School photos hold a special place in a parent’s heart. They capture fleeting moments of our children’s growth and quirks, creating lasting memories we can revisit for years to come (and inevitably use to tease them at graduations or weddings). So, it’s no surprise that one mother was taken aback when she discovered that her eight-year-old son’s missing teeth had been digitally restored in his school picture.
“Have we really reached a point where we feel the need to Photoshop an 8-year-old’s gappy smile?” questioned Laura Thompson, a mother from Australia, in her viral blog post on her platform, Parenting Perspectives. Laura had been preoccupied caring for her two children who were battling chicken pox when she received the school photos. She thought, “I didn’t realize he still had teeth when these photos were snapped.”
Laura detailed her shock: “I examined the family picture and his class photo — there he was, Gappy McGapperson (his own nickname!), in all his glory. At first, I assumed they had mistakenly sent us last year’s photo, but upon closer inspection, I saw that his mouth had been altered with what appeared to be last year’s baby teeth inserted.”
This incident raises important questions about the nature of school photography. Our children’s school photos are meant to be a little cringeworthy—that’s part of the charm of growing up. Kids experience everything from baby chub to awkward haircuts, and especially those charming grins that could double as a Swiss Army knife. As parents, we want to celebrate every phase so that we can look back and witness the transformation into the unique individuals they become. These images are precious memories, and altering them should not be an option.
“While the school photographer promptly recognized the error and offered corrected photos, I wrote this blog because it seems that some companies routinely edit children’s images — and some even charge for this service — which I believe sends a troubling message to our kids,” Laura explained. She expressed concern that the trend of photo editing has spiraled out of control. “He’s not ashamed of his gaps or crooked teeth; he’s thrilled about losing his tooth!” she remarked. “I want my son to look back at his school photos and see how he’s grown over the years.”
Laura noted that her son found the whole situation amusing. “Because he was late to lose his teeth, he thinks losing them and how he looks is super funny,” she shared. In a follow-up to her post, Laura mentioned that the staff member responsible for the digital alteration now recognizes it was a poor judgment call. It was disheartening to learn that they have faced criticism in the past for not Photoshopping away messy hair, bruises, or stains on clothing.
As we navigate the journey of parenthood, let’s celebrate our children’s true selves, imperfections and all. In the blink of an eye, we’ll be reminiscing about these moments, so let’s embrace their authenticity.
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Summary:
A mother expressed her disbelief after discovering that her son’s school photo had been altered to include his missing teeth. She argues that these photos should capture children’s true selves, imperfections included. The trend of photoshopping children’s pictures raises concerns about the messages it sends to kids about self-acceptance.