To be a bit bewildered by the school photo options?

[CruCru]

There is a choice of four photos (all lovely) and the nursery group shot. There is a choice of a bunch of different packages, but in all you can only have the same photo. If I order the main pack (one big, two medium and four small - so I have some for grandparents etc) for each photo and the class photo, it will be £150. Argh! Too much choice.

Chorister thanks for backing me up on the copyright issue.

I'm in a different field of photography entirely but we still come up against people using our images without permisson. Some of these are large companies who presumably know the law but flout it regardless.

I agree, it's much better to use a local photographer who don't pay the school masses of commission. After all if the prices are lower than the national companies, there'll be more sales, happier parents and the possibility of other work if you offer it (family portraits/wedding etc).

I agree about the copyright: unless you buy the digital copy with its limited rights of distribution, you are breaking copyright by scanning and distributing even if dh has on occasion copied a print 'cos we've suddenly discovered we need a passport style photo for ds - the photographer has used their expertise and time to take the photos and should be recompensed.

Came on but Chorister basically nailed it. If you want to make copies buy the digital option; if you resent paying for them arrange your own photos

We get friendship photos, bunch of friends together doing odd poses (although my son wasn't with any of his friends this year ) they then put them altogether to make one annoying long class photo. Why can't we just have one nice square/rectangle photo like the old days?

Chorister, don't print proofs, just put them line.

But honestly in this digital age, I don't know why school photographers continue to exist. They are an utter rip off.

Second Chorister - I am also a part time photographer. The photographer never (unless a very specific contract is signed by both parties mainly used by advertising companies) loses their right to copyright. Reproducing without permission is illegal.

I wonder how many people are actually prosecuted for it though? I wouldn't have thought it would be that many.

I understand paying for school photos when they were 'proper' photos - on film, developed, needing a dark room etc. but not now. Digital cameras should really have seen the end of these ridiculously high prices. Photo paper isn't that much now (although it was at the start) and many printers will produce a 'good enough' print for most home display.

At a Mess function we can have our photo taken on the way in and have the print ready to take home the same evening for a fiver. DDs single school photo costs £16. It's a rip off.

I agree, they are really expensive for what they are and I've not always bought them but you do have the choice to buy or not, buying one then printing illegal copies is wrong, regardless of how many prosecutions there may be. If people stopped buying them and did their own then the prices would drop.

I hate the school pics now, they aren't the sensible ones they used to be. They are all doing silly things, I like how they used to be. Didn't get any last year and have lost the proofs for this year so I guess none for this year either

I understand the need to protect copyright, but this is ridiculous. Its not some artwork in the museum that one would make profit selling reproductions. It is a bloody school photo.