When a school facilitates its pupils sitting for photos, the parents are sitting ducks for another Communion expense

COMMUNION time is expensive. We're not too bad, as it's my - at least he'll get to wear the clothes again.

When my daughter's turn arrives I know I'll hate the thought of splashing out on a mini wedding dress and all the other ornaments little girls seem to want. Hopefully, by that time most schools will have adopted the more progressive idea of wearing a robe or some other standardised form of clothing.

Between his clothes and our clothes, a meal out and all the other extras, I anticipate quite a hefty bill for the day. Our family are lucky: we won't have to do without or go into debt in order to give Conor a good day.

These days, most families own a camera - or at least have access to one when the need arises. Why then, did Conor's school engage a professional photographer to visit the school? And I know his school is not alone in this custom.

He came home with an order form today. For £25.50 we can get six "portraits" of our little darling - two large and four small. This may not seem much for professionally done photographs, but it is a lot to ask parents at an already costly time.

It's not compulsory, but bow many parents will want their child to feel left out while all the other kids are getting ready to pose?

There is another option - a clever sales trick: the photos can be taken and sent home on a sale or return basis. However, who is going to resist professional shots of their child looking so saintly in all his finery? If Mammy or Daddy don't buy, Granny or Granddad or some other doting relation will be sure to take up this magnificent offer.

If the photographer can afford to take the risk of having his "portraits"

rejected, there must be quite a large profit margin. The question then is: what cut do the schools get? It must be quite good, as they don't seem to have any misgivings about putting this extra financial pressure on parents, either at this time of the year or for the annual school photo.

Well, I got a new camera for Christmas so I'll be taking my own photos on the day. I might ask Teacher to pose for one or two, and I can send them into school later.

Sale or return of course.