We have all felt an unnecessary dread when it comes to taking school pictures. Parents will nag at the most minute details, the photographer always seeming to force us to do the most uncomfortable positions, and the red-hot embarrassment of feeling goofy in front of your peers and crush. However, years from that miniscule moment you may be feeling nostalgic, and on a whim you might crack open that yearbook and truly reminisce. Not so much for that time period, but for the classmates, the teachers, and who you were as a person. Only pictures have that power to fully throw you into the past, so even though school pictures may seem like torture, you will be glad you took them.
Photography is nostalgia given form, but for the present, it is also a way to freeze that moment and those years. Your parents look fondly at that awkward smile and fluffy hair with love, excited for the person you will grow up to be, despite the overwhelming fear of having you actually grow up. As children, we never saw the need for school pictures, save for the older years hyper-fixation on their appearance or trying not to look too awkward. As parents, we see school pictures as an opportunity to capture a rare moment in life, one where there are still endless possibilities and the world in their hands.
The forced poses, uncooperative hair, the vain attempts to make yourself laugh to try and have a genuine smile. In the moment they are tedious and embarrassing, but what they mean for your family and eventually for you makes it all worth it. At the very least, it is a keepsake for that year. For many though, it is a tangible object that allows people to reflect on the growth and change that has made you into the person you have become. One awkward photo can be the picture that you show a new group of friends to cement trust, or it could be the photo the love of your life sees that makes her laugh hysterically and makes you fall in love with them all over again. So yes, school pictures are awkward, but ultimately they become a treasured memory that is worth far more than the five minutes of discomfort of taking it.
Rutherford County Schools, Tennessee is seeking bids from qualified contractors to provide school photography services. If interested in this opportunity, click on the link to learn more. The bid closes March 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET.