How to get the most out of your Senior Picture dollars.
Everyone's talking about money being tight this year. Every high school senior wants to get the best senior pictures in town, but stretching your dollars isn't the only thing to worry about. Whatever the senior photographer charges, don't let it be the deal breaker. Ultimately, it should be the fact you like what they do artistically that brings you to their studio - not just their prices.
Buying your Senior Pictures:
The Portrait Studio
Three main ways to order senior pictures. Point of Sale (POS) Viewing System, Old Fashioned Proofs, and Online. Each has advantages and disadvantages and should not discourage you from using any photographer or studio. Read a little about our short explanations and decide for yourselves on which is the most important for you.
POINT OF SALE VIEWING SYSTEM:
Pros: Usually the fastest way to see and order your images. Studio can have them ready almost instantly or even a few days. Faster to pick images (you don't waste valuable time "him-n-haw'ing" about the ones you like best.
Cons: Probably won't get to take them home and show around without a printout.
OLD FASHIONED PROOFS:
Pros: You get to take them home and "hmm-n-haw" about them. (More time to decide on poses).
Cons: You will have to wait for them to be printed (usually a week or more). You'll waste time showing them around to family and friends -- as you well know you'll just wait the the minute before you leave for the order appointment to look at them anyway. They'll probably like the same ones you do, too. Most likely won't be retouched and the studio will try to charge you a premium for them if you want to purchase them instead of regular prints.
ONLINE:
Pros: Can view and order within a few hours or days. Able to be viewed by anyone (depending on password protection), anywhere, at any time.
Cons: Without password protection, your studio may put your images "up for show" to undesirable parties. May incur extra fees you don't know about (some studios mark up their prices 15-25% more to "online" customers to cover their costs.)
Three main ways to order senior pictures. Point of Sale (POS) Viewing System, Old Fashioned Proofs, and Online. Each has advantages and disadvantages and should not discourage you from using any photographer or studio. Read a little about our short explanations and decide for yourselves on which is the most important for you.
POINT OF SALE VIEWING SYSTEM:
Pros: Usually the fastest way to see and order your images. Studio can have them ready almost instantly or even a few days. Faster to pick images (you don't waste valuable time "him-n-haw'ing" about the ones you like best.
Cons: Probably won't get to take them home and show around without a printout.
OLD FASHIONED PROOFS:
Pros: You get to take them home and "hmm-n-haw" about them. (More time to decide on poses).
Cons: You will have to wait for them to be printed (usually a week or more). You'll waste time showing them around to family and friends -- as you well know you'll just wait the the minute before you leave for the order appointment to look at them anyway. They'll probably like the same ones you do, too. Most likely won't be retouched and the studio will try to charge you a premium for them if you want to purchase them instead of regular prints.
ONLINE:
Pros: Can view and order within a few hours or days. Able to be viewed by anyone (depending on password protection), anywhere, at any time.
Cons: Without password protection, your studio may put your images "up for show" to undesirable parties. May incur extra fees you don't know about (some studios mark up their prices 15-25% more to "online" customers to cover their costs.)
Buying Senior Pictures: From
the School Photo form.
Three main ways to order senior pictures. Point of Sale (POS) Viewing System, Old Fashioned Proofs, and Online. Each has advantages and disadvantages and should not discourage you from using any photographer or studio. Read a little about our short explanations and decide for yourselves on which is the most important for you.
HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ORDER FORM:
Pros: The fastest way order your images. Studio can have them ready almost instantly or even a few weeks. Faster to pick images (you don't waste valuable time "him-n-haw'ing" about the ones you like best.
Cons: You pay up-front without seeing results. Won't get to take them home and show around without a printout.
OLD FASHIONED PROOFS:
Pros: You get to take them home and show others. (More time to decide on poses).
Cons: You will have to wait for them to be printed (usually a week or more). You'll waste time showing them around to family and friends if time is a factor. They'll probably like the same ones you do anyway. Most likely won't be retouched and the studio will try to charge you a premium for them if you want to purchase them instead of regular prints.
ONLINE:
Pros: Can view and order within a few hours or days. Able to be viewed by anyone (depending on password protection), anywhere, at any time.
Cons: Without password protection, your studio may put your images publicly to undesirable parties. May incur extra fees you don't know about (some studios mark up their prices 15-25% more to "online" customers to cover their costs.)
Whichever way your studio does it, don't let it be the deal breaker. Ultimately, it should be the fact you like what they do artistically that brings you to their studio not their ordering methods.
Three main ways to order senior pictures. Point of Sale (POS) Viewing System, Old Fashioned Proofs, and Online. Each has advantages and disadvantages and should not discourage you from using any photographer or studio. Read a little about our short explanations and decide for yourselves on which is the most important for you.
HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ORDER FORM:
Pros: The fastest way order your images. Studio can have them ready almost instantly or even a few weeks. Faster to pick images (you don't waste valuable time "him-n-haw'ing" about the ones you like best.
Cons: You pay up-front without seeing results. Won't get to take them home and show around without a printout.
OLD FASHIONED PROOFS:
Pros: You get to take them home and show others. (More time to decide on poses).
Cons: You will have to wait for them to be printed (usually a week or more). You'll waste time showing them around to family and friends if time is a factor. They'll probably like the same ones you do anyway. Most likely won't be retouched and the studio will try to charge you a premium for them if you want to purchase them instead of regular prints.
ONLINE:
Pros: Can view and order within a few hours or days. Able to be viewed by anyone (depending on password protection), anywhere, at any time.
Cons: Without password protection, your studio may put your images publicly to undesirable parties. May incur extra fees you don't know about (some studios mark up their prices 15-25% more to "online" customers to cover their costs.)
Whichever way your studio does it, don't let it be the deal breaker. Ultimately, it should be the fact you like what they do artistically that brings you to their studio not their ordering methods.