Senior Photo Budget Crisis?

^ this is an amazing and great deal

GTVT - have you yet talked to the local high schools about their photo agreements and restrictions? I know I tried this back in the day with my own Senior photos and my school was contract bound and making money off my own senior photos...so they would let anyone other then 1 studio shoot them.

...my school was contract bound and making money off my own senior photos...

What an infuriating policy.

I understand wanting to control the type of pictures that will make it into the yearbook (i.e. no head shots of you at the Insane Clown Posse show), but if you take standard portrait headshots within guidelines, it wouldn't matter who is doing the camera work as long as the picture is in focus and you are happy with the results.

Good luck GTVT...this is a great offer for some lucky students.

I think at my high school, we had to have our yearbook photo taken by the "official" school photographer.

However, there was no obligation to purchase the photos or use that photographer for all of your senior pictures.

What many of us did was have the one yearbook shot taken by the school photographer, then used whomever we wanted for our "real" senior pictures.

assuming CD would be accompanied by copyright release?

Where you sent here for me?
I have not been able to get my son's senior pictures taken due to financial cost. I would be greatly appreciative if I could use your services.

Thank you for offering such a wonderful gift.

OhioKimono- haven't talked to any schools, but co worker had to find his own photographer for his sons SENIOR photo, and was charged around $900. I figured this was rather steep. I think other grades (K-11) yearbook photos are contracted EXCEPT senior photos, and that IS all locked up by contracts.

taxiang- yup, copyright release accompanied, but still would like to be able to use agreed upon photos for my portfolio as well.

ToledoLatina- please e-mail or call me, lets do this while the weather is still warm!

...but co worker had to find his own photographer for his sons SENIOR photo, and was charged around $900.

Wait 'til he gets married and the prices really jack up...

Seriously, in this age of digital photography and easy-to-use editing software, is anybody worth that price? Not saying there aren't absolute pros with great, artistic eyes...and I'm not trying to denigrate someone earning a living, but hell...one photo shoot is $900??? $300 an hour (going by the estimate GTVT posted for his/her time)??? ToledoLatina can't be the only one in the boat saying "I can't afford that at all" in this economy.

I nearly gagged when a couple of wedding photographers quoted us prices in the $4-6,000 range when we got married 5 years ago. I mean, it was a 5 hr start to finish event (including pre-"bride-getting-ready" photos and the reception). Ended up paying $500 to a friend who does photography as a hobby and have 11 CDs full of material we haven't even printed all out yet. Posed and candid shots. And none of the cliche, airbrushed "bride looking over her shoulder at the anonymous, fuzzed-out groom"--well at least we hope it's the groom and not the best man...

Sorry for diverting a little bit, but the prices seem to be way out of whack with what the market will bear right now. Once again, great offer GTVT.

Hey oldhome, I understand your point of view. Here's another side to the senior photo issue: for a lot of families, this represents the only time when their young adults will be sitting for a portrait, dressed nicely with good hair & makeup.

A good senior photo often gets framed on the living room wall because it's like a work of art. Have to admit, young adults are looking pretty good at that age ... it's a good time to memorialize someone. I would probably spend a few hundred to get that perfect shot to be framed & given to grandparents, etc. But I would not pay $900, that's for sure!

P.S. Also photographed my own wedding with help from friends for $300.

I never had any taken, which stood me in very good stead later on. As for portraits, our family had a few taken over the years which satisfied all the grandparents.

I can't believe it cost $900 for a simple portrait. I'm hardly a professional even though i have take college level photography courses and make "semi professional level" photos. It's all about pose, content and lighting levels.

Anyway $900 is ridiculous. Can understand some uber rich family looking for an edgy artist approach, but general portrait photo?!?! that is ridiculous.

God bless you GTVT for offering this, else I could dump some savings into a nice Rebel camera and do this for free just to spit an obvious gouging. BTW I have a friend who really is a professional photographer. She started below my talent, but just in a couple years out of true talent and passion has gone where I would love to be.

Check out http://www.facebook.com/pages/mshanerphotography/120837494602262

I can see that kind of cost for these multiple pose, etc. but not for a simple portrait. I had mine done twenty years ago at someplace in downtown Maumee. Went in with a coat and tie, shorts and sandals. Took a couple of shots from the chest up and I was out of there. But maybe I should have immortalized it like this:

or this

or this

When I was in school, we were contract-bound by C. Paul Kenney Studio. Head shots only. The girls had to wear either a black or cream sweater provided by the photographer; ditto the necklace we had to wear. No color, either. Senior pictures sure have come a long way, both in options and price.

I've been ill, but I will be calling you to set up a date. Sorry but I'm very sick at the moment.