At Adams High School, the start to the 2024-2025 school year brings back a long cherished senior tradition: Senior ID Pictures. The idea of funny senior ID pictures dates back to 2013, when high school seniors at North Farmington High school proposed the idea to administrators. 

Since the idea passed, the tradition has spread across numerous Michigan high schools, as students wear wigs, costumes, and make funny faces in their school ID pictures.

“I think it is really cool since it allows seniors to really live out their last year of high school and enjoy every part of it,” said senior Abby Young.

On picture day at Adams High School, students have their photos taken and displayed in both the yearbook and on their school IDs. In preparation for their ID pictures, seniors do not hold back any creativity in ensuring a memorable ID picture. Seniors wear costumes and wigs, opting for either funny pictures or symbolic ones.

“A friend let me borrow her blue wig, and I made a really grumpy face at the camera,” said senior Talia Abraham. “The photographer told me to smile, and then she laughed at my expression.”

In addition to costumes and wigs, some students opt to dress as famous celebrities. Stephanie Elwell, a senior at Adams High School, did not disappoint with her senior ID picture wearing a bald cap, sunglasses, and a beard to mimic Pitbull.

“Pitbull is my inspiration. I got the bald cap I had, put my dads black sunglasses on, and I drew a beard with eyeliner,” said Elwell.

Elwell had been debating for many days what she wanted to do. Ultimately, her decision came between dressing as Pitbull or wearing a turkey hat.

“I chose it because I thought it was different and funny, and I already had a bald cap,” said Elwell.

During the day, Elwell did not waste her special costume. After taking 

her ID picture, Elwell proceeded to greet her bald teachers while wearing a bald cap, sharing laughs and school spirit throughout Adams. 

However, this goofy tradition, traditionally a lighthearted idea, has spark

ed unexpected controversy. Recently, school administrators have taken action on the photos, citing safety concerns. Starting this year, they’ve begun removing these funny photos from StudentVUE and attendance charts, arguing that when faces aren’t clearly visible, it creates a security issue.

In response, administrators have replaced the humorous pictures with students’ more standard 11th-grade photos, causing initial frustration among seniors. However, obscured or altered photos creates a security concern.

“I know it’s a safety issue, but I always found it funny when I opened student vue to see my face painted, and it’s sad that I have to see my old picture again,” said senior Ibuki Furusato.

Even so, the tradition of goofy senior ID pictures will undeniably continue at Adams, offering a fun way to conclude a student’s high school journey.