School Photo Pkgs,$$$$ and Altering your childs Face???

[penn19]

I don't believe in retouching either. My DD's senior pictures were retouched, and something about them bothers me, it's not quite her. Our regular school photos, I ordered the $19 package - regular gray background, no extras - 1 8x10, 2 5x7, 2 3x5, 2 wallets, and 8 littler ones.

I thought it was just me! My ds had his senior picture taken 2 years ago, Lifetouch...., and I don't remember being ASKED to retouch. They just did it. And he almost looks like a mannequin. Not quite him. Not a blemish on his face, or a mole, which he has. It was like they just air brushed him and he looks fake.

 

[kacaju]

I work for a school photography company (small, local...not Lifetouch) and it's still amazing how fast the schools except us to shoot the kids. We're given usually a minute per child to groom, seat, and shoot 6 - 8 images.

It really doesn't help if the child (for whatever reason) doesn't want to cooperate or smile that day, or gives a huge fake smile.

So I know it's frustrating and the pictures aren't always perfect, but coming from the other side there are serious time constraints as well. In a perfect world, each photographer would really love to have a few minutes with the child and we'd come out with much better pictures.

I don't know if I can agree to this 100%. Lifetouch comes back in the spring to do spring pictures at our middle school. These pictures are 100 times better then the formal *fall school pictures* The difference, in the spring we can't opt out of getting their picture taken. They take the picture, send home these beautiful picture packets, with great backgrounds and try to then guilt the parents into buying them. If I don't want these pictures I have to send the whole package back to school.
Why is it they can create these beautiful spring pictures and yet the fall ones are never as nice?

Hmmm... because the fall one I have to pay for in advance and the spring ones I pay for AFTER I see them.

 

[a1tinkfans]

And WHAT parent would even consider, never mind PAY someone to alter their childs appearance ????

I find it disturbing on so many levels, just wondering what you guys think!

>>>>>


I hesitate to say since you seem so upset and ready to judge someone who might choose that option but, what the heck.

I bought the acne erase for my dd 16s picture this year. I want her to see what she would look like if she took better care of her skin. I am always begging her to wash morning and night and to change her pillow cases every few days but she doesn't do it enough and I think it gives her more acne. We also talk about diet and exercise, but shes sixteen and I'm just "nagging her".

I'm not sure that makes me a bad mom but whatever....judge away.[/QUOTE]

OP here....
So not judging, raising kids is no easy task as we all know. And if this is an incentive for your daughter, more power...

It just "hit" me wrong when the pkg came home and I could basically Re-Make my entire child (and even MORE options to do this than last year)

Well, I still think it is a rip off (and yes its lifetouch) and I will not be "changing" anything.....
though dentist just asked if we wanted to "fix" the sons gap in his two front teeth so MAYBE this'll be cheaper, we can have Lifetouch just change the teeth and he can walk around with the picture??
Funny thing is the gap is hereditary as was the Missing tooth, my moms legacy (along with dimples) for the ds.
Actually the dh did bonding and my son never knew or saw his dads gap, And the ds, he was like, "WHY would I change it", he was insulted but I digress.....
I guess my "feelings" about all the re-touching was a reminder how much pressure these kids are under and how once again society wants "perfect" people....geeze, can't people just "be" without all these enhancements/changes?????

By the way, I mention this to the DS and he shakes his head and laughs.....so, guess I will get pix done if he really wants them, otherwise, I am taking some myself!
(so you all know, I have every single school pix in a single frame from pre-k to present, YEAH, one of those moms, even had him in a red shirt till Middle school when he rebelled SO, I have to have a school picture...even if I am the photographer this year!!
Heres to another Great School Year Ahead......

 

[Joyful3Heart]

Our schools offer a $12 sheet with one 5x7 and 4 wallets. I just copy them on photo paper and make more if the kids end up with their eyes open in the photos. If I buy the big package they will be closed 100% of the time on picture day and retake day.

Me too!
One year the photographer must have noticed her eyes were closed because I got a "free package" that year with one with her eyes open (it had the colored background and more pics than I had ordered in the first place). I guess they did that to avoid a retake??? Sad thing is, they used the first one in the yearbook..smiling sweetly with her eyes closed...fortunately, she was 7 NOT 13 !