lifetouch here too. In the fall, we get an announcement sent home about picture day. I can't remember if there is a full order form with it or not (there probably is), but there is online info that you can use to pick your backgrounds, packages, etc. I order the smallest package with the class picture, usually. Everyone gets their picture taken and we get the proofs electronically. They do it again in spring, but they only take photos of those kids who order, I think. I've never been interested in doing them twice a year, so I don't pay attention.
|
|
|
Post by Darcy Collins on Sept 19, 2017 16:02:47 GMT
My kids' high school uses Lifetouch, but the process was totally different. It's Fall only and pics are taken before school starts - all students are photographed for ID cards and yearbook - I seriously can't believe you're not in the yearbook if you don't buy a package - that wouldn't fly here. There were order forms available on pic day, but the school also sent home a link to order online (which I did). The photographers ( I think there were 4 or 5 stations) were quick but did let student or parent see the digital image and confirm they were happy (Im sure there was a limit to how much time retaking they would have taken). Packages were picked up at school a week or two later. If you hated your pics, you could go to retake day.
|
|
|
Post by pondrunner on Sept 19, 2017 16:06:36 GMT
Lifetouch here too, now that they bought out our local company (sad face)
They take everyone's picture order or not and you can order online anytime. Everyone is in the yearbook. I would be pissed if not, that punishes kids whose families can't afford school pics and that's not okay.
Lifetouch is fine as a pic company, I don't know how much I expect out of school pics anyway.
|
|
|
Post by vpohlman on Sept 19, 2017 16:09:44 GMT
Lifetouch here too. Pictures are only in the fall, everyone gets theirs taken for the annual, school ID's and Powerschool, you can order before or after, whichever you choose, pictures are here in about a month. There is retake day, just in case! We used to use an almost local studio, but they charged a bunch for packets and seemed difficult to work with. If you wanted retakes you had to travel 23 miles to their studio to get them, by appointment only. So we switched to Lifetouch about 12 years ago. I do think prices are higher this year, and the photographers we get are often very young and newly hired, so some of the pictures aren't so hot, and they're not very organized! This year we got a mostly good one though, she was just a half an hour late, so pictures didn't get started on time.
|
|
susanm
Shy Member
Posts: 25
Jun 29, 2014 16:42:18 GMT
|
Post by susanm on Sept 19, 2017 16:19:20 GMT
We have had Lifetouch, but currently have Ripcho, but it is pretty much identical. They send home the flyer listing all of the overpriced packages from which you order and send in payment on picture day, cross your fingers and hope for the best. Everybody gets photographed whether or not they order for school IDs and yearbook. No spring pictures for middle or high school.
|
|
Belle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,309
Jun 28, 2014 4:39:12 GMT
|
Post by Belle on Sept 19, 2017 16:54:13 GMT
Pictures for elementary, middle school and high school are done a few days before school starts. Everybody has their picture taken for ASB cards and the yearbook. If you want to order pictures, you can do so on picture day or a couple of weeks later when they send home the proofs. If you miss picture day, there is a make up day scheduled once school starts. Quoting myself... DS brought home his photo order packet yesterday and I just checked and it is from Lifetouch! I didn't order any photos on photo day so apparently, Lifetouch will send home sample pictures before you place your oder. I was surprised that they even did various backgrounds (bookshelf, all gray background etc). I don't understand why at some schools you place orders in the fall but you don't get the actual photos until spring? Why would it take so long to get the actual pictures?
|
|
|
Post by pondrunner on Sept 19, 2017 17:03:54 GMT
Pictures for elementary, middle school and high school are done a few days before school starts. Everybody has their picture taken for ASB cards and the yearbook. If you want to order pictures, you can do so on picture day or a couple of weeks later when they send home the proofs. If you miss picture day, there is a make up day scheduled once school starts. Quoting myself... DS brought home his photo order packet yesterday and I just checked and it is from Lifetouch! I didn't order any photos on photo day so apparently, Lifetouch will send home sample pictures before you place your oder. I was surprised that they even did various backgrounds (bookshelf, all gray background etc). I don't understand why at some schools you place orders in the fall but you don't get the actual photos until spring? Why would it take so long to get the actual pictures? They're separate I think. There are 2 picture days every year in most schools I know. Fall is an order, you get your ordered package. Spring you don't order in advance, that package goes home and you send back what you don't want.
