Now, it’s become a valued family tradition for Tom Price and Beth Morrey thanks to their annual back-to-school photo. This special tradition has moved the hearts of all involved for the past nine years. The pair make their home in north London. To send their two sons off to school each fall, every year, they enter into a different sort of fun tradition. This year’s photos featured an elaborate picnic setup complete with food, wine, and music, showcasing their creativity and commitment to making the occasion special.
That’s how the whole tradition began almost a decade ago—with one smallish photo. In the photo, Tom displays his haul of wine and beer. Over the years, though, it has morphed into an elaborate and often humorous pageant of costumes and themes. Tom paid homage to Bert from “Mary Poppins” by wearing a red-and-white-striped blazer and straw hat for one of his recent photos. Meanwhile, Beth took on the timeless role of Mary Poppins, in a high-flying white frock and wide-brimmed, chic chapeau.
Tom Price, who is known for his work as a comedian, explained the significance of these photos, saying, “In this age of helicopter parenting, we still all feel like they’ve got to be doing something. You’ve got to put on a production for the kid.” Above all, he emphasized the positivity of the photos, which celebrate education. They do more than just bid farewell to their children. “No, no, we’re not celebrating you going. We’re gonna miss you so much. What we’re celebrating is you getting an education. Which is so important to us,” he stated.
The first image they posted on X (formerly Twitter) went “wild.” Overjoyed with the overwhelming positive response, Tom and Beth committed to holding the event annually. Friends of Tom add their own style and spectacle to the photo line. Comedians and creative pals Robert Webb and David Gorman often come up with unique ideas, adding an additional layer of fun to each frame.
Throughout their nearly three-decade long partnership, the couple’s ingenuity has poured forth. Today, they construct more elaborate and innovative rigs that genuinely reflect their mischievous creativity. Tom noticed that moms and dads began posting their kids’ back-to-school photos on social media platforms. Encouraged by this forward-thinking action, they worked to start an annual custom of their own. Eight years ago we just saw every day this increasing phenomenon that everyone started putting pictures of their children on their front porch on Facebook. It was beautiful, always super beautiful,” said Davis. Through the camera we could feel there was a story in the smile of those parents.
With their youngest son still in school, this cherished tradition will almost certainly live on at least until he graduates. All parents take joy at seeing their kids reunited with their friends and getting back into the school year routine. They look forward to many more fun and creative photo shoots in the future.
