Allison Patel Photography

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My Tips for First Day of School Photos

School starts next week! That means it’s time for another milestone to celebrate with your camera: First Day of School Photos!

Similar to last fall, when I wrote a whole article on how to prepare for taking photos during the holidays, I’m here with some tips on how to make back-to-school photos easier for you, without the stress of perfection. 

Here’s my secret pro tip: First day of school photos don’t have to happen on the first day of school. (see details below)

Tip one: Clarify your back to school photos goal

What’s your goal? Pressed and perfect first day photos right before you rush off to school? Or marking the transition to a new season with a photo? Also to factor in: when are your kids most cooperative? Are they receptive to sitting or standing for photos first thing in the morning? Could you do the photos as an “end of summer” photo session instead, to remove one stressful item from your morning task list? 

However you plan to do it, make sure you know your goal so you can reach it when you pull out your camera.

Tip two: Plan your location

Scout the area where you’d like to take your photos. Is it your front porch? At the bus stop with friends? Or maybe it’s in front of school. You likely won’t be able to take photos in front of school on the first day, so here’s where the planning ahead works in your favor. Go to school a few days early and take a few photos ahead of time.

If you still plan to do morning-of photos, have a backup location in case it rains. 

Tip three: Plan your props and equipment

Are you going the chalkboard/letterboard/sign route to document their grade? Decide now what that will look like, and get moving on it. Make sure you have chalk/board/letters/the sign all together, and go ahead and make the sign say what you want it to say now. Stash it in a place you’ll remember next week so you can grab it and go. 

As always, make sure you know how to work your camera before you ask someone to stand in front of you, especially if time is tight and they aren’t feeling it. 

Tip four: Take better photos

  • Instead of asking for cheese and a pose, ask them to do a dance move or a twirl, or tell a joke to get them engaged and unfrozen, and help you get natural, authentic emotions. 

  • If you’re outside, don’t stand below them at the bottom of the porch stairs, or stand above them so they have to crane their necks and squint into the sky. Being mostly level with them will avoid double chins and squints. 

  • If you end up inside, turn off overhead lights and use window light if possible, for better photos.

  • Some kids are really excited about the first day of school, but others are understandably nervous, and smiling won’t feel genuine to their feelings. Let them express the emotion they’re feeling instead of insisting on a smile.

  • Get individual and sibling photos, and don’t forget to get in there with them! 

My big bonus organized overachiever Back To School Photos tip: Do both. 

Hear me out. I’m not trying to make you do it all. But this might help you feel more calm on the first day of school.

First, do your planned, traditional photos, either in their new school clothes or whatever clothes they’re wearing, in front of your chosen location, ahead of the first day of school. 

Then on the First Day, pull out your camera and document some candid and detail moments. Breakfast - as special or rushed as it is. The new lunchbox, as you pack it. Walking to the bus stop or getting in the car. If you also get a posed photo on the morning of the first day, then great! But if the first day of school is more emotional and rushed than you’re expecting, you don’t have the added pressure of trying to get the kids to pose for you. 

OR, save the posed photos for later in the week, when new-school-year-jitters are a little past them.

Bonus-bonus tip: Get a candid, unposed photo of them when you pick them up in the afternoon, from school, the bus stop, or your after care program.

I hope you get one or two ideas out of this list, to help you document something you want to remember. 

Want more photo tips for documenting your family’s milestones at home? 

My Big Holiday Photo Tip

7 Quick Tips for Costume Photos

What to Do with All Those Photos