Pictures??????

MattsMom2013

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
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Mar 19, 2009
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4
Can any experienced parent tell me about Thornton Studios??? Is it worth signing up online and is that the best way to view current pictures of our kids???
 
I'm a new plebe mom this year and I love what Thornton's does. I have found many wonderful shots of my son. The registration fee is applied towards your purchases, and I'm sure you'll end up buying something. I'm a photographer myself, so you have to take this with a grain of salt, but I don't think their prices are too bad. The watermarks you see are very distracting and often make it difficult to make sure the kid you're looking at is really yours, but from a professional standpoint definitely understandable.

I also pre-purchased the DVD-set (my registration fee went towards that) and I look forward to those.

Thornton's photographers can go where others can't, my favorite pics so far are from o-course.
 
I absolutely mirror what Pachrian has said. There are a few parents that are on the Yard frequently who take great pictures, but Thornton's has access to sooo much more.

In addition you get a schedule, albeit a day late, that shows what your plebe's day looked like. LOVE this feature! It has helped in asking about stuff in letters and phone calls, because sometimes there is so much to say in those short times that you can't think of where to begin. And, I just like knowing. :redface:

I say, bite the bullet...

My favorites are from the E course(mine was on chit for the O course :frown: ) oh and the squad pics!
 
I am enjoying the Thornton's stuff immensely. Worth it! I have bought a couple of the instant downloads to have to email friends and family.
 
Hi,

This is great info. Didn't realize this was available. I was feeling very disconnected from my daughter today and this will help alot. Thank you to my service academy friends.

GoNavyMom
 
Resources

We're newbies to the academy but have found there to be tons of resources out there. We started here:

http://www.usna.org/index.html

You have to sign up but its worth it as you'll be kept in the loop on calls home through listserv messages and just about everything else.

As well, there is an INCREDIBLE photo gallery that parents and others take and post. They're really good about updating almost daily the pics that are taken of our children. Here is an example:

http://www.dropshots.com/nushic#date/2009-07-27/17:28:57

Nushi is one of the best posters of pics.

From the usna.org site you'll have access to more stuff than one can possibly imagine.

Good luck!
 
Ok, everyone talks about the listserv and all the email they get. I signed up, maybe April or May. Haven't received anything yet? Just an email from a Veronica Gibson welcoming us. When I get on the site, we get a welcome message. Am I doing something wrong? Should I be getting more?
 
Ok, everyone talks about the listserv and all the email they get. I signed up, maybe April or May. Haven't received anything yet? Just an email from a Veronica Gibson welcoming us. When I get on the site, we get a welcome message. Am I doing something wrong? Should I be getting more?

Jenny, as you said yourself, you should be getting TONS of email, but better yet, lots of great info. Just contact them again.
 
USNA listserve for plebe parents

jennyp ....send an email to : mzets@usna.org ...Mike is a moderator and general manager of the USNA listserve......tell him you want to get on the plebe listserve right away (include your plebe's name and Company/Platoon and class year in the email)...that should get you going ! I receive approx. 50 emails each day from the listserve..mostly very interesting info.

And....Thortons are a great window into Plebe Summer....we searched for our waldo several times each day......finding several photos we purchased at PPW last year. We also ordered the DVD of his PS platoon for Christmas....which was shown to all the relatives and a great treasure to keep. Expensive but worth it ......wish Thorton's would donate a greater % of their fees to the Brigade of Midshipmen.
 
Thortons at PPW

Btw : Thortons will have a massive table set-up in Dalgren Hall during PPW with a dozen pc monitors for you to search for your plebe in their photos(minus the irritating lines) , it's a very popular time with parents to order prints and DVDs......the registration fee was re-imbursed with the 1st purchase and I believe there was a slight price discount if ordered at PPW.
 
Thortons...yikes...$$$$...!!!

I'm going to be a decenter about Thorntons. I think that paying $40 to $50 for a membership then finding out that the pictures are ~$30 a piece or if you order in bulk the price goes down a bit is a bit toooooo much for even the most financially secure family.

I do agree that they take good pics and they have shots that others cannot get but at $30 a piece I'll take my chances with the www.usna.org site where other parents are taking pics and publishing them for all to see.
 
