Should this photo be allowed in a yearbook?

That was what it looked like to me also.

If that's true, they did her a favor. She doesn't have much of a top to be flaunting. The saddest thing about it is that she looks like a child. Anyone who thinks she's hot who's over the age of 18 is creepy. I'm not sexuall attracted to children, personally.

It looks like a scarf to me tied.

And, therefore that to me is very suggestive, creative, but suggestive.

I think she will be glad later in life that it wasn't allowed to be used. I would hope.

I can visualise "wrong photographers" wooing her into taking more provocative photos and her parents "having given consent" should at least warn her what's out there...

Oh boy, an excuse to preach. I have long thought that rules were something made up by cowards who are afraid of being blamed for exercising their own judgement. All you gott'a say is "Look! it's against the rules. It's out of our hands". Those rules can sometimes lead to some terrible results, though.

That Durango! Just 50 miles up the road, but I'm not going anyway.

Rules often are in place to lower chance of lawsuit in situations where people are making decisions, including I suppose editorial decisions. Not the only reason of course. (Blame all the lawyers... kidding)

My idea of what a portrait is has changed over the years. Favorite portrait to date, Pope Innocent X by Diego Velasquez.



But my take on what is a portrait now includes some Francis Bacon and others with some, uh, flare, and I think the girl's photo counts as one, at least in a way.

Bacon here, Portrait of Lucia:


So I think this would bring an opportunity to the school to talk about what exactly is a portrait, and if they want rules on that as a community (which a school is, besides being hierarchical) or rules just by the editors of the current year.

For contrast, I'll show what was a school portrait in my day, 1959, a contact print here, me thinks. Urrrrggggh. A favorite boyfriend called me snaggletooth..

That's actually you? Awesome! (I thought it was a generic yearbook picture until your "urgh." That's a great photo.)

I actually really like most of the senior photos I see from around here. A local mom has a thriving photo business which I've "liked" on Facebook and so I see a lot of the senior pics that she does. They tend to be outside, really nice natural light, and some element of that senior's personality -- maybe on the football field, or with a musical instrument.

A lot of them are just nice photos though (nice clothes, nice background, nice lighting, nice smile).

This one would definitely be out of place amongst those, but even when I was in high school the standard photo like yours was no longer de rigeur. My dad is a pretty serious photographer and took a long series of me against some fancy backdrop, in black and white. I hated them all, sigh. Oh well. The problem he's always had is that he fiddles forever with settings and by the time the photo is actually snapped, it's of a bored and annoyed subject.

Meanwhile the local photographer did family photos for us this year, it's my parents-in-law's only Christmas gift request, annually, and I keep trying and failing to make it work. This is the first year it was an actual success I think, she did a great job. (Outdoors, local park, unseasonably warm day in early November.)

I think it's sad she sees herself this way as well. But that being said - they can't wear midriff baring clothes to school. Why should they be allowed to publish it in a publication that is from the school. I guess they can't wear midriff baring shirts. I think most schools operate that way...or am I way out of the loop?

Adorable Osso. Love that picture!

Oh, I so get that, the long wait while the smile freezes solid.

No particular reason, but here are some of the responses from people on yahoo.

I know, really bad cut and paste, but you get the drift.....