|
|
|
Post by Minnesota*Mom on Sept 19, 2017 17:09:01 GMT
The district my kids go to uses LifeTouch as well. I have been a volunteer for picture day for the past 7 years, sometimes both fall and spring pictures. While there are a handful of really great photographers (I always put my kid in that line!), there are enough that are more worried about company policy than quality pictures. I overhear way too much from the photographers and don't like what I hear sometimes. I volunteered alongside one photographer that knowingly took a bad picture and just said "that's what retakes are for" instead of taking an additional picture that would have been more flattering to the student. He didn't want to take the time to take another picture. The photographers seem to have a number of shots they have to take in a certain amount of time or something. They also get mad when the volunteers move kids from their (long) line to a shorter line. (We still do it) The photographers just want the numbers.
If your child goes back on retake day, the photographer will take as much time as needed to get a good shot. At our school, they usually ask the student "what didn't you/mom/dad/guardian like about the first picture?" so that they can correct it. And many times they will show the retake pictures to the student on the screen to make sure it's acceptable. It's too bad they don't just take the time in the first place to get a good picture.
|
|
|
Post by iamkristinl16 on Sept 19, 2017 17:25:29 GMT
My kids' high school uses Lifetouch, but the process was totally different. It's Fall only and pics are taken before school starts - all students are photographed for ID cards and yearbook - I seriously can't believe you're not in the yearbook if you don't buy a package - that wouldn't fly here. There were order forms available on pic day, but the school also sent home a link to order online (which I did). The photographers ( I think there were 4 or 5 stations) were quick but did let student or parent see the digital image and confirm they were happy (Im sure there was a limit to how much time retaking they would have taken). Packages were picked up at school a week or two later. If you hated your pics, you could go to retake day. This is how it has been in years past but this year they seem to be more strict about wanting people to order right away. The jnfo from the high school said you could only order up to 48 hours after the pics were taken. The info from elementary said they wouldn't take the photo without an order having been made. Seems like that will bite them in the end since a lot of people order later (like I usually do). I don't have checks and would rather order online. I certainly hope they get the order info straight if they aren't taking pics unless there is an order. I would also rather see the pic first before ordering, since it seems that retakes are usually earlier than when the pics come back.
|
|
|
Post by beaglemom on Sept 19, 2017 17:48:41 GMT
Our photos are a fundraiser for the PTA. We have a professional photographer that comes in and takes all the pictures Preschool-8th grade over three days. They have used him the three years we've been there and as far as I know longer than that. The photos are taken outside with a neutral plants background. He takes at least 4 pictures per child. You get the proofs and then you can order the package you want. They are a little pricey, but like I said it is a huge fundraiser for the PTA, so I'm okay spending it. And the photos are beautiful!
|
|
|
Post by Basket1lady on Sept 19, 2017 18:03:07 GMT
Usually photos are done by Lifetouch or Herff Jones because those are the big yearbook companies. Between K to HS, my kids were in 11 schools. Sometimes we got the photo package before paying, sometimes we had to pay to get a photo package, sometimes we had to pay in person, sometimes we had to pay online, sometimes photos were in the fall and the spring, sometimes there were fancy backdrops, sometimes you had to pay for a backdrop anything more than grey... I've seen every variation out there, I think! Each variation of photos has different a different price/kickback structure, which ultimately helps determine yearbook pricing. I've also heard people say that you don't really have to return the photos from the packages they automatically send, as how are they going to MAKE you pay for them. Also in this digital age, people are scanning the auto package photos and then returning the package. My guess is that in the past few years, revenue from those auto photo packages has fallen to the point where it's not profitable anymore. I'm VERY surprised that not every student is in the yearbook--that seems very odd for a public school. Also, photos are put into a student's file (even elementary) and used for ID cards if those are used at the school. And the ID cards most likely come from the photo company as well. As for not seeing the photos first, you have the option of retakes or you can ask for a refund. Retakes will be very shortly after the photos come home, but they shouldn't be before the photos come home. It could you your kids are leaving photos at school until after the retakes. DS did that one year, as he hated having his photo taken and that year's photo was BAD! Precious darling.
