Is it awful of me to not buy my ds's school photo because I find them expensive

[chocaddict]

Hi
This has always troubled me for some reason but do you think its terrible to not buy my ds's school photo because I just find the price of them too much every time.
I know its a silly thing to worry about but I do every time.
Its not that I don,t want the photo I do but I am on such a tight budget that I always end up not buying them.
Am I missing out on a valuable piece of memorabilia by not buying it I do feel like a bit of a cheapskate at times.
Any opinions please do you buy your dc's photos every time.

I don't buy them every time. And I only buy the ones I like. I've got loads of pictures of my DC -- many of the ones I take are much better than the school pix anyway.

nope
it's outrageous how much is charged, esp since they are all digital these days.
only bought dd's in reception -

When I was a teacher lots of parents didn't buy the photo. They are very expensive. Don't feel like a cheapskate!

Well we economize by getting all 3 DCs in one photo and buyimg just that one. And I only buy a class photo in reception and Yr6.

But I think I would feel unhappy about not bothering at all. I do sympathise on the cost though.

It's even more expensive in secondary school. Or at least it is with us I have discovered.

Thanks
I struggle with it every time and always feel terrible for some reason when each time I never buy them.
I really like his latest one but I know on this occasion I can,t really afford it.
I do have the one from when he was in reception but thats all.

we have never bought any of the individual school photos because they cost so much. We did by a class photo last year - it was about £8 - probably won't do it every year though.

Ds1 has just had his first secondary school one done - I'm not buying it. It's not a great photo anyway and the cheapest 'package' is £21 for three 7x5" prints. £7 for a 7x5" print? They are 'avin a larf I have a good camera - I'm going to take my own!

My dh said put him in his uniform and I will take one with my digital I snapped at him and said thats not the same.

Put a white sheet on your double bed, get your child dressed in their school uniform and have fun taking dif photos of them sitting, jumping, laughing etc - then put in a fancy frame

get the grandparents to buy it....

no- not unreasonable at all.
We have not bought DDs this year because whilst she is actually a pretty girl she looks a bit like Princess Fiona in her class one.
And they managed to get one eye higher than the other. But she doesn't actually have one eye higher than the other - does she?.
Its like the opposite of air brushing

lol at 'opposite of airbrushing'

I do feel much better after hearing all of your responses thanks so much.
Was worried that people would think I was a real scrooge for not buying my ds's school photo.

No its not unreasonable, it's sensible!

Get your child together with their schoolfriends and take your own photo that will mean a lot more when he is older.

I've never bought a school photo - DD is not particular photogenic when forced to pose, they cost a bomb and I've nowhere to put it so what's the point?

Lord no - you can't buy them every year! I got the DDs one last year as it was DD1's first year at school, but from now on I think I'll only get it if it looks particularly nice.

they are always awful so i rarely buy them

I would much rather have a lovely, natural photo of my children on display rather than the posed ones in the school hall

i dont like them and I don't think Ive ever bought one one.
I jsut don't really like formal poses in school uniform. I explained to dd that for the cost of one school photos I could blow up 6 holiday pics of her, and that I'd far rather do that. I have lovely pics of the dkids on the walls looking relaxed and happy with mountains or the sea behind them rather than a screen.

we haven't bought ds' this year. It's more or less exactly the same as last year. Also I object to having to buy packs. We are a really small family and only need 3 photos, so why do we have to buy a pack? surely in this day and age with digital cameras and easy printing you should be able to order how many you want in what size you want. More tricky for the photograph suppliers but saving loads of wasted photography paper and everyone getting the size and quantity they want. I don't particularly need 5 bookmarks etc. and 54 2 x 1 inch photos

There's an alternative - if the sample photos come with contact details of the photography co you can phone them and ask for just one photo instead of a pack. I've done this before. Still only bother when they're really nice photos though!

Nope, I only bought the reception photos and ds1's photo this year as he is in year 6, will buy ds2's as well when he gets to year 6. I also only bought the class photo in reception and will buy year 6 ones too. Let's face it, your chilren don't change that much from year to year especially when they are in the same uniform and as our school has used the same company for photos for years, even the background is the same!

I've never bought them. Outrageously priced.

god no. I would just buy one from the first year of school and that's it

I am glad i read ths as dd's looks awful and I was thinking but I have to buy it or she will get the hump, she really does look ridiculous, which is very hard as dd1 is normally so photogenic.

Dd's was dreadful this year - even she begged me not to buy it. It was £8.25 for one print!
She is rather a pretty girl - but on this one she looked a bit dopey with a great big shiny forehead.