Thorton is GREAT! I must log on ten times a day to see if there are any new pictures. It's amazing that Thorton and other personal parties on usna.org make these pictures available to us. Being able to see our plebe in some of these pictures has helped tremendoulsy! I also ordered the DVD package for my son to have to look at years from now.
 
Thorton$

I also had very negative feelings towards the ridiculously high rates charged.....but the plebe's mom over-ruled...and today I'm very glad she did.....Plebe Summer will be completed soon and those 1st experiences with
Squad and Company mates revisited thru a few photos will be treasured by all(especially the mid) for years. Consider it as one(or 2) month's cost of a student meal plan at any other major university. You could request Thorton$ to contribute more $$$$ to the Brigade when you send them your check ... :wink:
 
Certainly excellent points, all. I'm certain at some point the plebe mom in our house will cast the overruling vote and we'll be purchasing pics from Thorntons. I will certainly be calling Larry to talk about the cost and increasing the donations made to the Class of 2013. However, this doesn't sway my feelings any as the price is outlandish.

Side note; grandma and grandpa had no problems laying out $1000.00 or so for the group of pictures, DVD and just about everthing else that Thorntons has of their granddaughter; she's the oldest grandchild and only girl grandchild. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

That's a quick course in perspective and humility! :)
 
I am also a user

I am a member of Thornton's website and check daily for pictures of my daughter! She looks tired, I am so grateful to see her.:shake:
 
I signed up for Thornton's after I read about the website on this blog. I found about 20 pictures of my daughter. Of course I want all of them and I want to order digital images of all 20 - price tag well of $300. I may just enjoy my free personal two picture slide show for now.

I know it is a business, but I agree with the other comments, that it is a lot of money. They have you by the heart strings.

GoNavyMom
 
Don't get suckered into the money grab for pictures. Your kid won't care about them anyways. All the memories they need of Plebe Summer are now permanently stored away in their brains. No picture will help do justice when your kid and their friends are reliving the absurdity of the USNA experience in 5 years. Buy them a printer instead.
 
Marvin, the pictures aren't for the kid--they're for the parents. I don't think any of the parents have any notion that they're buying the pictures to preserve memories for their current-plebes! This is all about the difficulty in raising a child for 17, 18, 20 years...and then they disappear into Navy land. Thorntons absolutely has these parents by the heartstrings. They're an amazing window into the lives of those kids who used to live in our houses and are now ripped out of all communication! This note is brought to you by a mom (me) who is tight with the money...and still bought a membership to Thorntons, as well as a small number of pictures after Plebe Summer.

LISTSERVS--please note that there are TWO.

USNA.ORG - Mike Zets at this website has one. This is all parents. They have pictures on their website, and various lists you can sign up for. Lots of resources on their website.

USNA.COM - Also has lists you can sign up for. If you got an email from Veronica Gibson, you signed up here. This is "official"--actually gets information right from USNA on occasion. Still has a variety of lists you can sign up for, still mostly parents. There are times, though, when Veronica comes on and shares official info.

I am on both lists, in various forms.

If you're not getting emails, something is wrong. You could be getting like 300 a day if you sign up for several lists!
 
Thornton's is a business, they do have you by the heartstrings, but they also work hard. It is not just what you see, a few guys with (expensive!) cameras and lenses snapping a few shots. There is a LOT of work behind the scenes. Their people need to get paid.

I really don't think that the registration fee itself is outrageous. Consider what you get for it...a glimpse into your child's Plebe Summer experience where other parents can't take pics. The fun stuff, not just PEP, formations and parades. Apply that fee towards a couple of pics or get a sheet of 9 4x6s. Enjoy the daily schedule and a preview of the video clips. It's worth it, IMO.
 
I gladly paid the registration fee which was about $36. I was a little taken aback by the prices of the pictures, though. I wish it were as simple as just putting the registration to pay for a sheet of nine 4 x 6, but the price of just one of those sheets is $186. The registration fee will cover one digital download.
I have really enjoyed looking for shots of her and Thornton has access that it doesn't seem anyone else has. I was curious how they were able to get that exclusive access. Did they bid for a contract? Is it just a tradition?
 
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