Senior photos have become just as ridiculous. Students or parents want to spend a thousand dollars on photos that would make anyone cringe in a few years. Yes they will all be hidden away soon enough, but they all compete for buying the expensive photo of the not-ready-for-prime-time geeky gawky kid.
"Students or parents want to spend a thousand dollars on photos that would make anyone cringe in a few years"
I think the goal for the parents is competition as to who can spend more on their kid. To them its just a reflection of their own wealth. They don't really care about the kid at all.