A picture fell out of one of the Christmas cards as I opened it. Hardly surprising. The annual Christmas photo is a great way to keep track of far-flung relations. You peer over and comment with your significant other --

"Look at little Stephanie! So much more grown-up than last year!"
"I think Jeff is going to be taller than his dad next year."
"Oh, there's their new baby. Isn't she sweet?"
"Hey, the Aldersons have a dog this year."

But this picture, second of its kind, was a professional shot of a husband-wife couple.

Who does that?

After a certain point, mid-twenties at the very outside, unsolicited pictures are just... egotistical. After that, unless you have something specific to display -- "We finally got married this year!" -- there is no need for picture. After a certain point, a point which these two couples have long since passed, what you're displaying is probably not what you think you're displaying. At this point, sending out pictures is just begging for trouble.

"Wow, Suzanne's sure packed on the pounds since last year."
"Ha! Bill's hairline is heading for the hills!"
"She's changed her hair colour again. Hey -- and so's he!"
"Look at his skin. You think he's been drinking too much again?"

If you're a certain kind of person, with a certain kind of bank balance, you might even get

"Wow. Look at her eyes. Do you think she's had 'work'?"

And if you're a certain kind of person, that might be exactly what you're looking for.

Neither of these two had had 'work'.

So, really. What gives with the couple photos?