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Original poster

To think that a class photo is the whole class in one photo?

125 replies

Daisydrum · 12/05/2021 08:43

We’ve had the “class photo” and it’s the class split into little groups of about 4 and they are then just going to put them together. To me that’s a collage.
Is anyone else’s school not doing class photos this year?

OP posts:
DappledThings · 12/05/2021 13:58

Really? It’s just a nice memory for your children. Does it matter how ‘good’ it is?
It doesn't look like a nice memory though. It looks like a memory of being made to stand in a weirdly forced and awkward pose with random props.

Byllis · 12/05/2021 14:00

I like the “can be good” and “some come out really well” comments. Damned by faint praise, indeed!

HollyHardcastle · 12/05/2021 14:00

Our school isn't even doing a class photo - just individual ones Sad

HarebrightCedarmoon · 12/05/2021 14:01

It's not a nice memory when the lighting is so bright and weird that they somehow manage to make the most beautiful children look like baby orcs.

School photographers are bloody awful on the whole. Can't take a decent photo for toffee and then charge a fortune, even just for a digital download.

Byllis · 12/05/2021 14:01

I like the “can be good” and “some come out well” comments. Damned be faint praise, indeed!

Nitw1t · 12/05/2021 14:04

This is new in our school this year.

DS2 (YR) was completely "weirded out" by having to rest his hand on his teacher's shoulder. "we weren't keeping our hands to ourself mummy!!"

I guess we'll see how they turn out!

TheIncredibleBookEatingManchot · 12/05/2021 14:11

My DC's primary school did collage photos and they looked awful. Weird poses and a plain studio background.

I much prefer my old school photos where we were all together in rows in the hall or playground. I like that they show a bit of the place as well as the people.

I think the most cringy one was DS1's year 3 photo where the male teacher was seated with two girls on either side of him resting their hands on his shoulders. There was just something sort of off looking about it.

CaptainMyCaptain · 12/05/2021 14:29

@DandelionRose

Captain Good point, except I wish they'd start with the youngest years first because they are more likely to get messed up faster! It seems they start with the Juniors and work their way down so the Infants don't get done til later (after play, after messy classroom work, sometimes after lunch or right at the end of the day).
They did, at least, start with the youngest at my school and I did give them all the once over before they went in. Many, many years ago there was a child who was conscious of being very shabbily dressed compared to her classmates (family sickness not neglect). the TA 'accidentally' split something on her clothes (which we washed at school) and dressed her in spare clothing. She was as pleased as punch.
SoupDragon · 12/05/2021 15:17

@Daisydrum

For anyone who thinks this new style looks good - do you actually display them?
No, but I never displayed the old style either. Why would I want a photo of 29 children who aren't mine plus some adults on my wall?
CaptainMyCaptain · 12/05/2021 15:26

@DandelionRose

Captain Good point, except I wish they'd start with the youngest years first because they are more likely to get messed up faster! It seems they start with the Juniors and work their way down so the Infants don't get done til later (after play, after messy classroom work, sometimes after lunch or right at the end of the day).
They did, at least, start with the youngest at my school and I did give them all the once over before they went in. Many, many years ago there was a child who was conscious of being very shabbily dressed compared to her classmates (family sickness not neglect). the TA 'accidentally' split something on her clothes (which we washed at school) and dressed her in spare clothing. She was as pleased as punch.
CaptainMyCaptain · 12/05/2021 15:28

@DandelionRose

Captain Good point, except I wish they'd start with the youngest years first because they are more likely to get messed up faster! It seems they start with the Juniors and work their way down so the Infants don't get done til later (after play, after messy classroom work, sometimes after lunch or right at the end of the day).
They did, at least, start with the youngest at my school and I did give them all the once over before they went in. Many, many years ago there was a child who was conscious of being very shabbily dressed compared to her classmates (family sickness not neglect). the TA 'accidentally' split something on her clothes (which we washed at school) and dressed her in spare clothing. She was as pleased as punch.
Definately · 12/05/2021 15:31

My pre schooler got a class photo done last week. I've got no idea why I would want a picture of the rest of the class, who he won't remember and will probably never see again Confused but feel like I should order one anyway because it's the done thing!

SoupDragon · 12/05/2021 15:45

@Byllis

I like the “can be good” and “some come out well” comments. Damned be faint praise, indeed!
The old style are only ever "OK" though.
SoupDragon · 12/05/2021 15:57

@Daisydrum

For anyone who thinks this new style looks good - do you actually display them?
No, but .I never displayed the old style either. Why would I want a photo of 29 children who aren't mine plus some adults on my wall?
SpiderinaWingMirror · 12/05/2021 16:21

This changed between older dds (now in their 20s) and younger dd (now 13).
Loved the older girls ones. Took one afternoon. Whole school on the field. Stood on benches, sat on chairs and sitting down the front.
Photo came back with the School and year on it and you wrote all the names on the back. Stuck on the wall til the next year.
With Dd3, it is more expensive. , and awkward to keep. I'm sure it's to make them harder to copy and I dont blame them for that

SpiderinaWingMirror · 12/05/2021 16:24

This changed between older dds (now in their 20s) and younger dd (now 13).
Loved the older girls ones. Took one afternoon. Whole school on the field. Stood on benches, sat on chairs and sitting down the front.
Photo came back with the School and year on it and you wrote all the names on the back. Stuck on the wall til the next year.
With Dd3, it is more expensive. , and awkward to keep. I'm sure it's to make them harder to copy and I dont blame them for that

SoupDragon · 12/05/2021 16:27

@Daisydrum

For anyone who thinks this new style looks good - do you actually display them?
No, but .I never displayed the old style either. Why would I want a photo of 29 children who aren't mine plus some adults on my wall?
Horst · 12/05/2021 16:29

I don’t like them and I only buy it for the first year and last year. They are also never displayed and just stay in their tubes.

SoupDragon · 12/05/2021 16:31

@Byllis

I like the “can be good” and “some come out really well” comments. Damned by faint praise, indeed!
Thing is, the classic "in rows" ones are only ever OK.
Horst · 12/05/2021 16:31

Our class photos are always like that four groups in various poses to them for together for a long photo.

Mudandrain · 12/05/2021 16:34

Lots or school photos are like this now. They look quite nice.

twinkletoedelephant · 12/05/2021 16:43

Ds last school photo was during lockdown, teachers asked children be in uniform and photo is waist up against a plain brick wall....with great big smiles... then all 30+ staff pictures together actually came out really well :)

NeonStones · 12/05/2021 16:52

If our school did the group style that might mean we had a whole class photo. As it is my child can't cope with the experience and always ends up not in the photo.

SleepingStandingUp · 12/05/2021 16:58

@Definately

My pre schooler got a class photo done last week. I've got no idea why I would want a picture of the rest of the class, who he won't remember and will probably never see again Confused but feel like I should order one anyway because it's the done thing!
Will he not be moving up to school with any of them? Has he made any particular friendships? If not o think it's fine to just not bother, now I'll willoau much attention
Chasanddive · 12/05/2021 17:07

We had this in the primary 1 class. My son and his friend were off that day, but got their photo taken at a later date. When we got the photo it looked so unnatural. His photo was just stuck on at the end of the class photo. What’s wrong with the whole class as one sitting smiling with no props, just how they done it when I was younger