Let Students Choose their Senior Photo for their Yearbook

When my son graduated from Memorial, I was a recent graduate of the NH Institute of Art's photography program and had access to the studios and equipment there. I provided the files according to the requirements they said were needed and was rejected because "my photography business was not listed in the phone book". I appealed this with the school and was told it was solely up to the decision of the teacher in charge of the yearbook. That teacher refused to budge and his only method of acceptance was being in the phone book. A business that was online would not have sufficed. A portrait taken by the head of NHIA's photography department (who has his work in museums) would have been unacceptable, because he was not in the phone book. In the end, I wound up bringing my son to the school's contracted photographer for the free yearbook photo. I told them upfront that I was only there because of the school's regulations and had already shot my portrait package. The photo was fine, but a waste of his and our time, as I'm sure he did not make a mint off the single shot without a chance of making a sale. A disservice to the photographer and the students, as well as limiting choices and negatively affecting local businesses. I've shot many other senior pics without issue, but always preface doing so with making it clear that the customer verify the school will accept the work first. Memorial is the only place where this has been an issue.

What gives a government entity the right to force a citizen to use a certain, for-profit business?

As a mom of 5 and 3 of those kids are back to back in school there is no way anyone can make me go where they say I have to .

Limiting the choice of photographers is just wrong. Why is it up to the school to choose who takes senior pictures? If there guidelines in place and they are followed, let the families choose the photographer they like and can afford. That's the way life works!

Disappointing really. Parents should not be coerced in to using who the school deems appropriate for this job.

My daughter is only in 4th grade, and, we are in a different school district, but, as a mom and a photographer, I am HOPING we can get this practice abolished. I am a single mom, and, I know that I would not be able to afford to have Mark Lawrence take my daughters' senior pictures. Not only that, but, as a photographer myself (as well as a person who knows approximately 180 photographers in NH and MA), I think that people should be able to decide who to use for senior photos. I had my senior photos done by Mark Lawrence when I was a senior at Pinkerton - I HATE the images. My parents couldn't afford a "decent" package, so, all I have (thank GOD) are the small folio and a buddy picture. My grandparents got the one 8X10 portrait that came in the package - my parents spent over $500 for that package and sitting fee - and that was 13 years ago, and did not include any retouching. The entire session, I was completely uncomfortable. The photographer was an older man, and, was touching me (not inappropriately, just, moving my shoulders, re-positioning my arms, moving hair out of my face - all things I do with my own clients, the major difference is that I ASK my clients before touching them, he didn't). I know if I had to do it all over again, I would have rather had the choice of photos. My senior photo doesn't even evoke who I was in high school.

Thank you Matt!

I'm not a parent, but I do believe that high school seniors should be allowed to have their pictures taken by whoever they choose. Not just the photographer that the school uses and that's it. Good luck with this Amy!! :-)

Students deserve the right to be proud of who they are and feel confident in their photos. If they cannot go to someone of their choosing whom they are comfortable with, they won't be happy with the outcome. Parents also need options to help with portrait affordability. Pigeon holding them to one photographer is unfair and costly. It may stop them from having photos taken altogether.

Good luck!!!

Our seniors should have the right to choose where they'd like to have their pictures taken. It's their final year & they should have the opportunity to be creative for their final photo! Parents are most likely paying for them. Don't limit us on our options of where we want to go!

Parents should not be forced into a photographer because of a contract the school has made with the photographer! Talk about ridiculous!

I believe we should be able to use the photographer that we choose. This is America right?

We should be able to choose not be told.

Wow! This is setting us back to the 1950's and 1960's when my parents went to school. Back then the seniors were required to have their photos taken by a certain photographer for the yearbook. The only difference was that the photographers came to the school to take the photos, these photos were reasonable AND if they bought a package, they got their yearbook for free. With the high expense of these yearbooks, these students should be able to have a choice of where they want to spend their money on their senior pictures. If the school contracts out a photographer then that photographer can charge what they want because they don't need to compete with other local photographers. I had two daughters graduate from MHS. My oldest I took to Mark Lawrence, and I hated it. It was not personal at all, they went "click, click, click" and had 1 photographer for the inside shots and 1 photographer for outside shots. For my youngest daughter, we went to a smaller photography business. I was so happy with this session, the photographer took time to ask my daughter questions, get a feel of her personality, her likes and dislikes and used that information to create absolutely beautiful pictures. The prices were about the same, but the customer service was completely different. Every family is different and has different desires for their children's senior pictures and should be able to make those choices especially when they are the ones spending the money.

I don't know where people are coming up with the info on pricing. As an example, Mark Lawrence, who are currently the exclusive senior portrait photographers for several area high schools, including Pinkerton Academy, has senior portrait packages starting at $15 for a basic sitting and they will provide students with whatever kind of photo shoot they want for a negotiated price. Additionally, they come to the schools in the late fall to take free basic senior portraits for any student who did not go to one of their studios for a paid portrait.

Think of parents who cannot afford this company. Its our children. As long as the requirements are met, we should be free to use whomever we'd like. This is ridiculous!

Parents should get to pick where their child's pictures are taken based on price and likes and dislike and not told by school we have to purchase the pictures..

Our children may not have the money to pay for super expensive senior photos! Let us have the right to choose!

I agree that seniors should be allowed to choose their own photographer and, within guidelines, their own photograph. Affordability is a serious concern for many families, as is the curtailing of personal preferences and freedoms. My son's photos were done by a family friend who has such a business; and why shouldn't my money go where I choose? Many seniors could be left out because of a contract that the school body doesn't get to weigh in on and prices that don't take the average family (never mind the less-advantaged ones) into account.