to be unimpressed by the school photographer insisting that the girls let their hair loose for photos?

[qwertypop]

DD is in Y6 and has long hair that she wears in plaits for school. This is a) a school rule and b) something I'd insist on even if it wasn't due to nits and tangles etc.

School photos yesterday and DD came home with her hair loose. The photographer had told all the girls to let their hair loose so they'd look pretty for the photos I totally believe DD on this as she hates having her hair in her face, hates wearing it loose, and was furious at having been told to do it!

Is this normal or AIBU to think it a bit crap and sexist of them? Surely they should know that children look pretty however their hair is?

[qwertypop]

Didn't get to see the teacher involved because she only works Fridays to cover PPA time. However I mentioned it to DDs normal class teacher who gave me the total brush off and said she knew what girls were like and it was probably their idea! So not holding out much hope that my point will be taken seriously... Will try this afternoon to catch the cover teacher though.

[NatashaRomanov]

Wow, I'd be pretty unimpressed if this happens to my DD (she starts school in September).
School photos should represent how the child looks at school. Not how some photographer thinks is 'pretty'!
FWIW, I think my DD looks very pretty in plaits, which is how she'll wear her hair for school. Left loose, it goes wild within 30 seconds. She still looks pretty, just not neat!

[PeterParkerSays]

Hope you're giving them hell OP, and asking why the teacher backed the photographer up in this escapade.

[BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure]

If photographer wanted them all to look similar then why did photographer say "to look pretty"?

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

Oh yes, because the most important thing a little girl will ever do is "look pretty".

How about keeping the plaits in because they look 'smart'? Or do we not require our little girls to be smart.

Grr. YANBU.

[Nocomet]

YANBU, by Y6 the girls in DD2's class would have had very firm ideas about how they wanted their hair (very likely not how their Mothers did it that morning)

They would not appreciate the photographer having an opinion.

DD2 wears glasses and keeps them on for photos (she squints if she doesn't), she is faintly self conscious about them so any hint she looks prettier with out would make me complain.

[Notso]

I was really sad when I saw DS1's first school photo because his 'helpful' teacher had brushed his gorgeous longish, shaggy hair into a severe side parting. He looked wrong, like Bart Simpson at church.

I don't think it is a sinister thing. Maybe he just wanted them all to look similar.

[Minnieisthedevilmouse]

Sounds a bit "jimmy saville" to me wanting the young girls to look pretty for the camera. Did he bring sweets or just puppies too?

I think it's grimy. I'd be def complaining too.

[qwertypop]

About to go to fetch DD so watch this space for an update! Will be kicking off the conversation by asking whose idea the loose hair was and take it from there...

[cosmicstardust]

DD's hair is in cornrows at the moment, which she would struggle to take out by herself. Would the photographer have made girls with similar braids in take them out too?

[SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires]

I've never had a school photo taken of me, (as I hate being photographed) I hid in the bogs every time.

[Oldraver]

Phantom...there are two on my profiles circa 1972/3... one walking and anotehr posing in front of a bookcase

[phantomnamechanger]

[phantomnamechanger]

can you imagine a wedding photographer "suggesting" the bride, or anyone in the wedding party changed the way they look for the photos?

I absolutely agree OP this is wrong - the message is that little girls should be bothered about how other people think they should look, that there is some sort of perceived norm they have to strive to fit, to be acceptable/good enough

I have some absolutely gorgeous pictures of my DD2, a right impish little pickle, with her plaits and freckles. Hair down would not have been her (and it would have looked a mess!)

[ExcuseTypos]

I'd be fuming.

I'd phone the school on Monday asking why the photographer wasnt challenged on his request. he sounds like an old pervert to me

[ThaneOfScunthorpe]

Sexist and creepy. I agree with whoever it was that said it's like a trip back to the 70s.

[FiveExclamations]

Same thing happened with my DD's end of primary school whole class pic. DD couldn't get the two invisible bands that were holding back the front of her hair out, but she let the back down. The two small pony tails at the front didn't sit right once the back was loose and she looked like she had horns.

She's only looked presentable in one school photo and that was her reception one, so I should be used to it by now.

[JonesRipley]

OP
yanbu. This is sexist.

[JonesRipley]

Toys

i have commented onthis before. When I was achild here in the 70s there were always several girls in each class with short hair.


But I am starting to see some signs in the Primary school where I work that things are changing a bit. A few of the year 4 s and up have had their hair cut short in the lAst couple of years.

[BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure]

Yy Nanny.

[Nanny0gg]

I also bet that a number of mothers had spent ages that morning making sure that the girls' hair was done perfectly.

They'll be really pissed off!

[PandaNot]

I can't believe anyone will buy the photo! They'll all look like they've been dragged through a hedge.

My dd has long hair because she needs to wear it in a bun for dancing. I'd much prefer her to have short hair.

[madwomanbackintheattic]

Another one whose dd was told to take her glasses off for the photos. She has worn them full time for 8 years. The photo didn't even look like her. We never see her without glasses.