Friday, October 08, 2010

School Pictures, and What Would You Do?

We are in the midst of an Indian Summer, so I've been forcing the kids to play outside as much as possible, before being outside requires lots of winter equipment.

Yesterday at the park, a kid came up to Zack & AJ and said "hey, you guys want to play tag?"  They just glanced at the kid and continued on their way up the jungle gym.  I watched from below, wondering whether I should say something.

What do you do when this happens?  Because it does, occasionally -- they look like ordinary little boys.  Climbing up the jungle gym, they move like ordinary boys.  But they won't answer strangers.  Most of the time they won't answer me.

Should I have intervened and explained them to this kid?  When they didn't acknowledge him, he continued on his way.  He didn't seem put out.  So I didn't do anything.  Actually I was thinking thank goodness Zack didn't bite him....

A few minutes later Zack did bite a little girl in the arm.  I hollered to get him to stop and he ran over to me, screaming a little, looking distressed.  I picked him up and held him.  We stayed for just a few minutes too long, I guess.

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So the boys had their school pictures taken a couple of weeks ago, and I got them early this week.

You know how you can usually tell that a kid is "special needs" by their school picture?

Well, you can definitely tell in their pictures.  And I hate it.

I was going to scan them in to show you, but I am afraid Lifetouch will hunt me down and sue me.

I just don't know why this has to be so hard, though.  I mean look at all the pictures I take of them -- they are great smilers, aren't they?  Maybe this is why I don't go to professional photographers though.  Maybe this is why I spend money on a great camera for myself and don't let other people take pictures of my boys.  I want them protrayed as attractive and "normal" as possible.

But doesn't everybody throw away the bad pictures of their kids?  We all do it, don't we -- just keep the good pictures?  I'm not the only one who wants good pictures of my kids....

I could just refuse to buy any of them, but these pictures will be the ones in the yearbook.  These are the pictures that will represent my boys forever in the 2010-2011 yearbook.  I want people to see cute little blonde twins, and not wonder if something is not quite right with them, by the expressions on their faces.

I think I'll go to the school on picture retake day, and try to help the boys to smile and cooperate.  I don't know if it'll help, but I have to try.


Gratuitous nature shot, taken in our own backyard


5 comments:

Claudia said...

I understand your picture dilemma. I actually got a decent photo of Christopher this year at school (he's 13). Just remember that your boys are beautiful, it's just the pictures that can't capture that beauty all the time!

Love your photography! What kind of camera/lens do you use?

Have a great day.....

Bonnie@TheFragileXFiles said...

It's a Nikon D3000, which I believe is the cheapest model DSLR you can get. No special lens, just the one it came with, an 18-55mm lens, I think.

Salt in Suburbia said...

Go to picture re-take day for sure. My boys are hit or miss with pics too, especially C. We got the most "special needs" looking school pics the year they were in the preschool autism program at Richfield. Go figure. My opinion is that the photographer didn't really try hard with the "special needs" kids because their 3-year old pics at regular preschool before we had their diagnosis were the cutest ones ever.

BTW - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the autumn leaves pic!

Liz Siebenaler said...

I would try and go to school on retake day if you think it will help:) I love school pictures of my kids because I love the funny looks, the stiffness of them etc. Your boys are beautiful and I am sure that you capture that the best because you know them and how they look. The life touch people go so quickly they do not take the time to know your kids or try very hard to make them comfortable. I hope retake day goes well:)

Kristiem10 said...

I feel your pain. Blake's picture turned out ok. Not great, but ok. We didn't even get one of Drew. He just wouldn't cooperate. I am thinking I need to get a DSLR and take more nice pics of them at home.

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