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Original poster

Has anyone else NEVER purchased school photos?

63 replies

IntensiveCareBear · 04/10/2018 22:17

My eldest is 14 and I've never bought them. I just find them too expensive and I have a large family so the cost would run very high.

Part of me feels guilty and wonders if I should buy them this year.

But then I think for the cost I could hire a training photographer and have a nice little 30 min photo shoot done outdoors.

OP posts:
Ragwort · 05/10/2018 08:02

Poncey not pincer.

WhatHaveIFound · 05/10/2018 08:08

I've never bought one but then again i am married to a photographer!

I have bought the whole school photo though.

theWarOnPeace · 05/10/2018 08:12

I bought one individual pic of just one of my children, as he never really looks himself in photos, but the photographer really captured him! It helps that it was at nursery, with no uniform, so it just looks like a beautiful professional photo. It’s worth noting that they used a local photography studio, rather than a big company - I think it made all the difference.

MrsPear · 05/10/2018 08:15

I do buy at key moments - so far that has been Pre school, reception and juniors. I’ll probably get beginning and end of secondary if still around. It is around £10 for the image and I print off the size I like. Does anyone buy those large packs?

reluctantbrit · 05/10/2018 08:15

Class photos always apart from this year when the secondary school decided to do a year group, 240 girls in identical uniform. It’s “Where’s Wally” only worse.

The single ones I got Year 3 and Year6, neither are great but it was a rite of passage.

Our primary school also did Club photos, so we got the gym club and orchestra ones as well. I felt for the parents with more than one child or a busy club life.

YorkshirePuddingsGreatestFan · 05/10/2018 08:17

Not any more.

They got a "modern" photographer in. On one she was sitting on a grey painted wooden box but it was all scuffed, so your eye was drawn to a chunks out of the paintwork. Another year she was leaning on some books looking stiff and awkward with a "WTF am I doing this for?" kind of expression on her face.

For the class ones, he takes a small group of 3-4 children. Some are standing, some are sitting, some are laying on the floor, some are leaning on others, some are doing weird poses. Then he stitches the pictures together in one long print. It's impossible to buy your own frame as it's a weird size and he isn't that good and putting the pictures together. The bottom line isn't level so some look like they are floating off the ground, or he's chopped parts of children off by sticking others over the top.

They're an utter shambles really!

MorningsEleven · 05/10/2018 09:13

They got a "modern" photographer in

Something similar has happened at DS's school. They have to do poses - crossed arms, bit of finger pointing and no smiling cos we all love a pouting child Hmm

SaucyJack · 05/10/2018 09:18

I never buy them either.

Yes, they were a great thing for our generation to look back on and remember our school mates- but completely pointless these days when kids have all got smartphones and take 57 group selfies every day in the park after school.

Ali1cedowntherabbithole · 05/10/2018 09:21

Rarely in primary and never in secondary. As other PP said maybe reception and the year 6 class photo.

I tend to take a camera phone pic of the class photo even though it has proof through it so I can see how much they've changed- but I'd never put it in the wall. (I know this is wrong btw).

LimboLuna · 05/10/2018 09:22

Nope just too expensive for me. As they are getting on in school life I do feel sad about it. But I never have the money at the time and you have under a week to pay.

LooksBetterWithAFilter · 05/10/2018 09:28

I bought a couple when the older two were younger and they were nice pictures of them. Ds1 was very shy and the one of him in nursery with his big sister he has a cheeky wee grin and I loved it. Don’t think I’ve bought one since purely because they have been terrible pictures. I have lots of beautiful pictures of my dc both in and out of school uniform so I don’t pay for them. Ds2 is 8 and got his done recently and actually said he didn’t want me to buy one because the pictures didn’t look like him.

LOliver123 · 05/10/2018 09:31

I buy them all , I just have the one child though

Forgottenmypassword · 05/10/2018 09:37

Nope, that's what the proofs are for. I keep all the proofs to show DC's how cute they were when they went to school but refuse to buy them as they're such a rip off. I have hundreds of lovely photos of both of them, so refuse to pay for the school ones.

And yes, our class ones are photo shopped now. They took photos in groups of four or five in silly poses then photoshopped them all in together. Rubbish.

mollysmammy · 05/10/2018 14:28

I buy the class one, but not the individual one.

I was shocked at how expensive they were, I would much rather take a picture and have it framed.

Ironically my Dad bought all of mine and they all got damaged in a flood...

Mamawingingit1234 · 06/10/2018 10:58

I think class photos are still a good idea as you wouldn’t have the opportunity to take them yourself and it’s lovely looking back. But individuals photos not so much.

catgirl1976 · 06/10/2018 11:00

I don't

If I wanted a photo of DH against a white wall in his uniform grinning awkwardly I'd take on myself.

keepingbees · 06/10/2018 11:04

I buy them, but for sentimental value really as my kids don't generally like having their photo taken and especially not in their uniform. I only buy the economy packs though which aren't silly expensive.
I hate the class photos they seem to do these days. Random groups of children in no sort of order, photoshopped onto a gleaming white back ground. I much prefer the old style where everyone sat/stood together as a class.

RedPanda2 · 06/10/2018 13:53

Goodness i didn't know school photos were still a thing! So outdated

cricketmum84 · 06/10/2018 13:57

I've bought them twice, to be put on a shelf still bagged up and forgotten about. MIL likes to have one of them but for a £30 package of photos she can take her own!!

Vanessatiger · 06/10/2018 14:00

My mum never bought them for me but for my other siblings. I don’t know what I looked like at school

Cronesquerness · 06/10/2018 14:30

I bought one once as I'd always thought of them as too expensive and they are. Once was enough.

Starlight345 · 06/10/2018 14:40

I bought reception and year 6 class ones.

My Ds bought home an awful pic from high school ( proofs ) I wouldn’t of kept it if it was free.

elliejjtiny · 06/10/2018 14:44

I buy the class ones, year R, year 6 and year 11. Not the individual ones though.

NotUmbongoUnchained · 06/10/2018 14:48

I’m the other way around. I couldn’t imagine not buying my children’s photos but don’t understand why I’d want a class one??

twofrontteeth · 06/10/2018 14:50

I've bought the class and year group ones, I think children appreciate those when they are older.

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