Wednesday, June 1, 2011

School Photo Day: Oh the horror


The journey as I morphed from this adorable tot...


... to this adult version (hands down, the day I felt most beautiful - it's amazing what professional hair, makeup and photography can do for your self image) was not always a graceful one.


Wait, you say, this is supposed to be School Photo Day?  Well, that is true, but for my own pride I had to post those two images to counteract the pain of what comes next.

I was, like all of us, a cute baby and I have grown into a reasonably presentable semblance of human as an adult.  However, there were those terribly awkward years in between, painfully documented in that annual rite - the school photo day.  I never had cool clothes. I didn't know how to smile naturally.  I would wait for my turn in front of the cameras, in line with all my fellow students like lambs to the slaughter, inwardly practicing my best portrait smile.  This, of course, was a useless exercise because I didn't have a mirror.  The torturous process was made worse by the feeling that one was doing it in a fish bowl.  The whole class was standing there, probably thinking what I a dork I looked like, smiling my geeky smile.  For someone as shy as my childhood self, this was intolerable.  Ack! 

The portraits documenting my awkward progression through childhood were lovingly compiled and labeled by my mother, who I still haven't quite forgiven for those bangs:



These culminate in my senior yearbook portrait... my, my I was really working the supermodel pout there, wasn't I?



Those aren't so bad, you say?  Well, we always are harder on ourselves.  But it gets much, much better if you scroll down to the bottom.

There were informal yearbook photos too.

I was a cheerleader:


I was in the school play:


I was in the school choir, which is the only excuse for this getup:


But if there were a contest for awkward yearbook photos, this has got to be a top contender*.   Note the snarky comment inserted by a fellow student signing my yearbook:



* The year after this photo appeared, I joined the yearbook club in order to have some chance to intercept the publication of any other humiliating photos.

* * *
So come on internets, if I'm willing to post a yearbook photo of me apparently picking my nose, you gotta give me what you got.  Join in and post a link to your site in the comments below.  No excuses if you don't have a picture available today.  It's now School Picture Week!  Follow my nose-picking lead and dig one out... then come back and post a comment in the next few days.  For more school photo fun, visit the sites of my co-hosts: Ironic Mom and EduClaytion.

41 comments:

  1. I love your school photos! They are not bad at all (I'm thinking back to a particularly bad 5th grade photo of myself- I'll have to see if my mom still has it.
    And you looked absolutely beautiful on your wedding day!

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  2. I'm linking up in about 5 minutes! Love your pictures.

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  3. Awwwwwww. I love this post. Some amazing shots - and love that choir outfit....... {and I am pretty sure I saw someone in a ensemble like that here not so long ago!}

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  4. Okay, here's mine;
    http://asalinguist.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/a-portrait-of-the-linguist-as-a-young-dorky-girl/

    I don't know where most of my pictures went, and my yearbook pictures didn't scan well, so I don't have anywhere near the treasure trove that you have here. You are a brave girl! And seeing as though I had a very similar hairstyle in my senior picture, I think you looked smashing! :)

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  5. That is too, too funny. A sucker up your nose? And Awkward Yearbook Photos should be a website. Seriously.

    But you know what? Even through the short bangs and the 80s perms, the beautiful girl is always there. Those eyes! Wow!

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  6. This is really funny. Love all the pictures.

    We could have gone to the same school! I made the same cheer pyramid with similar looking girls in the same uniform!

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  7. Krysta - I look forward to that 5th grade picture. Thanks for your compliment on my wedding picture. I swear that one day did more for my photographic self esteem than years of therapy.

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  8. Renee - Thanks for stopping by, and I loved your #schoolphotoday post!

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  9. Em - I am seriously disturbed that you've recently seen someone out and about in the North of England in a Debbie Gibson hat and Mickey Mouse gloves!

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  10. Limr - Want further proof that we were separated at birth, Leo? Look no further than my kindergarten picture and you will see echoes of your pained 5-year-old grin.

    As far as locating the pictures. I literally tore my box-storage room apart last weekend and seriously thought I had tossed out all of my yearbooks in a rash desire to rid myself of useless. Some School Photo Day host I was going to be.

    Fortunately I found them under a bit of fabric... I was using the box as a night stand by my bed, 'cuz I'm classy like that. As my husband says, "It's always the last place you look. Well, it would be wouldn't it? Because you found it." :-)

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  11. Leanne - You are so kind to compliment my eyes. I'm not sure anyone ever has. Those 80's perms were a nightmare. My hair absolutely refused to curl and yet I kept trying. Thank goodness my normally straight locks came back into fashion!

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  12. Hi Annie - Thanks for stopping by! It's funny how universal the experience was for us children of the 80's. Loved your #schoolphotoday post too and I'm so glad you joined us!

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  13. This is great! What range you have. The senior photo is really nice too. I would've totally cast you in Goonies instead of Martha Plimpton. But I'm sure you get that all the time (not really). Are any of those from ICA?

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  14. Awesome. Your wedding picture is truly beautiful!

    And maybe it's the bangs, maybe the ensemble, but I'm totally getting an Anne of Green Gables vibe from your pictures. Does it matter that I've never actually read the book?

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  15. Ha ha, this is awesome!!!! Love the timeline. Nice culmination with the "Awkward School Photo." :) :) :)

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  16. Clay - I was never a student at ICA - but my best friend was. Our school colors were the same though.

