I don't know about elsewhere but in Fort Atkinson the yearbook picture has to follow a particular formula (headshot) with no extraneous background or props. The sex scenes would not be allowed.
As to the parents knowing about their teenage daughters getting those photos taken, from what I have seen lately, the parents probably signed them up for an appointment and drove them there AND paid for it.

I was disappointed to learn that at one local high school we were required to use a particular studio if we wanted our kids pictures to be in the yearbook. That, to me, is just wrong. This was Edgerton's policy. I don't know if that is still true now, though.

My mom still has our senior pix on the wall in the living room, but none of us look like that anymore. There is no reason to pay so much for something to remember the awkward years of high school. That's just my opinion.

Perhaps the Schools should have some say in what kind of photos will be allowed. What will stop a student from submitting an overly sexual photo for the year book right now. If Students and parents knew there were limits set by the school It would take some of the peer preasure off the kids as well as the Parents

Regarding the link I posted previously, I wonder how many of those girls in the "Lady Gladiators" , "Senior Portrait" and the "Modeling" sections had their parents be okay with such a seductive look. A lot of those girls do not look 18. Since when did it become okay for teen girls to pose for photos with legs spread, cleavage bared, soaking wet, etc. for a highschool picture?

We just got a friend's senior pic in the mail and it was taken with their digital camera, taken to Walmart and made into wallets. If she hadn't told me when I saw her I would have thought they got it done at a studio. I agree that one place takes such sleezy, seductive pictures that it's disgusting! These are 17 and 18 year old senior pics not pics for a Fredricks of Hollywood catalog.

When I graduated in '96, I paid for my own pictures. I had a job, had a loan for my own car that my folks did not pay for, I paid the insurance, and I bought my own clothes. Am I a better person for it? Undoubtedly. We may have been poor growing up, but I still learned that money is earned, not given. Parents now throw money at their kids thinking that it will make up for the time they don't spend with them.

I graduated 10 years ago and had my pics taken at Halls. All of my friends had pics that looked nothing like them (so glamorous and sexy) and cost about 10 times more. I had outdoor shots, shots with my dog, and traditional pics. I am so glad that I didn't blow my parent's money on that. And there isn't a single one of my friends parents who still have those Senior photos on their walls. They have wedding pics, non-posed pics, and pics of grandkids. Also, you can have a professional photog take your pics and then just get the film from them and have them developed yourself. It costs about $250 and my wedding pics look better than most people I know. I think parents shouldn't let their kids get into that peer pressure crap and they will soon realize after graduation how stupid high school is. I mean, It really is and it only took me about 6 months to figure it out after graduation. Also, check out www.memoriesbyamy.com for some other reasonable ideas. Very creative and natural.

The Studio, out of Beloit, has photo sessions that are a bit seductive for a teen girl having senior photos taken.

http://www.thestudiobeloit.com/index.htm...

If you want pictures to remember who you were back when, Take pictures of your life, not some staged photo of who the photographer thinks you are.

I Had the "Profesional" Photographer for my wedding, The photos we have on the wall and in the book are from my minister. She was shooting durring the formal shoot from the side and they came out better.
As far as the high school shots, I remember they were ment to go into the yearbook, and it is my understanding that many schools are dropping the yearbooks because of sites like facebook.

janesgirl---i totally agree...i'm getting married this summer and we're not even spending 1500 for our wedding photographer and photos! and he's highly recommended and flying in from massachusettes!!!

I agree with the insanity of the cost of these pictures...I had mine 15 years ago, so that makes a difference (I guess!) I had a ton of poses and 3 outfits (of the great 90's variety!) and my parents got a lot for what they paid (and it was probably around $200, but then again that was 1992). But here's the deal- the portfolio of 4x6 pictures sits in the box somewhere I don't even know, and the formal head shot sits in the basement with my other sister's pictures as new ones sit in the living room...because....WE LOOK DIFFERENT FROM THOSE DAYS!!! And is it me or does anyone else find some of those high school grad pictures look kind of seductive and as if the girls are professional models? I mean, they look nice...but a bit much for 17-18 year olds in my opinion (so I guess that makes me sound old too!)

Nice to know I graduated in the dark ages.

I had www.LiVphotography.com photograph my son's senior pictures last year and they are amazing!! I would check her out, I think her studio is now open downtown Janesville.

