The REAL TRUTH about “online only” Picture Days

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Brad Lee

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Jul 13, 2026, 6:46:10 PM (8 days ago) Jul 13

to adeve...@gmail.com, erial-lit...@googlegroups.com

Dear League Administrator,

I work for a traditional "paper order" form photographer. Can I send you a team photo bid? Just reply "yes" to this email and I will email the bid to you. I hope you find the following information helpful.

Millions of dollars are being invested in advertising campaigns by “online only” providers, many of whom are supported by large corporations or use venture capital backed APPs. These big players work through local photographers and want your families’ personal data to link it to the children’s images and will almost always ask for your confidential registration data. We hope you say “no” if anyone asks for confidential data.

Traditional “paper order form” photographers are local but are not backed by venture capital firms so we count on administrators like you to look past the hype and gather the facts. We don’t need or request your confidential registration data. Here are some important facts to consider.

FACT #1: Higher prices exclude less affluent families.

Prices rise 50 to 100% with online only providers. This is because the "list price" is not the final checkout price. A $20.00 product on a paper order form costs $20.00. With an "online" photographer the cost for a $20.00 product can increase to $35.00 once tax, shipping, and an "archive" fee that many photographers now charge (whatever that is) are added.

FACT #2: Online ordering is complex & non-inclusive.

Websites for "online ordering" often involve downloading APPs, registering, or navigating complex DIY editing, cropping, and captioning. This is just "one more thing" on a parent's list of things to do. Non-English speaking families are often completely left out. Photographers don't care because more affluent families order more which compensates for the up to 20% of families who get excluded due to increased cost and complexity.

FACT #3: There is often a total loss of privacy.

Parents are placed on perpetual marketing lists and children's photos and data are often sent to third parties or published on publicly accessible websites. Over 90% of parents would say "no" to all of this if asked, but they are kept in the dark.

FAKE benefits promoted by "Online Only" photography programs.

Fake Benefit #1: Parents can “see before they buy.”

Nonsense! Parents can see before they buy on picture day and don't need to wait to access a website. A friendly photographer will always let a parent "see before they buy" on the camera back which means they also "see before they leave." 100% guaranteed satisfaction!

Fake Benefit #2: Parents can choose from multiple images.

More nonsense! Over 95% of parents choose one image. If a parent wants more than one image, they can request 'proofs' be sent to them but virtually nobody does this.

Fake Benefit #3: No more paper order forms.

Paper order forms keep costs down, protect privacy, are transparent and convenient, and paper forms are easily understood with staff on picture day able to answer questions. Paper forms also allow parents to pay by cash, Zelle, or any other method. The NAACP came out against "cashless" retailers as discriminatory against many communities and we could not agree more.

I hope that you agree that photos should be affordable, inclusive, and easy to order. I also hope that you agree that parents’ and children’s privacy is important.

Just reply "yes" and I will send you an amazing low cost bid with many benefits!