Yes, I do still love my kids even if I don't buy their Spring school pictures

[luvmy3]

Today my kids brought home their spring pictures. I do not make them dress up, or make sure they have their haircut before that day, or even care if the are absent because I never buy them (with the exception of one year because the digitally colored dd's hair too dark and she really liked the way she looked as a brunette ). So, tonight at MA I was talking to another mom about how they brought them home, and I looked at them, put them back in their backpacks to go back to school, and she railed into me like I told her that I had committed some crime of abuse. She was going on about how they are "your children" how could you just send those pics back to be thrown away, don't you know what that says to them about how you feel". At first I thought she was joking because thats the kind of thing I would say sarcastically, but she was serious I just told her that my kids know I love them very much, but I just don't like the way they look. She really didn't know how to reply to that I was thinking how I just have to share this with my DIS friends because I really didnt think I'd meet someone like that IRL, maybe here on the DIS, but not someone who would actually say those things to another person Hhmm, maybe she was one of us.
Anyway do you guys buy the spring pics out of love or out of guilt, or are you a horrible mom like me and not buy them at all?

 

[SaraJayne]

We only have Fall pictures, but I didn't even buy those this year, as we had just had a portrait session done the month before school started.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Granted I'm not at that stage yet, but heck no, I'm not going to buy the pictures "just because." I'd rather go to JC Penney's, pay $3.99 a sheet, and get the pictures, backgrounds, and poses I want. My kids, my choice!

 

[WheresTheLove]

I don't have children of my own, but let me just say that my parents NEVER bought the spring pictures, and my feelings weren't hurt nor did I think that my parents loved me any less.

Plus, at my school, the spring pictures always looked like cheesy, cheap, knock-off versions of the beginning of school photos, so I didn't mind them not buying them .

 

[Hermosa11]

You are SOOO welcome to vent here! My kids are grown, but I dont remember buying any pictures... I would go to WalMart if anything. Those
school packages were just too much.
I honestly cannot believe people talk like that.
"That's a great opinion of your...you should have kept it to yourself for all I care"
no worries...ya love your kids....
geesh...the nerve of some people.

 

[cheermom1]

I've only bought them a few times when I thought they were really good. I also never buy the fall pics either as I take them in have them done myself. So no you are not the only one and I don't love them any less.

 

[C.Ann]

Well - if that doesn't scream "NEGLECT", I don't know what does!!!!!!

 

[ZachnElli]

Oh that reminds me to put my daughter's in her backpack! I don't buy them either!

 

[minniecarousel]

Oh, honestly!!

Was she saying that your children would be scarred because you didn't buy "Round 2"?! ugh - that's ridiculous. I always bought the Fall pix, because it's nice to see how they look year-to-year (but, honestly some years' looked just like the previous!) and then again sometimes they weren't great pictures. Whose idea was it to initiate these Spring pix?

(ha-ha - I bought ONE picture of my youngest from a preschool picture shoot where he's downright frowning! It was so funny!)

 

[OceanAnnie]

Today my kids brought home their spring pictures. I do not make them dress up, or make sure they have their haircut before that day, or even care if the are absent because I never buy them (with the exception of one year because the digitally colored dd's hair too dark and she really liked the way she looked as a brunette ). So, tonight at MA I was talking to another mom about how they brought them home, and I looked at them, put them back in their backpacks to go back to school, and she railed into me like I told her that I had committed some crime of abuse. She was going on about how they are "your children" how could you just send those pics back to be thrown away, don't you know what that says to them about how you feel". At first I thought she was joking because thats the kind of thing I would say sarcastically, but she was serious I just told her that my kids know I love them very much, but I just don't like the way they look. She really didn't know how to reply to that I was thinking how I just have to share this with my DIS friends because I really didnt think I'd meet someone like that IRL, maybe here on the DIS, but not someone who would actually say those things to another person Hhmm, maybe she was one of us.
Anyway do you guys buy the spring pics out of love or out of guilt, or are you a horrible mom like me and not buy them at all?

That person secretly works for the photography company.

Seriously, that took a lot of nerve to say that! I don't buy pictures I don't like. And I buy one set of pictures a year. Not two. I think I'm going to start looking into other options. The school picture prices go up every year. They have been too high, but I buy them anyway. I can get a package deal for much less elsewhere and I can tell them on the spot if I like the pose/expression/background too!

 

[MM27]

Don't feel bad. At my school we have to send home a letter saying if you want to see the spring pictures sign the letter and return it and then the pictures will be sent home for you to view and decide if you want to buy them. Many parents don't even want to see them. We switched to this method because too many people were keeping them without paying before.

