Yesterday seems to have been quite the day for interesting comments around here! First the one on e.l.f. makeup, then this very thought provoking comment from Heidi on my “3 Ways to Save Money on School Pictures” post.
I have been a loyal reader of your blog for the past year. I am always looking to find ways to pinch our budget and live more frugal. (You do a GREAT job, by the way!)
This post definitely hits home to me…but in a different way than your normal readers.
You see, my family owns a business. We own a school photography company. We’re small compared to the national firm that took the photo that you posted, but we do a really good job (in my opinion!) and offer a great value for a top, notch product.
The purpose of me commenting is to mention to your readers that it is important to support your local school through the purchase of school pictures. When schools pick their photography vendor, they list out required events and needs that they would like us to provide. Sometimes it is a requirement to have a photographer come to special events (plays, field days etc) and photograph candids for the yearbook. Other times, the school asks for special products to help the school (ID cards, banners, camera for teaching purposes etc). With all of that said, photography companies give the schools these items and services free of charge and the actual purchase of individual school picture packages help to support this. So, as you can see, when you stop purchasing school pictures from your school photographer, what you are really doing is hindering the company from being able to offer their gratis services and items to the school.
Now, I do not know your particular schools program, however, this is the norm in most companies across the nation.
So, the next time you throw that school flyer away and think about heading up to Wal-mart, remember that purchasing school pictures helps to support your local school.
She brings up some very interesting points, doesn’t she?
I often find that frugal living is a balancing act. Yes, you could just buy the very cheapest thing out there, but is that always the right choice?
How do you choose? Sometime what is inexpensive is not well made, unhealthy, or environmentally unsound. Buying cheap foreign products has an effect on American industry, and buying from a big box or national store can negatively effect a small local business. Even NOT purchasing, as Heidi points out, can have it’s effects.
So what’s the tipping point? When is it more about saving, and when should it be more about your ethical, moral and social considerations?
That answer is going to be different for everyone. For me it is constantly evolving, and having discussions (like what I hope will occur in the comments today) help to teach me and clarify my personal views. So go ahead, weigh in. Let me know your thoughts. I really do want to know!
We have a small business too so I hear Heidi! I grew up poor and didn’t always have the money for school pictures and that was embarassing as a child. I try to strike a balance: we order a small package from the school during fall pictures so the boys have the small ones to trade with friends and the grandma’s get the “official” school picture. Then I have continued to take their pictures myself (with everything digital, why not?) on their birthdays in the spring. The birthday ones are the ones we pass out to extended family, family friends, etc.
I am glad you had such an in depth responce to Heidi’s comment. I have wondered about this topic often while listneing to Frugal Coast2Coast, especially buying organic v. buying the least expensive… and buying local v. buying big box. I like that you say the right choice is different for everyone. I wanted to bring attention to the 3/50 project because I think they have some good ideas. I know this won’t work for everyone, but it may help you think about your own plan to help local businesses. http://www.the350project.net/home.html
So I too have my own business; in fact I do photography.
My website is here http://mmomentscaptured.blogspot.com
Perhaps I get too caught up in fellow photographers charging waaay too much for something that I feel is overpriced…
When some smaller companies are giving back to their community, that’s great, but all I’ve seen is LifeTouch and the bigger companies taking business away from small-time photographers, or photographers charging seniors $500 for a session… Seems kind of like prices were carried away… Which is kind of my mantra with my business…
I’m so glad that Heidi wrote in; I would not have known this otherwise and, while I am not a mama, I think it’s good to know so I can share with my friends who do have school-age children.
The choice of where to buy is so individual. You have to weigh your value system against what you can manage financially. There are some things that I buy at a higher price, knowing either the company is locally-owned or that perhaps the company donates to a particular charity… that sort of thing.
A huge part of being frugal is not being obligated to spend our money on what we don’t want. The idea that “not purchasing” has a negative effect implies that we are obligated to buy certain things. We are not obligated to buy anything, ever. If other people build their business around the idea that we are going to buy their product, that is a risk they are taking, but we are not obligated to buy from them because they took that risk.
