School/Nursery photos - rip off

jorichrose

Recently as is the tradition at this time of year the school/nursery photos are taken in order for you to buy in plenty of time for Christmas!
As we know all photography is now digitial.
My eldest had her school picture done and there were lots of varying packages to choose from, the one I picked was the 7x5 and two 6x4 for £12. Over the odds but not too bad in my mind.
My two youngest then had theirs done at nursery. There sheets came back separately but one of them had pictures of the two of them together. I wished for a picture of my son, a picture of the baby and the joint picture. There cheapest pick and mix package is £35 but because my son's photos are on a separate sheet I had to pay an additional £15 to have his picture in the mix! The next cheapest option was to pay £15 for a 7x5 and two 6x4 for each picture I wanted copies of.
BUT I could order on line. I went to the website and you could put in any picture reference you wanted in teh £35 pick and mix and it let you order it. It made no reference to an additional £15 and it made no reference to the fact you could only order from one sheet. I put in my order and paid my £35. I have now had an email saying I can only order from one contact sheet and to amend my order.

Where do I stand - nothing was referenced on the website but it was on the contact sheets. However the website took the details and my money.

I do want the photos and can only see having the 3 x £15 packages as my cheapest option. However, something doesn't sit right with me over all of this - what are your thoughts?

Thanks in advance

BTW don't get me started on the £2.50 late fees if you miss your school or nursery order deadline!!:mad:

clever_username

School photos do cost a fortune these days.

Forwandert

You were made aware of the different options available for purchasing the photos and didn't follow what was offered, i would just buy what you are happy buying/can afford and enjoy the pictures, maybe the website shouldn't of allowed the order to go through but you are aware of what was offered and available so it's not really misrepresented or a "rip off".

This extra option of all the children together would better being included in the price of one set of pictures though, soon adds up when you have to pay seperate for the school/nursery and the children together, spent a fortune on them this year myself.

clever_username

When did so many people start saying "shouldn't of" instead of "shouldn't have"?

I'd never seen it before this year but lately loads of people are doing it. Could of, would of, should of...

themull1

There's nothing you can do, pay and get the pics you want, or don't. I've had to pay nearly 50.00 for my two kids photos, a lot of photographers are moneygrabbers, but if you like the pics you've got no choice.

giraffe69

but if you like the pics you've got no choice.

Yes you have. Take your own!

vyle

Might be worth enquiring at a local studio to see how much it would cost to have your kids photographed, or indeed, take your own pictures.

delain

vyle wrote: »

Might be worth enquiring at a local studio to see how much it would cost to have your kids photographed, or indeed, take your own pictures.

Very true. There's a lady near me who has a studio at her home and takes gorgeous pictures, cheaper than the school ones and she does a full 'shoot' with them so they have fun, and show their personality so it's not just a stilted half smile against a dodgy backdrop.

davidlizard

Whilst I agree they are expensive, a photographer who knows what they are doing can produce some stunning pictures - I watched the one who visits the nursery we use - he probably spends around 20 minutes with each child, uses all sorts of props to get favourable reactions and consequently some excellent photos.

I have taken several thousand snaps of our kids, yet there are only a handful that are anywhere near the quality that the professional photographer has done.

vikingaero

With these school photographers it's a game of averages. A certain % of parents won't/can't afford to order so in effect the cost of your photos includes the time taken for those kids and also the cost of sending out their contact sheets. They hope to make enough money from the kids parents who do order. Of course it doesn't help when the price of the photos are bumped up by a commission or bounty paid to the school/nursery.

themull1

giraffe69 wrote: »

Yes you have. Take your own!

i haven't got a camera.!!:o