|
|
|
Post by salem on Sept 19, 2017 20:19:01 GMT
We have a company named Geskus that takes our school pics. We get the order form home a week or so into the school year, you pick the package you want and send in money the day of pics. The photos come in a couple weeks later and if you don't like them, there's a scheduled retake day. No previews or proofs. No Spring pics.
|
|
|
Post by Tammiem2pnc1 on Sept 19, 2017 21:49:32 GMT
We have Lifetouch as well and always had to chose a package before the picture was taken. In the Spring we always received all the pictures and then chose. I always like the spring pictures best so I waited for those. I would order an 8x10 in the fall pictures and the entire Spring package because I liked the extras we got.
|
|
|
Post by epeanymous on Sept 19, 2017 21:52:58 GMT
We get a form in advance. You can get a retake, but you can't see proofs first. I order literally the smallest package every year so that my kids don't yell at me later about not getting their school photos, but I'm a pretty lousy photographer and still take photos of my kids that look 1000 times better and more like them than these photos I don't pick that come home from school.
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Sept 19, 2017 22:01:10 GMT
Lifetouch here too. We prepay for the photos early in the fall (only) and they come before Christmas because I put them in with some of our Christmas cards. If you don't like the photos when they come back you can dress your kid up for retake day and try again. DD's school pics last year were really nice, I was pretty impressed.
|
|
|
Post by melanell on Sept 19, 2017 22:11:37 GMT
Pictures are taken in September. We are told the date and the background color ahead of time. We send kid to school. Photos are taken. A week later a packet comes home with proofs of 3 different poses and an order form. We choose what pose we want and what package or individual prints we want, plus if we wi9sh to pay extra for any retouching. We send in form & payment and a few weeks later the photos come home from school. Easy peasy. I wouldn't want to order photos without seeing them. I'd always wind up ordering the fewest possible in case they were lousy and then wishing I had more if they turned out really well.
|
|
|
Post by iamkristinl16 on Sept 19, 2017 22:12:28 GMT
Usually photos are done by Lifetouch or Herff Jones because those are the big yearbook companies. Between K to HS, my kids were in 11 schools. Sometimes we got the photo package before paying, sometimes we had to pay to get a photo package, sometimes we had to pay in person, sometimes we had to pay online, sometimes photos were in the fall and the spring, sometimes there were fancy backdrops, sometimes you had to pay for a backdrop anything more than grey... I've seen every variation out there, I think! Each variation of photos has different a different price/kickback structure, which ultimately helps determine yearbook pricing. I've also heard people say that you don't really have to return the photos from the packages they automatically send, as how are they going to MAKE you pay for them. Also in this digital age, people are scanning the auto package photos and then returning the package. My guess is that in the past few years, revenue from those auto photo packages has fallen to the point where it's not profitable anymore. I'm VERY surprised that not every student is in the yearbook--that seems very odd for a public school. Also, photos are put into a student's file (even elementary) and used for ID cards if those are used at the school. And the ID cards most likely come from the photo company as well. As for not seeing the photos first, you have the option of retakes or you can ask for a refund. Retakes will be very shortly after the photos come home, but they shouldn't be before the photos come home. It could you your kids are leaving photos at school until after the retakes. DS did that one year, as he hated having his photo taken and that year's photo was BAD! Precious darling. The email didn't say specifically that the photo wouldn't be in the yearbook, but if they aren't taking a picture without an order, it would imply that the student wouldn't be in the yearbook, right? Unless it is all a ploy to get people to order early and they actually ARE letting people take a pic without an order. It is interesting that the HS email said orders could only be placed 48 hours after picture day, but the elementary said no photo would be taken if there was no order. Lifetouch always sends me emails trying to get me to buy other products or packages for gifts. Seems that if they really are changing their policy regarding ordering, it will reduce their overall sales.
