OMG Retouching School Photos

[punkbaby]

Very dissappointing I am discgusted to think that a school would even allow this. Kids are vain enough as it is now days, we are talking primary school here. At the bottom of dds photo slip it sais

"Retouching option, blemishes and cuts, grazes removed, lengthening (making appear taller) $8.00"

I cherish the pics of ds at kinder last year with the graze on hos knee and cheek, its memories, true ones. "oh remember when you were at kindy and you fell from the climbing frame, you did that to your knee and face :ecomcity:" I cherish dd9s pic where you can see the scar from her broken arm....even when she looks at them she goes "oh i will always remember what year i did it, thats awesome mum"

Its memories, how can a child actually learn to love themselves and be confident if they have their pics edited?

JMO but I am in shock....would you allow it? Am i just being silly about this?

[studyingECS]

Wow for primary school that is so not nessesary they are only young.:no:

I must admit though if they had that option for my photos I would pay extra.

[Myztik]

I saw that on DS1's kindy photo package 2yrs ago and made a complaint to the company.

[SassyDiva]

No way.. cant believe they have this option.. My god, what parent would want their childs pics retouched :no:

[TwoBlue]

oh thats appalling !!! For any age of school child... so sad and horrid and ... oh, just no words.... :no:

Its all part of them, who they are.. every mark is a memory...

I love looking back on pics now and saying "oh remember you had that cut on your cheek just before the school photos :ecomcity:"

how sad :(

[Myztik]

There was a kid on the news late last year or earlier this year. He was in yr 12 and when he got his photo's back they had airbrushed the moles and acne of his face leaving his skin perfectly clear. He was really upset about it as he said 'the picture in the year book wasn't me' pretty sure he went on to sue them..

[QTB]

:thumbsdown::thumbsdown::thumbsdown:

To me, photos are suppose to be memories... memories are suppose to be 'real' not edited :(

i think its really sad the world is coming to the point where childrens photos need to be editted :(

Braydens 1 year professional pics he has a big bruise on his head... i still look at it and giggle cos it was from him learning to walk and misjudging the height of the table and walking into it! lol

[punkbaby]

I guess when your older i know how i felt about my pics then but now i love them its like Oh wow look at my baggy eyes oo much partying etc...i see that for older students though they may feel the need to do it which is each for their own, but for kids i am just horrified what parent would do that to a 9 yo....even a kindy aged child as you said. DD9 has been saying shes fat, which she isnt. She even said to me "ohh look you can make me look nice and slim, they do that mum. I nearly cried

I am going to ring the company tommorow

[CJJHRA]

thats just sad!

[charlen49]

i totally disagree with retouching once taken , though i do like how digital photography has helped when taking the actual pic these days..especially for the class pic..they take a shot..loook on the laptop and if half the kids haeyes closed, pickin noses whatever, they retake untill at least the majority. That way parents arent paying loads of money for 'little johnny' with his eyes clsed and face scewed up. It is tiring ,espcially for the young ones..but the younger children are generally taken first! helps with the individual shots too..

[Lastcenturymum]

What a tragically vain, shallow world we live in :shame:

I'd complain to the company.

[punkbaby]

How would you word the letter to the company? Any thoughts? I was going to ring them, they are local which is even sadder considering we are meant to be behind the times where we are

[Lastcenturymum]

Hm my hubby always start by saying something positive rather than come out all guns blazing...:D

you could say something like..thank you for the recent school pictures, it was great to get them and have wonderful momentos of my childs school years.

One thing that does concern me is the comment at the bottom of the order form.

I would like to know why your company feels the need to alter our perfectly normal healthy children... (this gives them a chance to explain, it may be at the request of vain parents)

You could acknowledge how wonderful digital technology is, but suggest its taking things a bit far and question the message it gives children if they made taller or (heaven forbid) made thin to 'look like everyone else and 'perfect'

They may not have thought of it this way (but I bet they have) but just want to deliver the best product and the show off the latest technology.

SOme ideas to start with anyway

[punkbaby]

Perfect ty LCM :) we dont have the pics yet just the order slip. This idea to retouch your childs photo is in bold down the bottom so it kinda stands out. I will start writing when i get over the shock i think so its tactful

[Dannielle]

I know someone who actually took up that offer last year!

I couldn't believe it when she told me. She said she did it because her DD had a tiny little scratch on her face. (I didn't even notice it) The funny thing was it didn't help much when her DD was noticeably crying in the photo's!!:laughing:

[moof3]

I use to work for a school photo company and they never offered a retouching service and still dont. However, I photographed kindy and preschoolers for them and some mothers on photo day have asked for it, mostly in winter when they have the red rash under their nose from wiping it so much. It is really not a good look I would think about it for something like that but not for bruises etc. My sons grade one photo has carpet burn on his forehead, from rubbing his head on the carpet stairs at his grans house the night before school photos, just because 'he wondered what it would feel like' those photos are perfect carpet burn and all.:laughing::laughing:

[Harlequin]

I think this would be ok if you were in highschool and had a massive pimple and it embarrassed you. I can understand why a kid would want it to be removed, as a parent I wouldn't really care though.

It's kinda ridiculous for little kids though. I'd want their photos warts n all :D

[OM]

I don't see a problem with some ppl wanting it done for their children.

I can't imagine that the retouched photo's would be altered to beauty pageant perfection, just bumps and bruises edited out - is that really such a big deal? I don't think so.