Why School Pictures are a Waste of Money

This picture was taken right before we left for school, with my point and shoot:

And this is the "professional" picture we paid for:

My theory is that they took pictures after recess or in the afternoon because you wouldn't even know that I had spent the morning curling her hair, pinning her growing bangs nicely to the side and fixing her headband to be in the right place and hold her hair behind her ears... We even drove to school, which Mommy doesn't do often because we can always use a good walk, and our gas can be used for more important things for how much we pay to fill it! This is just like she looked when I picked her up from school (In fact, this is how she looks most days when I don't curl her hair!), but I kinda thought the teacher or the photographer would have the sense to fix her headband for her-at least.
I only did a package because I wanted a class picture for her to have, which hasn't even come in yet. They said it's because they want to get the individual pictures out as soon as possible... is it really that much more work for a class picture to print out?  And the order form shows it like a class sitting in rows with the teacher, but the "your picture is on it's way" notice had it more like a yearbook with everyone's individual pics. I hope it's not like that. Then I truly DID waste my money!
Maybe next time I should show up at picture time and help make her look ready for her pics, huh?