They Made Her Take Her Glasses Off!

[MickeysMommy]

That would annoy me too! I have worn glasses since kindergarten but got contacts in 6th grade. I remember my grandparents always telling me to take off my glasses when they were going to take a picture

 

[ols386]

I think that's awful. Actually, bordering on mean. So what if the glasses have a glare? That's sending the wrong message to your little girl. She should have been able to have her photo taken with her glasses on. I'm sure she is beautiful!!! I probably wouldn't have the photo re-taken, but I would have to speak to the photographer (when your little girl isn't around to hear), and let them know that is just WRONG. If you have the photo re-taken, then your little girl is going to wonder 'what is wrong'. I'm really sorry this happened.:

 

[mickeyboat]

DD9 had to do retakes last year because the glare from one lens of her glasses made her look like a pirate - with a white patch.

I was pretty peeved because the picture was perfect otherwise. Come on, these photographers take pictures of kids with glasses every day. They ought to know how to adjust the light to avoid the glare. As far as I am concerned, they are just too lazy to do it.

This year's pictures came out bery well. Kudos to the photographer.

Denae

 

[scrump]

I don't get that. A lot of kids had their glasses on when they took their school portraits when I was growing up. I'm sure they could've worked around a glare, especially if they are professionals.

That would annoy me, too.

 

[missj1975]

I have never heard of such an issue. I'm 33 and have worn glass from the sixth grade until college. No one ever asked me to take off my glasses and all my school photos have my glasses on without a glare. Sounds like the photographer is just lazy.

On the otherhand, I have had lots of Disney photopass photographers ask me to take my sunglasses off . I always decline because otherwise my closed eyes would show up in the picture. I have a bad habit of blinking right when a photo is taken so half my photos are with my eyes closed and the other half are with me wearing sunglasses.

 

[rie'smom]

Any decent photographer should be able to get rid of the glare on the glasses. I worked at Sears Portrait Studio for many years, and we would have NEVER asked someone to take off their glasses.

keyword-decent Most school photographers are not into artistry. They herd kids in and they herd them out, they don't care to spend time on each child.


OP, I'd be upset too.

 

[jen0610]

I don't get that. A lot of kids had their glasses on when they took their school portraits when I was growing up. I'm sure they could've worked around a glare, especially if they are professionals.

That would annoy me, too.

One of my friends use to work for Lifetouch, who holds all the school contracts around here, and she will tell you that there is NO PREVIOUS PHOTO skill requirements needed to get a job with them. To call the person behind the camera a "professional" is a huge stretch. They get just about this much trainging and most of that is how to set up the camera and lights, back drop, and seat. The girl who took my 7th graders school picture this year, is a high school senior and it was her summer job. We know her from my DD's dance studio.

Back in th 70's and 80's when I was in school, it was a total different ball game. These were professionals and they did work to try and remove glare. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. With as thick as my glass where, I would have had glare not matter how I tipped my head.

 

[Camicar]

My dd had glasses starting from 3rd grade. She never once had glare in her school pics.

 

[NotUrsula]

I was pretty peeved because the picture was perfect otherwise. Come on, these photographers take pictures of kids with glasses every day. They ought to know how to adjust the light to avoid the glare. As far as I am concerned, they are just too lazy to do it.

Not only are they not really trained professionals, but you have to remember that the lighting that they are able to set up in a school setting may not be optimal. Sometimes you have overhead flourescent lighting that cannot be turned off, or windows you cannot cover.

My sister has been a professional photographer for over 30 years. While she never insists that a subject remove eyeglasses, she always suggests it. (And she wears them herself; her cameras have Rx viewfinders.) Many times people who normally wear glasses forget they are there and don't think about the possibility that the photos might be more attractive without them, and they like to have the choice pointed out. I have to tell you that 9 times out of 10, after they see the proofs, the shots customers usually choose are those in which the glasses have been removed.

My DS wears glasses, and I tell him to remove them for school photos, and to imagine that he is looking at a person standing between him and the photographer. The biggest problem that you have when glasses are removed is that the person's eyes will appear unfocused, as if they were blind. You have to have them compensate for that by deliberately focusing.

 

[Imzadi]

Kirby - Change that font size, girl!!!! I had to squint to see it!!!!

Me too! Between the font size and the color of the font I can't read your post at all. And I have my glasses on!

Oh great, now I need glasses.

