There seems to be an unwritten equation when it comes to purchasing school photos: The more you buy = the more you love your child.
In the old days (before the advent of digital technology) parents would purchase class photos sight unseen. Meaning whether your child’s photo made her look like a mini Cindy Crawford or Jack Nicholson in “The Shining,” you were stuck with whatever package you signed up for.
These days some schools allow parents to view digital proofs of their student online and make their order selections based on what they see.
Other schools, like my daughter’s, take a different approach by arranging to have student photos taken before classes start.
On Monday-—24 hours before the official first day of class—-students must meet at school to have their mugs taken for the yearbook. Parents are required to be there as well… to pay for the photos. (Cash or check only in the exact amount—-or else.)
The idea of having school pictures taken on a day that is technically not a school day is odd to me, but I see the advantages of the set up:
1. Parents are there to primp their child so the kid don’t end of looking like a Captain Caveman in the shot.
2. Snap happy parents are able to “encourage” (see: threaten, bribe, etc.) the student to strike a decent pose.
3. Parents are able to choose a background that will best complement their child’s outfit.
The only catch is that I still have to select a package and pay for the photos prior to my daughter’s sitting, so there’s still a chance I’ll be left with 2 8x10s, 4 5x7s and 80 wallet sized photos of my daughter looking at her shoe.
Yet, how could I not buy them?
What would it say about me if I declined to purchase a single overpriced awkwardly put together package that fails to meet the average family’s needs (without purchasing even more expensive ala carte add-ons) featuring my daughter having a bad hair day or staring at her shoe?
Does straining your bank account to purchase mediocre (if you are lucky) photos of your child automatically make you a good parent?
After all, it’s not as though you won’t have any pictures of your child if you don’t buy them from the school photographer.
Still, there’s just something about school photos that sucker parents into parting with money they probably could use to pay for more practical items such as food, water and utilities.
I admit, I’ve always had this idea that buying school pictures is more obligatory than optional—-it’s just what good moms do. Only I know there are millions of loving, caring parents out there who probably don’t drop a single dime on school photos.
I just don’t happen to be one of them.
So come Monday I will be forking over my hard earned cash to pay for photos that will be shipped off to grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins-—no matter how cute or crummy my daughter appears in them.
Fortunately, I’ve yet to see a bad photo of my daughter (insert sheepish grin), so my investment may pay off in the end.
Do you feel obligated to purchase school photos?
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