Special Information for Parents

Did you Know ? 

This is a ruling from the Attorney General of Massachusetts.

“While the Department is sympathetic to the difficulties inherent in financing high school yearbooks, it is in violation of the law to bar nonofficial photographers from having their images used in the yearbook. The agreement made between the official photographer and the high school is not a contract between the student and the official photographer. We do not object to the practice of designating an official yearbook photographer and offering them access to school property in exchange for assistance in the production of yearbooks. We also do not object to the high school requiring students who employ nonofficial photographers to meet deadlines and publish specifications in order to use their images in the yearbook. We do believe, however, that a total ban or the assessment of a fee for that privilege places an onerous and illegal burden upon the ability of nonofficial photographers to compete in the senior portrait market.”

 Essentially, the Department of the Attorney General has declared that public schools prohibiting students from using a nonofficial photographer to produce their senior portraits is in violation of the Massachusetts Antitrust Act, General Law Chapter 93, Section 4.

What does this mean for you?  That you can be an American and go to the photographer of YOUR choice for your senior portraits and not be penalized.