She is fighting a losing battle here, if you were allowed to Express yourself in a yearbook every male would by flipping off the camera, there are limits to what you put in a yearbook and a photo you send to Hefner to try and get into playboy isn't one of them. 34 Replies . 1551users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down69users disliked this commentsus100 5 hours ago Report AbuseWhile it's not offensive, the HS yearbook is not the place to advertise "how hot you are". It's blatant "showing off" and an obvious attempt to draw attention .... They were right in rejecting it for her sake, it makes her look shallow and vapid. Is that really how you'd like to be remembered? 31 Replies . 2663users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down147users disliked this commentJulia 6 hours ago Report AbuseSenior pics are a sense of pride and class, not pimping out yourself for Hustler mag. She looks like a prostitute, yeah lets make our school proud (not). Her mom is as classless as she is. 54 Replies . 4693users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down217users disliked this commentDarkerHumorist 8 hours ago Report AbuseOkay. Now that I got to read the story, the parents are idiots to allow their daughter to pose such a picture for the school yearbook. Shallow parents raising hollow children. 73 Replies . 765users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down41users disliked this commentRaymond 6 hours ago Report AbuseNo, in my humble opinion, the student does not have the "freedom of expression" in a student yearbook class picture. If she wants freedom of expression she can publish her own photos anywhere that will accept them. Good for the schoolbook editors for standing up to her and maintaining standards! 15 Replies . 1201users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down65users disliked this commentPaul 8 hours ago Report AbuseThis is what's totally wrong with America. Her and her mother both want national attention. and your giving it too them. The school is correct 100%. 23 Replies . 2601users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down128users disliked this commentMarc 5 hours ago Report AbuseI'm a red-blooded male, and certainly no prude or religious zealot. But I agree that such a photo is absolutely inappropriate for a HIGH SCHOOL yearbook. These are KIDS, for God's sake! 52 Replies . 2309users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down119users disliked this commentChris 8 hours ago Report AbuseI am a father of a 19 yr old and a 17 yr old. My wife and I strive to teach our children modesty and self respect. Self expression is one thing and we encourage our children to do so, but putting yourself on display like this young girl has done is something else. Why does she feel the need to do... More 64 Replies . 171users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down8users disliked this commentS 6 hours ago Report AbuseAll that's missing is her stripper pole!!! At least her parents know that she will be able to support herself after high school! 5 Replies . 2732users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down106users disliked this commentborn brit 1 hour 37 minutes ago Report AbuseWhy do I see a pole and clear heels in her future? 85 Replies . 88users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down3users disliked this commentriget 8 hours ago Report AbusePersonally, I am a little tired of seeing half naked pictures posted everywhere. In this day and time, let there be someplace that still has some dignity left. Please keep pictures in the yearbooks the same as they have always been..If she wants to express her right to wear what she wants, then go... More 2 Replies . 672users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down42users disliked this comment9 hours ago Report AbuseLooks like an audition for her next career? Stripper or porn star? There is a time and place for most situations and this is clearly not the the place or time for this type of display! Little girl don't complain if some crazy person decides they want to stalk you! 9 Replies . 791users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down54users disliked this commentmorphadite 5 hours ago Report AbuseIt sounds like a little spoiled princess is not used to the word "NO".I feel sorry for her future husband (if she can find someone to marry her). 32 Replies . 82users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down3users disliked this commentRobin T 1 hour 18 minutes ago Report AbuseAs tasteless as this girl and her parents are, the bright side is that the student editors have some sense of decency. Good for them! 1 Reply . 1534users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down77users disliked this commentLiana 5 hours ago Report AbuseTHIS is her idea of freedom of expression? She looks like she should have an 800 number trolling beneath the photo. It sure as shoot doesn't belong in a high school yearbook. Kudos to the five editors in question who rightfully labeled this picture as inappropriate and unprofessional. 21 Replies . 125users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down7users disliked this commentMustang Gal 3 hours ago Report AbuseI'd like to know if she was a minor (under 18 yrs of age) when the photo was taken. The article says she was wearing a "black shawl"?? That's not even a top/shirt! A shawl is worn over the bodice of a dress or a top, to keep a female warm or free from being bit by bugs. I would never allow my... More 6 Replies . 1274users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down79users disliked this commentBruce 8 hours ago Report AbuseNO WAY should this picture appear in her Yearbook!! Facebook is one thing but school is quite another. Where are her parents???? 27 Replies . 570users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down34users disliked this commentphyiss 5 hours ago Report AbuseAh,whether from the schools administrator or from the Papers staff, that picture is unacceptable for a High school Year book. It looks like she's posing for a centerfold. And that is not how someone thirty years from now would want her friends or her peers to be remembered as... I AM againsnt... More 5 Replies . 1333users liked this comment
Thumbs UpThumbs Down77users disliked this commentScott 4 hours ago Report Abuseso lets see, what part of "violates dress code" does she not get?

I think I agree with the editors' separation of paid ad photos and portraits, however they work out what is ok on those. Surely no nudie pics, eh? Well, editors change over the years. People should have a clue of the range for each before they do photo shoots.

I'm still thinking about Engineer's post on straightening the photo. Her torso to tip of her hair more or less lines up with the post seen just past her.

My mother didn't let me tweeze my eyebrows. Another difference between then and now. I partially cheated. That kind of rule breeds sneakiness...

Wow! Darling! What an amazing smile! Thanks for sharing that.

I learned that lesson at the knee of my mentor: making rules based on exceptional circumstances often has catastrophic results.

You're welcome.

Me, I'm looking at my fulgent eyebrows. Have to foster them nowadays.

okay, you made me laugh

My mom didn't let me wear makeup in EIGHTH grade. I went to school and put it on in the bathroom. Until I fogot to take it OFF in the bathroom before she picked me up.

Yeah....I was sneaky. But not the very smart kind of sneaky. The kind of sneaky that got busted a lot.

The girl just submitted a second photo that was also rejected. She says she is a dancer and an aspiring model. I wonder what she's hoping to model.

Take a look at the mom's Facebook page (Miki Spies), where you can access a series of photos of a breast cancer fundraiser that her daughter participated in.

I doubt that it was the photographer's idea. The photos on their website look pretty normal to me - weddings, family, etc.