School photos-what a waste.

[Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride]

We've been having a huge clear out and ive come across the box of school photos. Now ive got 4 kids. Not only were there photos from year 7 and 11 for the oldest 3 but for every year for youngest. Plus the class photo. I always got the smallest option but still, big one, grandparent ones and little contact print size. The boys hate all of them. Dd isnt bothered about them. But i feel so guilty(and so ripped off by bloody tempest) about getting rid of them. Surely these days, when phone cameras are ubiquitous schools dont need to do this.(I know schools use them for SIMS) Parental guilt drives it of course. And what do you do with the bloody things?

I don’t buy them…!

We got nursery photos rather than spending hundreds on a baby photoshoot. Will do the same with second child soon.

I have only bought them a few times. I bought the class photo when they were in Reception and will buy it again when they are in Y6 I think. I've only bought one sibling photo of my two DDs and they're in Y5 and Y3 now. I think it's fine for schools to still offer it but I don't feel any obligation to purchase them and I certainly wouldn't buy a photo every year.

I bought a pack of all of them, one big one for us and 4 medium for the 4 sets of grandparents (both our parents divorced and remarried) and they all wanted school photos,
they are still up in their houses and they have multiple grandchildren!
actually I think my mum did what I did, would have the current one up and bung the old one in a cupboard. I’ve put the old ones in a photo box. They’re not wasted, I enjoyed them at the time and every few years I get out the photo box for something specific and see them again, lovely to have those little reminders of their gappy teeth and school
cardigans/jumpers. Even got a few with all 3 in then together so some years only paid for one set of photos.
Obviously I took my own more candid photos and I didn’t buy all the senior ones, I think first and last but I don’t regret it.

More people than ever seem to buy them since cheap, then phone cameras came out (retired school teacher neighbour said). I suppose some people want group ones, and they can't take their phones into school to get these, but I agree, it seems surprising.
Mind you, I'm told the Bounty ones on maternity wards are still popular. I've not been on a maternity ward for ages (yes I do have friends who recently gave birth, but I didn't see them in hospital), but like the school ones, everyone apparently buys them?
Your kids might want them when they're older, OP.

Most people don’t buy them in my experience. Schools do them because they get a percentage but also they can use them on their registration system so it’s useful for the school.

If there were no school photos then people would complain about that too. At least if they do them then people get to decide if they want them or not. I only ever but hem if they were particularly nice.

They made great Christmas presents for grandparents who “had everything”. MiL loved the photos, the calendar and the T-towel the DD’s primary school produced. Saved much angst about what the hell to get them!

Both my fil and dm died, so guess where the grandkids photos ended up? Its not the photos as such i object to, it was the quantity! Big one(which sons refused to have up because they were awful) and then the multiples! Who thinks the various aunts and uncles want a picture of an awkward teen? It would be ok if you could just order one or two, but why 8? Or 16 contact prints?
I asked dc what i should do with the extras. Burning with the flames of hell was one answer.

We can buy a digital copy and also have the option to just buy one printed copy (mounted/framed etc). You can still get the bundles but I have no idea what I'd do with them either.

A couple of years ago the photo was lovely and I bought a pack - everyone interested had a photo that year! Since then they have been awful so I haven't bothered.

Against the grain, but I love them. I do what my mum did and write the names on the back of the class photo (we still look at these and I am in my 40s!).

That said, DD is still only y1 (for one more day!) and the photos so far have been adorable, but that could all change.

@Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride just don't buy them. I never did unless they were particularly good, which they usually weren't. The photos are for the school's records - parent purchases presumably mean the school gets the service for free, or cheap.

How old are your kids? I quite like looking back at mine now I'm middle aged so their time may yet come!

I just bought the cheapest, basic pack in reception and year 6. Didn’t bother with any of the other years.

You should save them. One day in the future you or your children will enjoy looking back at these photos.

My friend as never brought school photos, she takes a pick at the front door of her home with her own camera once a year.

I don’t think we ever bought them. Highly posed photos are not my thing. We bought the whole school photos, and I’m not sure why!

I feel we have to buy them even though there is no pressure to. They just sit in the bottom of my wardrobe.

Never bought one. They’re always awful. I had many hundreds more on my phone that captured them better and in a happier more natural setting.

Plus it’s a MASSIVE rip off.

I was given mine as an adult, by my parent. I put them in the bin...School wasn't the best time of my life. But even if it was, jesus those photos are all, without exception, drab.

My parent also got upset at me for binning them, despite also not wanting them.. The less pointless clutter the better, I don't buy my kids ones, they aren't representative of any more naturally posed memories I'd like to keep, sooo old fashioned. And yes a huge rip off.

Having a clear out at home and came across a one of my DDs class photo. A number of children had their faces crossed out with a red felt tip. When asked why my DD said she crossed out the children she didn’t like. 😂

They are very useful when your DC have stag/hen parties or weddings.

I love the school photos, though once a year was enough. There was a stage in nursery or primary when they were every 6 months, that was too frequent and expensive.

My kids school only do it twice over their 8 years in primary school. First year and last year. It is amazing to see the difference between the cheeky/smiley/shy/grinning 4/years olds and the handsome/pouty/geeky/rockster 12/13 years olds old boys and how they have changed in the 8 years. I buy the cheapest option and have always been happy with our boys school.
This year my daughter started and her second brother had his pic taken with her and it was horrible. I only got it so I could have them together. Even her class pic was horrible, no artwork in the background, looked like the kids were randomly put together looking dazed. But hey I bought it as they also look back at themselves and I’m sure she will too. Mine two boys especially eldest hates taking pics but will pose with school no problem, so I let school take them.

I agree. They are rarely good, are extortionate and I hate that digital options are not offered. I end up buying them so dc are not disappointed.