What an interesting post. I struggle with the idea of principals over finances every day. I try to buy organic, use non -toxic products and buy local not only because I believe these things are better for my family, but also because I believe they are better for the environment. But, everytime I pass by discounted diapers or see a coupon that would save me money – it’s a struggle. Maintain my ideals or save money. In all honesty, 9 times out of ten I opt for the more expensive but “better” product. And 9 times out of ten I wonder if I did the right thing. It is right for me – I think!
To Emily’s point, I don’t think it’s so much the idea that you have to buy a product but more thy if you’re going to buy it anyway – why not buy from a local retailer who gives back. Just a flipside thought.
I do try to balance my purchases but it’s hard. I do more of my shopping at Kroger these days because I can get more for my money but the shopping experience is soooo much better at Ukrop’s. Ukrop’s is a local chain of 30+ stores in the central VA area and for the first time EVER they lost market share last quarter and they lost it to Food Lion so it has to price related. Now they are seriously talking about selling the business that has been in the family for over 75 years. The difference between local stores/ chains and out of town stores is that 68% of what you spend at local stores stays in your community vs. something in the 30s [i got the stats from the 3/50 project]. Now, I’m much more conscious to spread some of my purchases out so that I’m not neglecting my local stores as much. Their service is better and they give funds back to the community and they employ people that wouldn’t otherwise be employed. Those are sometimes more important than whether I got my coupons doubled or if I got 45% or 55% off retail on my bill.
I did like Janelle stated. I bought the small package so the kids had some to share with friends and then took my own photos of my children. Frankly I had two very fair skinned children and I never had a school phototgrapher capture the true child or even a decent photo of either of my children. I always thought they looked so sickly and tired that they looked like they were just getting over the flu. I have photos I took of my kids growing up that I used as school portraits that folks have asked where did you have that done. So I must have got something right.
I’m glad Heidi shared her point, but not all companies share her values. I am glad to buy a small set of photos, but I was angry when my son came home in the spring with a 2nd set, already printed. I had to look in his little face and explain why I didn’t want pictures of him. He was so proud of them, but there was no way that I was going to spend money on a 2nd set of pictures when we had tons of great snapshots around the house. I would rather support his school in more direct ways than spending money on pictures that we don’t want.
I buy the small package at the beginning of the year.That is it. I don’t see why there is that second set done in the spring with the exception for new students. I am constantly bombarded by fundraisers for the schools each week. We had this discussion at Frugal Upstate last year. I write a check, as a donation for each of my kids, so I don’t buy a lot of junk I do not want. Being frugal and support local businesses can be done. Even when you shop at a major retailer it supports the workers who live locally. When the store I work at does not make sales for the week, they cut back hours for employees. We all need goods at fair prices. I personally only shop retailers that are fair to me. My local deli is about a dollar more than Subway for a sandwich. Quality, customer service, and contributing locally wins in that situation. That is being frugal to me.
We typically opt for an inexpensive photo package. I prefer candid shots that we take at home to any staged shot, but we know that the grandparents love to get a school photo. So an inexpensive package that has a photo for home and one for each set of grands is perfect and supports everyone.
Just because I can get it at XYZ store cheaper, doesn’t mean that’s the better deal. There is so much more than money involved.
I am always looking for ways to save money. However, I, too must response to those who complained about school pictures. One point which a couple of people failed to mention is that not only we as school photographers provide services to the school but the school generates a commission from photos purchased. At least that is our practice and those of many in this industry. Sure candid photos are great but most schools have yearbooks and that is why they need school photographers. To provide quality portrait shots in a uniformed manner. True many of the large national chain companies don’t even provide the parents a choice but we pride ourselves for not going that route. Every family receives proofs and it is their choice to purchase or not. Parents should demand that of any photography company in their schools. We have not raised our prices in 3 years which given the costs of raw materials has certainly hurt us. So don’t paint all school photographers with the same brush.