We listened to countless graduates and families who felt powerless and financially exploited by how traditional school photography companies treated them.
That’s why we speak bluntly about what’s happening, and why we created Pixown: to call it out and offer a better way.
Manipulation
For decades, school photography companies have controlled what graduates can buy through rigid, pre-selected packages.
They go as far as dictating how many images graduates can order from.
Their message is clear: do as they say. That’s how graduates lose control of their own celebration.
Exploitation
When graduates do order what they want, they’re punished with higher prices, often 3-4x higher. The result is financial penalties for freedom, all to boost company profits—not to serve graduates.
On top of that, many companies raise prices again to generate fundraising dollars for schools, shifting the financial burden onto graduates.
We’ve seen a company charge as much as $62 per photo to meet fundraising goals—clear price gouging in the name of support.
How Pixown Stops It
Podium ordering ends the manipulation. Graduates order what they want without financial penalties.
Bravo ends the exploitation. Schools can fundraise without having graduates pay for it, so schools benefit responsibly without financially punishing graduates.
Together, they make Pixown the graduation photography platform built for positive impact.