To insist that the photography studio photoshop my DS's school photo?

[Cataline]

DS is 6 and wears glasses. His school photo previews arrived and they're gorgeous
However, there are bloody great big white flash highlights on his glasses on every single photo. Poor little soul - they look ridiculous!

So, aibu to email the studio and request that:
a) they digitally correct the photos themselves or,
b) they send me the original digital image so I can get someone far more tech savvy to do it do it myself ??

Is it also reasonable to say in the email that i'm surprised a professional studio (who must deal with many glasses-wearing kids) has made such a silly error?

I know, in the grand scheme of things, that this isn't all that important but we get one school photo a year and i'm cross that they've managed to completely cock it up (and then have the audacity stupidity to send the blimmin photos home!)

So, what are your thoughts?

If you can get them digitally in a reasonable resolution there's plenty of people who will photoshop them for you, it's a fairly simply task.

If you approach the photographers first you may find they'll do it if you ask nicely, I agree though it shouldn't happen in the first place though.

Our school photographer gives you the option of having the whole thing photoshopped. They can get rid of your child's acne, whiten their teeth, etc etc. It's bloody stupid! I do think they should photoshop this for you though.

I wear glasses and when I have my staff ID done, the photographer takes several shots and adjusts the way I stand until there is no glare. So it's perfectly possible! YANBU to want them to sort it out.

Gorgeous boy and YANBU! Unfortunately there are some really bad 'professional' photographers out there. The worst offenders are often the ones who get 'easy gigs' - repeat work from schools / unis etc because they are not relying on word of mouth.

If they don't correct it I would raise it with school, preferably with other disgruntled parents of spec-wearers. This was a rookie mistake.

I suspect they've just had one strong light pointing at your son, rather than something more diffused.

I sent an email to the studio around lunch time today. No response yet but I'll update when I receive one! Thanks for all your thoughts on this.

I do think that it's probably an 'easy gig' for the studio - it's the closest one to the school and they seem to do them every year. I spoke to a few parents at pickup this afternoon and a couple of mums mentioned that they weren't overly impressed with the pictures this year. I wonder if they've been rushed through perhaps?

Every single school photo we've had has had glare from the glasses or the top of the frame cutting dc's eyes in two. I just get my own done now.

He is gorgeous, isn't he.

If I had a modelling studio I'd be wanting to snap him up!

OP your DS is gorgeous. The photographer is in the wrong, this is a really bad mistake. Was he not seeing what he was photographing ? I am never impressed with DD's pre school photos either and they have them twice a year !. Last year they were all Christmas themed but we got them right at the end of term so they were useless to send grandparents for cards. Hope you get them sorted.

OP he's gorgeous. He reminds me a bit of DS1 at that age. When we had a similar problem with DS1's glasses they just told us that he should have taken them off if he didn't want flash marks Hopefully your photographer will be more helpful!

He is scrummy!

I'm reassured that many of you have had disappointing experiences with school photographers although very cross on your behalf too! Thanks for all the lovely comments about DS too- I think he's gorgeous but I'm completely biased. He's such a lovely lad!
He told me that the reason his face looks like that in the picture is because he wanted to 'smile but not too much, you know? So I thought of being able to see Granny's knickers. It made me smile but I had to kind of keep the smile in because that's a bit rude"
He does make me laugh!!

No advice, but I couldn't have a peek at your photo and not comment- he is gorgeous!

He is so cute!!! Comment and picture!!! None of my school photos have glasses reflection on them and I'm an old gimmer so they can definitely do it now- surely they should expect glasses and adjust accordingly.

Such a shame about the flash, he looks so handsome!

I'd definitely ask if they can correct that.

I took DD elsewhere for her first school photo as it was so bad! A bit PFB maybe, but they'd posed them with elbows up on a desk that was too high - the result was DD looking like she had no neck and a double chin. I just wanted a nice first school pic, it really annoyed me.

Surely the photographers could ask themselves of they'd be happy with the photos themselves before they expect people to buy?

I feel totally justified in sending the (polite!) request for a correction to the photos now- thanks so much for sharing your stories and advice on this. and for saying DS is gorgeous

Oh what a handsome little chap he is. So cute.

I've just realised - the company that does DS's school photos will supply the image on a disc (its about £20). The image is a JPEG. If they do that, you're laughing - Photoshop away to your heart's content and prints would probably be cheaper to do at home too

Unless you want anything over A4 size...

I have had to have my photograph taken at school today. (I work there) The last time they caught me was about 5 years ago and it was a terrible photo. This time it looks even worse.

I am traumatised and require gin.

It never ceases to amaze me the dreadful quality of school photography (I buy photography for a living!)

Especially nowadays when they can preview the shot on screen.

I'd just buy the disk, tut a lot, and get it done myself

It could be worse! When my DS was 6 he had to wear an eye patch for an hour a day. Sure enough, his photo that year not only had the light bouncing off the glasses but he was wearing the patch too. Funnily enough, I didn't buy it. I wonder why?