As for Sapph's totally dishonest picture taking, it's what the pros do. Most senior pictures look like that, and I thought it was neat that Sapph does-it-herself. Some people want to look soft, some people want to look like they're wrapped in plastic, and some people want to look like they came off a 640x480 webcam. More power to them.
As for my beard, I just shave irregularly. It's not something I usually think about or remember to do as a habit. But I do get shorn about once per week.
Oh, and definitely the Master!