Yearbook Photo woes

We have been getting some calls from students saying that they are "forced" to go to only one studio for their yearbook photos. This is new for some schools this year.

In the past, we and other very qualified professional studios were able to submit yearbook images to these schools.

While there's not much we can do, however, there is a California State Education Code number 48900-48927 that states: "48907. Students of the public schools shall have the right to exercise freedom of speech and of the press including, but not limited to, the use of bulletin boards, the distribution of printed materials or petitions, the wearing of buttons, badges, and other insignia, and the right of expression in official publications,whether or not such publications or other means of expression are supported financially by the school or by use of school facilities,except that expression shall be prohibited which is obscene,libelous, or slanderous. Also prohibited shall be material which so incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts on school premises or the violation of lawful school regulations, or the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school.Each governing board of a school district and each county board of education shall adopt rules and regulations in the form of a writtenpublications code, which shall include reasonable provisions for thetime, place, and manner of conducting such activities within its respective jurisdiction.Student editors of official school publications shall be responsible for assigning and editing the news, editorial, andfeature content of their publications subject to the limitations ofthis section. However, it shall be the responsibility of a journalism adviser or advisers of student publications within each school to supervise the production of the student staff, to maintain professional standards of English and journalism, and to maintain theprovisions of this section.There shall be no prior restraint of material prepared for official school publications except inso far as it violates this section. School officials shall have the burden of showing justification without undue delay prior to any limitation of student expression under this section."Official school publications" refers to material produced by students in the journalism, newspaper, yearbook, or writing classes and distributed to the student body either free or for a fee. Nothing in this section shall prohibit or prevent any governing board of a school district from adopting otherwise valid rules and regulations relating to oral communication by students upon the premises of each school. "

So basically you could argue this as a free speech issue to select your own yearbook photographer, but beware, this might just cause you more grief in the end.

Now with that being said it might well be easier to go and get the "FREE" yearbook shot and then go get your real Senior Portraits done with your choice of Professional Photographer.

Look at the styles, package options and personalities of some different photographers and choose the one that best fits your needs. Check out their work on their websites or pay a visit to their studio to look at more of their work and pick up some info too.

Of course we hope you will give us a shot because we like to think we offer the best deals and have the greatest most creative portraits, but we like to remain humble.