At least, not if it's shoved down my throat. Although we buy the basic batch of 5x7s and wallet-sized photos in the fall, for the second time our sons' primary school has allowed a photographer to take spring pictures as well. Based in Minnesota, Lifetouch gets into schools by paying them. A Lifetouch salesman negotiates with the school principal or other administrator either a lump sum or a per capita amount. The agreement may also include faculty photos, ID cards or certificates of achievement.
Competitors make similar financial arrangements with school administrators.
Waterville K-8 schools, which serve roughly 1,300 students, passed the savings along to parents instead, and the high school used a different studio. Lawrence junior and senior high schools received amounts based on the number of pictures taken. In Oakland, the high school negotiated its own arrangement with a Maine photographer, told parents about the deal, and received approximately 10 percent of the gross. Although Moores told me the photos were not required, several teachers said they were told the photos were mandatory. They were not informed of the financial arrangement.