This week I will cover three ways to get more photos in your yearbook.

Today’s hint begins with simply having more cameras available for your staff members.

With our hyper public world–where privacy is long dead–many school administrations are banning cameras on campus. I see this policy most commonly at my middle schools. As a result, students must rely more heavily on using the yearbook cameras. But what happens if your budget doesn’t have much wiggle room for buying more equipment?

First, look to the obvious discount choices: Target, Walmart and Costco have excellent prices throughout the year. Watch the department stores after Thanksgiving as they start to put things on sale for Christmas–especially Fry’s. I’ve also picked up great cameras at Staples or Office Max on their discount tables. Usually these are cameras that have been floor models and might have scratches. For $100 off, just ignore the scuffs. Please remember that TEENAGERS are going to be checking these cameras out!

Next, turn to your parent community. Many of your families are replacing their own cameras that are in perfect working order. Advertise in your parent newsletter or on the school website that the yearbook staff is looking for donated cameras that are still in good condition. Even if you receive just five, those are five cameras you didn’t have previously. One of my middle schools put out this call for cameras last year and received two. HOWEVER, they also received over $500 in monetary donations from families who didn’t have cameras to give away but still wanted to help out. The adviser was able to purchase two more high quality cameras as a result.

What other ideas or suggestions do you have for adding more cameras to your classroom? We’d love to hear from you!