Today is picture day for my eldest gremlin. The outfit has been picked out for weeks. The hand-crafted-by-Nana, humongous-flowered headband has been selected. Matching socks have even been set aside for the special occasion. The only problem is we aren't ordering any pictures. Gasp! What!?! No pictures on picture day? Perposterous! Yes, I will surely be nominated for Worst Mother of the Year 2011. Please vote for me!
Allow me to explain. She is in preschool. Rest assured, I am not saying no to Senior Pictures. We will order the ($9!) class picture to document her presence in school. But, I personally cannot justify spending 3 times the cost of a normal 8x10 photo print at a pharmacy for an individual photo. Especially in the larger picture of having 3-4 kids eventually getting school pictures every year AND sports and other extra-curricular activity pictures as well. That is a lot of cash to set aside to capture relatively the same image I can get with my own camera.
My plan is to DILIGENTLY and RELIGIOUSLY (the emphasis is for my benefit as often even the best of intentions go by the wayside) take my child's individual picture on the morning or afternoon of school-sanctioned picture day in the most picturesque spot available. Maybe in front of the mums or the brick facade at school. I will then take advantage of all the wonderful photo deals at Walgreens (like 40% off all Prints w/ promo code ALLPRINTS
While the only mothering superlative I will likely receive with this strategy is 'Least Likely to Serve on the PTA Board', my girls will still have visual documentation of their time spent in school and other activities. The pictures just won't be in front of the stale gray background and have a 300% price markup.
I'm so glad you posted this today. Our pictures are next week and I have a 3rd grader, a kindergartener and a preschooler. I'm cringing at the thought of $100 for 3 picture packages and with that only getting 1 8x10 of each of them. I wanted to do exactly what you mentioned here but have not had the courage to "say it outloud" to myself. I have been having this internal struggle with myself that goes something like "What are the kids going to think when they're older and have NO school pictures!!!" I'm printing this article and putting it on my wall to remind myself that it will be OK and I can take my own pictures and they'll probably turn out nicer than the schools, anyway!! :)
ReplyDeleteChristina: Thanks for your comment! I took my daughter's picture (ironically on Audrey's front porch) after school today. Step 1: Complete! Now, we just have to hold each other accountable and get them developed! You can even get the little wallet sized ones made and your 3rd grader can trade like all the rest.
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