Yearbook Photo-Style Photo

March 14, 2009 8:51 AM

Where in NYC can I get one of those photographic portraits as were common in high school in the mid-90's, with the laser or forest background and such?
posted by Sticherbeast to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

Best answer: Any Olan Mills or Walmart photography studio (or probably Sears and JC Penney) will have cheesy backgrounds. It is very hard to get them to NOT use them. (I am in New Orleans, so it may be different in New York, but Olan Mills took a picture of my baby in front of a spring flower background with a horrid basket of fake dusty flowers. Then I had to ask them not to take a picture in front of a mountain complete with boulders and a waterfall. I also have a picture of the 6 month old precariously balanced on a fake wooden tricycle. Good times.)
posted by artychoke at 9:32 AM on March 14, 2009

Here is a list of backgrounds you should be able to find at any Sears Portrait Studio. The Brick Wall and Charcoal backgrounds are reminiscent of high school photos, although it looks like they don't have the laser and forest ones. Olan Mills might be better, since they do high school portraits.
posted by pemberkins at 9:45 AM on March 14, 2009

Evidently, both of the K-Marts in Manhattan (Penn Station and Astor Place) have Olan Mills Studios. I had no idea.
posted by kimdog at 9:57 AM on March 14, 2009

If you really want the lasers and don't mind some photoshopping, We Have Lasers!! has a high res jpeg of the background.

Or you might find something you like at Wal-Mart or Sears.
posted by MsMolly at 10:16 AM on March 14, 2009 [2 favorites]

check your mefi mail.
posted by AlisonM at 10:21 AM on March 14, 2009

check your mefi mail.

please share this with the public! i too am in nyc and almost posted this very same question yesterday.
posted by lia at 11:06 AM on March 14, 2009

Best answer: I work for a school photo company and live in the same neighborhood as the OP.

And yes, the kids still freak out over the laser background, and it's still a popular choice, which baffles me. They're always all "ooooooOOOOOOOOOhhhhhh!" if I unroll it in front of them. Kids are strange.
posted by AlisonM at 1:07 PM on March 14, 2009 [1 favorite]