Yes, I had even gently PMed Kirby letting her know some of us might have a problem reading her posts. No change. Maybe it makes her feel special & unique to have unreadable posts. Now, I just scroll by past. Shame, she might have something relevant to say, but I'm not bothering to read an unreadable post I have to struggle through.

Same with people who don't break their posts into paragraphs. One long paragraph is hard to read & follow.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Yes, I had even gently PMed Kirby letting her know some of us might have a problem reading her posts. No change. Maybe it makes her feel special & unique to have unreadable posts. Now, I just scroll by past. Shame, she might have something relevant to say, but I'm not bothering to read an unreadable post I have to struggle through.

Same with people who don't break their posts into paragraphs. One long paragraph is hard to read & follow.

I scroll past them as well. I'm not going to strain my eyes to read someone's post where they delibirately changed the font size one to one that is unreadable.

IMO that font isn't meant to be read - so that I what I do....not read 'em.

OP, back to topic. I can't believe that photog. I'd demand a re-take at their expense.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Just another reason why I don't buy school pictures! I take my kids outside and take it myself.

 

[*JoGo*]

That is ridiculous.
Tilting the glasses slightly by raising the arms up off the ear just a bit will solve the problem. And the tilt will not be noticeable in the portrait.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

DH is 50 and wore glasses from 3rd grade until this year when he had Lasik surgery. He said he always wore his glasses in school pictures, and never had a glare.

As far as taking them off for pictures...I wasn't thrilled when DH talked about having Lasik surgery because I was so used to seeing him with glasses on, that he just looked weird to me without them. I've since gotten used to him without them. (Good thing! ) But when he shaved his moustache after knowing him WITH a moustache for 20+ years, I couldn't look at him without giggling for days.

As far as Kirby's font size...how come it looks fine (and bigger than a regular font) to me, even when it's been quoted??

 

[Kimickey]

I'm sorry about this...that's just wrong.

However I believe depending on the photograph company you have the option to not purchase the pictures if you don't like them. They should also offer a make up picture day. I would get in contact with the school and or company who took the school pics and tell them politely your dissatisfaction for your DD photograph and ask them what are your options.

 

[tchrrx]

I haven't read everyone else's responses, but I know how you feel. Last year my class just happened to walk into the room as my DD was having her picture taken. I asked where her glasses were & the photographer said that it would cause a glare. Plus, it was a beach scene (personality portraits), so she didn't need glasses. I told her that glasses are a part of who my DD is & I wouldn't be purchasing photos unless she was wearing them. I also let her know that she would wear her glasses on the beach unless she was actually in the water.

I don't let kids in my class take off their glasses unless they are just reading glasses or if their parents have requested it. To me, it's part of who they are.

 

[Lanshark]

DS wore glasses since 14 months for the same reason. If someone had taken his glasses off his eye would have immediately turned in.

 

[Peg In The Pound]

Thanks again to everyone for all of your compassion and understanding.
I called the photographer that did the pictures and just let them know (very kindly and non-hysterically) that I was very disappointed and explained why. They will not reshoot, but they have offered our money back when we return the pictures. We will keep her class pic so she has a memory of her first preschool class, but will probably take her to get a portrait done someplace else. Now I know to write DO NOT REMOVE GLASSES for next year. We will deal with her not wanting wear her glasses in pictures when we have to, but for now she loves her glasses and it is a part of who she is. (She even sleeps with them on during her naptimes at school.)

And for absolutely no reason at all, here is a picture of DD in her favorite T... with some glare!

Mahalo!

 

[Imzadi]

She's adorable!

Have you thought of getting the anti-glare coating on the lenses? Or will they scratch up too much at her age? Maybe go to Zennioptical.com next year & just buy a cheap pair with anti-glare coating for pictures. There are many Zenni optical threads on the Budget board.

 

[DawnCt1]

Thanks again to everyone for all of your compassion and understanding.
I called the photographer that did the pictures and just let them know (very kindly and non-hysterically) that I was very disappointed and explained why. They will not reshoot, but they have offered our money back when we return the pictures. We will keep her class pic so she has a memory of her first preschool class, but will probably take her to get a portrait done someplace else. Now I know to write DO NOT REMOVE GLASSES for next year. We will deal with her not wanting wear her glasses in pictures when we have to, but for now she loves her glasses and it is a part of who she is. (She even sleeps with them on during her naptimes at school.)

And for absolutely no reason at all, here is a picture of DD in her favorite T... with some glare!

Mahalo!

She is a beautiful child.