    I've never gotten the Martha Plimpton reference before... but I can see where you're coming from. That was filmed not far from my town so its got an extra special cult following out here. :-)

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  17. JButtWhatWhat - Girl, you are spooky! Though I never deliberately tried to channel Anne of Green Gables, that series of books was one of my all time favorites growing up.

    Thanks for playing along!

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  18. jpcabit - Thanks for visiting! As for culminating with the awkward photo, the advice is to always leave 'em laughing, no?

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  19. I'm a huge fan of photos, and you've had the best post for lots of them! I actually only posted one because I didn't have my yearbooks with me (http://www.newlifecalu.com/?p=734). I would've also joined the yearbook club to prevent such pictures as the last one. I've always had a fear that I'd be caught not smiling in a picture, so the only pics of me not smiling are those which I don't know are being taken. I even had a guy on a mission trip whose sole objective was to snap a photo of me not smiling - and it was the most annoying thing ever. I agree that we're all harder on ourselves than others. I think you're beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

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  20. Kim - As you can see, in my late teen years I *seriously* experimented with not smiling for the camera. It wasn't until sometime in my college years that I heard the advice, "Never smile with your lips closed - it will look weird." So now I always flash a big grin at a camera. What d'ya know - it works!

    Thanks very much for your kind words and for participating in School Photo Day.

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  21. I was going along thinking even in your awkward photos you were pretty cute...and then I got to your sucker up your nose photo and laughed out loud. So excellent!

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  22. Lisa - I'm pretty sure I was horrified on yearbook day when that was released. I was only 15, after all, and that kind of humiliation isn't easily shaken off. Fortunately I quickly decided to let everyone think I found it hilarious. You know what they say: "Laugh and the world laughs with you." And it worked.

    Little did I know at the time I was simply setting myself up with some great blog fodder! Don't suppose I could coax you to join School Photo Week? If they did photos where you grew up here, there and everywhere, that is. ;-)

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  23. Keennie - Freshman year of high school there was a picture of me on a float for homecoming week. The angle of the shot made it look like I was picking my nose. Ugh. I remember the teasing I received. I relate to your lollipop picture. Good for you for joining the yearbook staff. Well done!

    Nice pictures, too. Nice that your Mom was so organized.

    ~ Lenore

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  24. What a lovely photo collection. Love the pen up the nose one. Can't believe they published that one on you. Who did you tick off on the Yearbook Committee?

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  25. ROFL! Love the "Mickey Mouse" hands on the choir get-up. You don't look real happy about it, either. Thanks for a fabulous idea that got us all going!

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  26. Oh, those awkward years...you photographed better than I did. While your mom liked bangs, mine was smoking the Fro Perm and Plaid pipe! Thanks for posting these. Mine are conveniently stored away at my parents!!
    Beth

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  27. I'm kind of still waiting for the bad photos...??? I agree that we're all hardest on ourselves.

    Loved seeing your progression through the ages -- did we all have wings in 7th grade? The answer is YES!

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  28. I totally understand not knowing how to smile. I now just think of something funny and start laughing to myself whenever I take a picture. Thanks for stopping by! Even though you've seen my awkward photos, here's the link for those who haven't!

    http://afterfb.blogspot.com/2011/06/mullets-et-al-chronicle-of-bad-hair-and.html

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  29. Wow! That was one comprehensive walk through your school days. I'm not what you would call...photogenic. So, if I can even scrape up some pictures it will really be worth the laugh.

    PS. You are such a good sport,too.

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  30. Hi Krys!

    these are great! REALLY miss having you in my day to day life Krys. What a shame we cant accumulate memories and photos...
    Really hope you guys will cross the pond some day soon. xx

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  31. Lenore - I'm glad there is someone out there that really feels my pain! One reason to be thankful yearbooks come out at the end of the year - everyone has all summer to forget.

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  32. Piper - Oh, I never thought I must have ticked someone off! I just assumed that picture was teenage gold and who could resist? But now I'm wondering...

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  33. KB - The idea was all Leanne, but I'm glad to have been the breath of inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!

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  34. Beth - Stored away at your parents, huh? How terrifically convenient for you. We could always use a little Fro-Perm action. ;-)

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  35. Z - I finally cracked learning how to smile. Now I'm goofy enough I don't even need a funny story since I've spent so many years grinning at cameras.

    Thanks for visiting!

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  36. Nicki - Do I feel a post coming on? *Exaggerated wink*

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  37. Oh - you are sweet Emer, we won't stay away forever! Need to meet that nephew of ours. :-)

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  38. Amanda - That 7th grade wings picture is the one I detest the most... what were we thinking? Not even the terrible perms were as bad as those wings!

    Thanks for checking out my School Photo Day post!

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  39. Those pics still crack me up :) I could have sworn I had extra copies of my senior year picture. I'll have to keep looking. I need to prove that we had the same hair (only mine is brown!)

    Aaaaanywho...not sure where else to put this, but...An award for you is ready for pick up at http://asalinguist.wordpress.com/2011/06/06/and-the-winner-goes-to/

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  40. What a fantastic idea. I will have to dig out my school pics, I think we all have those bad hair, horrible clothing, weird pose photos of yesteryear. Yours are actually pretty good!

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  41. Corilu - you should do it! It was a cringe-inducing process, but it's a good lesson in how to laugh at oneself.

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