|
|
|
Post by Basket1lady on Sept 20, 2017 1:27:37 GMT
Usually photos are done by Lifetouch or Herff Jones because those are the big yearbook companies. Between K to HS, my kids were in 11 schools. Sometimes we got the photo package before paying, sometimes we had to pay to get a photo package, sometimes we had to pay in person, sometimes we had to pay online, sometimes photos were in the fall and the spring, sometimes there were fancy backdrops, sometimes you had to pay for a backdrop anything more than grey... I've seen every variation out there, I think! Each variation of photos has different a different price/kickback structure, which ultimately helps determine yearbook pricing. I've also heard people say that you don't really have to return the photos from the packages they automatically send, as how are they going to MAKE you pay for them. Also in this digital age, people are scanning the auto package photos and then returning the package. My guess is that in the past few years, revenue from those auto photo packages has fallen to the point where it's not profitable anymore. I'm VERY surprised that not every student is in the yearbook--that seems very odd for a public school. Also, photos are put into a student's file (even elementary) and used for ID cards if those are used at the school. And the ID cards most likely come from the photo company as well. As for not seeing the photos first, you have the option of retakes or you can ask for a refund. Retakes will be very shortly after the photos come home, but they shouldn't be before the photos come home. It could you your kids are leaving photos at school until after the retakes. DS did that one year, as he hated having his photo taken and that year's photo was BAD! Precious darling. The email didn't say specifically that the photo wouldn't be in the yearbook, but if they aren't taking a picture without an order, it would imply that the student wouldn't be in the yearbook, right? Unless it is all a ploy to get people to order early and they actually ARE letting people take a pic without an order. It is interesting that the HS email said orders could only be placed 48 hours after picture day, but the elementary said no photo would be taken if there was no order. Lifetouch always sends me emails trying to get me to buy other products or packages for gifts. Seems that if they really are changing their policy regarding ordering, it will reduce their overall sales. I've seen it both ways, and they switch back and forth, as we went from school to school in different parts of the country. I've not been on the yearbook end of things in almost 30 years, but I do know that at my kids' elementary schools, the photos of all the kids were included in the yearbook and that they were obviously taken by the pro photographer. Some class photos were a classroom group of kids, some were the individual pics, but both kinds were taken by the pro. If it's a huge issue to you, I'd inquire about why the photos have been change. Then gather a group of parents and petition to have the photos taken the old way next year. Often it's a parent or two making these decisions and they grab on to one aspect of it to make their decision. The fact that the HS is saying that photos can be ordered 48 hours after photo day says that all students are being photographed. As for the ES no order, no photo, back in my room mom days, the kids were separated by paid/not paid. Paid kids had a separate photographer and a nicer background. Not paid had another line and it was pretty speedy. At least at 3 of our ES, those photos were used in the kids' "permanent records" and the teachers received a strip of photos for each kid that they used for their own files and Christmas/Mother's Day/Valentine's Day gifts made in class. If it really troubles you, make a call to the ES tomorrow (it seems like the HS will work out fine for you since you can order online). They won't know that parent's don't like the change if you don't tell them.
|
|
|
Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Sept 20, 2017 2:25:51 GMT
Lifetouch here too.
Photos taken in fall & spring. You have to prepay and then hope it's okay.
Pisses me off that fall photos have to be in school uniform. Spring is a dress down (up) day.
|
|