Ah, school photos. The time of year when every parent feels the pressure to fork out the big dollars for what is essentially, the worst picture ever taken of your child.
I’ve just done this with my son’s preschool photos.
I actually only found out about the photos because I was cleaning out the containers growing penicillin from his bag and happened across a scrunched up piece of paper. On one side was a drawing he assured me was a “dragon breathing fire” but looked remarkably like a drawing of dick and balls. On the other side was instructions for this year’s preschool photos.
Oh goody, they’re on today.
Given that I’d already run the gauntlet of getting him dressed, this year’s theme was going to be “clothes that are too small for me but it wasn’t worth the fight getting me to change”.
Naturally, the photos were scheduled for just after morning tea so my son would be probably be red and sweaty with random bits of hair stuck to his face, not dissimilar to what I imagine pre-teens look like after jostling for a fan girl pic of Harry Styles.
I was also keen to see how every year they manage to outdo themselves in the “wtf is he doing” shot of my son. Pale, staring lifelessly like a stunned mullet and with a bung eye that I’ve never seen anywhere except in these pictures. Like any mother I think my kids are gorgeous. Amazingly though, each and every school photo makes them look like Gollum.
Top Comments
OMG my daughter's school photo last year was the worst ever. Every year, beautiful photos. Last year crap. She can't tolerate the flash so can't open her eyes, but instead of catering to her needs, which every photographer has done for seven years without issue, this particular new photographic company didn't bother even trying to take a good one, and her photo was so disgusting, taken up her nose, chin back so she had four double chins...and her eyes screwed up. She didn't even look like herself. It was ugly. They didn't even respond to my email demanding a refund so this year no photo. They can get stuffed. I take better ones anyway.
I'm a teacher and a parent. I have all those photos complete with braces, pimples, red faces and everything in between. There are a couple of nicer ones which was pure luck. i'm not sure they are needed now but they are funny to look back on and do show what they looked like 'at a point in time.' Bit like Naplan but that's another story.
And they are expensive especially considering how easy it is to take photos today. Most companies require full payment before giving out photos as too many parents were keeping photos without paying instead of returning unwanted photos.
As a teacher it's quite a procedure. First the class photo, (which is the one I like was the most. I have them from throughout my teaching career) then the individual ones while having the whole class lined up waiting. I do try and make sure your child looks ok while making sure the others are not killing each other and that the correct child is next in line!
Maybe next school photo day take your own photo of your child before they leave for school and just buy the class one if you want. :)