When I graduated (six years ago) my parents spent over $1,500 on pictures. This was a once in a life time deal. They valued good quality and knew that these pictures would hang on their walls for the rest of their life. The pictures I got were beautiful! Ironically, my Mom and I recently discussed the expense of the pictures, and to this day she does not regret spending the money. Cheap is not always better. Although I do agree that some things don't need such a hefty budget, it truly depends on personally preferences and where you want to spend your money. If you don't want to pay for expensive pcitures for your kids... don't. I know I will. I am happy that my parents did that for me and I am truly greatful. I know that I will love my senior pictures forever.

that amount of money should only be spent on wedding photographs! (in my opinion)

Check out toddaolsonphotography.com He's the guy who does the weekly sports shots of kids in The Jotter. He's taking senior photos now (there's a display at the mall) and I think his work rivals the others without being quite as expensive.

I took my son to JC Penney for the yearbook headshot ($3.99 a sheet with coupon!) and took a few outdoor shots myself and had copies made. Sure not fancy but also not expensive and we have so many people to give to who can afford the other route?!

30 years ago i had to pay half of my pictures if i wanted anything special, kids today think they should get what they want. wait till they are parents, bet they will think different when their kids want to spend a small fortune on pictures.kids they trade pics with now wont know them in 10yrs, get the yearbook then you have everybodies picture

Pictures cost $0-$2500 (some do their own or skip them altogether). I would imagine those that spend $2500 are few and far between. If I were a photographer I would suggest the higher cost to get those that need to give their kids everything a number to shoot at. My guess from experience is that $600-$800 or so is the norm. Costly yes, but no where near $2500.

When I was in highschool...about 11 years ago, my photos cost around $250 I think. I had a prom dress pose, yearbook headshot, and one other pose. Thats it. I got a nice trifold album of the proofs that my mom still has and enough wallet sized prints to go in my graduation announcements. My parents each got an 8X10 and that was that.

I couldn't imagine asking my parents to shell out almost three grand for senior photos! Some of the photographers are super trendy with their shoots nowadays... posing you in running water with a look of contempt rivaling seasoned runway models,"trash your dress" posing you in a dress somewhere dirty like on the engineblock of a car or with paint everywhere, shots with your pet, car or motorcycle, and for the girls lots of VERY scantily clad poses! This is your yeabook photo, not some portfolio to get you into modeling for the Suicide Girls or whatever.

I would highly recommend Hall's studio. I had my son's taken there, very reasonable, no where near the amounts listed in this article. They also do indoor shots and put an outdoor backround behind. We had that done with my son and our dog. They were very accomodating.

SarahB -- I totally agree! It seems they've taken a small ordeal like getting your senior portrait taken and blown it into a major right of passage like marriage! I didn't even spend $2,500 on my wedding photos (granted that was 13 years ago). Where are these people getting the money? I hope this trend reverses itself before my kids get into high school.

While I agree that graduation pictures are very important in a students life, the cost to parents can be a huge strain. Peer pressure to have the highest end pictures can be pretty tough. I've talked to many people who are taking their childs pictures with their digital camera and then having the pictures developed and a reputable printer. I took the outside pictures for my two children and the results were great and the experience was a lot of fun. We had the indoor pictures taken professionally due to the need of specific lighting. A way to save money in some pretty tough times.

Anything for the little darlings! It's just nuts. People need to use some common sense. The blatant commercialism of prom, pictures, etc. is really nauseating. I'm glad things weren't that way in the 70's. People make waaaaaaaaaaaay too much of high school these days. It's four little years of a person's whole life.

...and never mind the bucks shelled out for a dopey class ring. The minute you get into college you realize how uncool it is to be walking around with a high school anything. I cringe when I think how strapped for cash we were, but my Mom still found a way to get me that class ring. I'd sell it for the metal and give her the money, but it was the year they went with something other than gold. That tarnished thing just takes up space in my jewelry box. Lesson learned.

I must be getting very old. I find no point in spending up to $2,500 on high school graduation photos. Nor do I see the point in doing all of the different poses, outfit changes, settings, coffee-table books, DVDs, portfolios, etc. Is everybody doing it this way now? Please, somebody, tell me there is still sanity somewhere in this world.