Say ‘Cheese’
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- October
- 3
Each one of us thinks we have pretty cute kids, don’t we? And we do. From the moment they’re born, we snap photos and shoot videos, making photographic memories.
And then our cuties go to school, take dance or karate lessons or join a sports team. And we think they’re even more adorable. So, in the beginning, school, camp and team photos seem like a wonderful way of preserving their image just at that moment.
But trust me, as a parent of a 12-year-old and an 8-year-old, those photos of your child grinning while posing with the class or holding a basketball, baseball or barre pile up fast. And even your cutest cutie doesn’t seem worthy of all those photos. Yet, those photo order forms keep right on coming.
As a PTA mom, I understand their value: They’re a sure-fire fundraiser for schools and teams, since most parents can’t say no to their babies’ photos. But as a regular mom, I find the requests hilarious.
Last weekend, my youngest son had his first soccer game with our town’s rec league. The 8- and 9-year-olds ran around and had a great time. At the end of the game, the coach bid them adieu by handing them a photo form and telling the parents that picture day would be next week. Picture Day?! Already?
This cracks me up. While my son knows at least a few boys on his team, after one game and one practice, they have hardly bonded. But in those photos next week, they’ll be cheesing for the camera and standing next to each other like they’ve been kicking the soccer ball together for months. And like with every photo-op that my kids are in, I’ll probably buy some photos  likely the smallest, cheapest package available.
Are you a sucker for your kids’ photos, too?
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006 at 5:41 pm by Gayle T. Williams.
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Guilty, but after 12 years I’m slowly weaning away from pictures from professional photographers. Thanks to the new digital error, I have no regrets and can say I can do this myself. I’m like you Gayle, if it’s for school, team or fundraising I will participate but I no longer look at the most expensive package deals.
Nope, really tired of the photos. Also tired that these potographers take some lousy shots and you are expected to pay for them!
Sorry if the photo doesnt look good we dont buy them. its an assembly line and no thought or professionalism is brought to the table during these class photos. I refuse to pay good money for a lousy photo.
I actually try to do one sport per year and now I’ve decided to just purchase the team picture. That is it.
When my kids were younger I was a sucker for photos but, in keeping with my Quaker sensibilities, usually bought the lowest priced package. Now that my kids are grown and I’m away from them, I’m starting to catalogue the pictures and I’m glad I have them. It reminds me of what they looked like, lousy photo or not, and will never look like again.
Wow the only other quaker i knew was Nixon! so how’s yer oatmeal?
L just kidding, but, ya know he was our only quaker prez.
photo’s arre great dont get me wrong. But I find them a nuisance if they are just everywhere, the way my wife keeps them.
I rather not have them.
A little perspective… Those group photos—especially class photos—are definitely worth having IF you can keep them around for oh, say, 50 years or so. I recently had occasion to sort through a pile from my youth, resulting in great hilarity for me, my brother and sister.
I think they are very important to have, when my kids did some school projects, they were required to have baby pictures so I just was thankful for those photos . ( not a big picture taker ).