 

[mom2travel]

Well - if that doesn't scream "NEGLECT", I don't know what does!!!!!!

We have both fall and spring pictures. The fall ones you need to pre-order. The spring ones, like OP's, we can look at first. If they are really good pictures I will buy them (one sheet) but usually send them back. I did buy this year's for DD since they looked cute

My "favorite" (insert sarcasm here) was the year DD decided to wear a nice red dress (like Christmas Mass nice) and the photographer used a light blue and white swirly background Um, no thanks

 

[WhatATreat]

Last year my DS begged me not to buy the spring pics because he didn't like them. Don't worry, you have not scarred your kids for life. Some people just need to keep their mouths shut. Of course, then we wouldn't have anything to talk about here on the DIS......

 

[Tink888]

I've never bought spring pics. Our elementary school was great for NOT letting your know when they were being taken. So my kids would come home with these pics with a great background, meanwhile their hair was a mess that day and they were usually wearing an old t-shirt with a pizza stain on the front!

Yeah, not paying thirty bucks for that!!!! It's because I love them that I sent the pics back.

 

[PelletierBears]

I buy the fall pictures cause as often as I say we're gonna go to Sears to get them done I never follow thru! But I will say it really bothers me that they schedule the pics during the first month back to school when we're paying for so many other "back to school" related things (clothes, supplies, sports fees, etc) The mid range package the includes 1 8 1/2 x 11, 2 5 x7's and several wallets is in the $40 range. I would rather they schedule a spring photo when for me it's easier on the budget for 2 kids (at least I only have 2!)

So I buy them cause otherwise I'd have no pics but if I was getting them done somewhere else I'd in no way feel obligated to buy from the school. Your situation reminds me of the "photo opportunity" at Planet Hollywood, Chef Mickeys, etc We bypass that cause I know we're not gonna pay an inflated price for something I can get for free with my own camera and nice CM or friendly tourist

 

[anotherdisneygal]

I bought my older son's spring pics this year because he's in a cap & gown (preschool graduation) and wearing a tie - too cute to pass up - he's 5. Prior to this year, I only bought the fall ones and only the smallest package I could (1 8x10 and the class photo usually).

I'm sure down the road years of therapy will help my children adjust to my terrible parenting.

 

[luvmy3]

That person secretly works for the photography company.

Seriously, that took a lot of nerve to say that! I don't buy pictures I don't like. And I buy one set of pictures a year. Not two. I think I'm going to start looking into other options. The school picture prices go up every year. They have been too high, but I buy them anyway. I can get a package deal for much less elsewhere and I can tell them on the spot if I like the pose/expression/background too!

Thats why I thought she was joking at first, on top of not believing that someone could really think that I couldnt believe she said it. Luckily its not our normal night to go but because of our softball and T-ball schedule we had to go tonight so that my dses didn't miss their class. I think next week we will go any night but Thursday

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who doesn't get them. I like getting the fall ones and looking at them through the years to see how much the kids have grown and changed. The spring ones kind of ruin that for me, plus with 3 kids they are pretty expensive and I wouldn't give them to family because they already have the fall ones.

 

[luvmy3]

I've never bought spring pics. Our elementary school was great for NOT letting your know when they were being taken. So my kids would come home with these pics with a great background, meanwhile their hair was a mess that day and they were usually wearing an old t-shirt with a pizza stain on the front!

Yeah, not paying thirty bucks for that!!!! It's because I love them that I sent the pics back.

See, now thats a being a good mother

 

[hereyago]

This is what I do as well on trips!!!!!!! Even on DCL, they will have the photo ops and I will be beside the photographer taking the same pictures. I hardly buy the school pictures because they pretty much well are not good. This week, DD11 brought home to proof paper of the Spring pictures and she said they turned out good for a change-lol-which actually they have, so we will be getting them.

But it really isn't the norm and actually DD likes the pictures I take of her and then upload them to Walgreenscom and pick what size or whatever I want.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I got some prints (package) from Walgreens photo. Great quality. I was surprised they have packages, Walgreens Ultimate Value Pack, that has (20) 4x6s, (3) 5x7s, (3) 8x10s, and (5) wallet sets, for $9.99. And you know they aren't selling those at a loss! So the school photo company IMO, is making a killing.

I got one of those sets (with wallets) for friends and family. Just a candid shot I took of the kids in the garden. They were having a sale on the Family pack I think it was. They turned out just as nice if not nicer than the sets I order from the school. I was very pleased. Every now and then I think I'll just take the kids pictures and make my own set at Walgreens.

It's so easy and it sure would save a bundle!