Tips for Great Back to School Photos

It’s that time of year again! Back to school season is here and we are once again reminded of how quickly kids grow up these days. It seemed like such a short time ago when they were first learning to walk and crawl. Good thing we can capture and preserve moments like these in photographs. Our suggestions below will help you take optimal pictures for your family to look back on.

Clothing:

• Allow your child to have an input on what they would like to wear. They will be more comfortable and confident wearing something they like rather than what they are coerced into wearing.
• Avoid donning hats. Most schools require students to remove their hat indoors and your child will now be stuck with flattened or lumpy “hat-hair” all day.
• If your child will be taking portrait photos at school, try to avoid dressing them in black or white since those tend to be common back drop shades that are used.
• A good classic look is a simple collared shirt in a color that compliments your child’s complexion.
• Pass on graphic tees and trendy styles. Fashion will come and go but your photos and memories are here to stay. Remember when teased hair and big shoulder pads were cool?
• Make sure to iron and press your child’s clothing to keep them looking crisp and clean.

Grooming:

• Try to schedule all haircuts at least a week or two in advance. This will give you and your child time to get used to styling their new ‘do.
• Keep nails clean and trimmed as they will show up in your images.

Shopping:

• Take time to document back to school shopping trips. It is part of the experience after all.
• Have your child show off their school purchases.

The Big Day:

• Does your family have any back to school traditions? Snap a few shots to commemorate your annual routine.
• Ask your child to hold up a sign or number of fingers indicating the grade level they are entering. You can repeat this for all their future school years.
• Get a few photos of the back of your child as they are walking. You will catch them in a natural state and remember what their back packs look like.
• School bus or car ride photos are another great addition to have for your back to school photo collection.
• Once they arrive at school, take some posed and candid pictures of your child with their friends, teacher, and classmates.

We hope you found these tips to be helpful!