School is back in session! I know other parts of the country have had schools open for a few weeks now but, in our neck of the woods, school starts this week or next.
That run up to the big day is crazy: new clothes, shoes, and supplies. Did they get their summer reading done? Can you get them back on the right sleep schedule and ready for the new school year? Then the first day arrives and they are off and you can breathe a short sigh of relief as you settle back into your schedule. I, for one, love having that fixed schedule so I can plan our days and minimize surprises. Then the form comes home from school in his backpack. You know the one: School picture day is almost here!
Did that make you wince? If not, then you have one of those kids that never looks ‘bad’ in a photo or you have found the secret to serenity in the universe. Namaste! For the rest of us, the school photo packet is a challenge. Full disclosure: I always create my own portraits of my son each holiday season. It is what I do after all. However, I love the school photos too. It is a great snapshot in time that I can keep (usually in some drawer somewhere) and compare as he gets older.
As a photographer, I thought I had all the answers to getting my young child ready for photo day. As a mom, I learned a whole new set of rules to keep everyone smiling for the camera. The best advice I can offer:
Make sure they are comfortable and like how they look. Below are tips to help them look their best but if they aren't happy with how they look they won’t be their best in front of the camera.
Here is my list of things to remember so that grade school photo day is fun, not frantic.
Clothing:
- Comfortable clothing that resists wrinkling is best. Choose solid colors that complement their skin tone. Remember, you want their faces to shine not their clothing and they have school all day so comfort is important. Yes, Aunt Susie did give them a lovely wool sweater and she would love to see it in the photo but if your child is uncomfortable in it, it will show. Aunt Susie and everyone else will only see them looking miserable.
- Let them help pick out their outfit. You may disagree on some of their choices but if you let them propose some options or give them a choice of a few, you can both feel good about the final selection and that makes everyone smile. (Hint: Most school photos are from the waist up. Let them express their wild side and go crazy with their pants, skirts, and/or shoes.)
Hair :
- Make sure to get haircuts or trims a week or two before the photo session so it looks neat but has time to look natural. Your child needs to like the style so they will feel more at ease with their look.
- Pick a simple style! I know, Sarah thinks Elsa’s side braid is awesome and slicked back, poofed up bangs make Eric look so handsome but by 12:30, after PE and lunch, both styles have fallen and fizzled. Does your child’s hair get frizzy around the ends in barrettes or hairbands? Make it easier on everyone and think of a loose style that will work. Maybe you will be lucky and your kids will get the first time slot but my child’s experiences have made me a realist. Simple is best.
- Help them understand why a photographer’s assistant may want to straighten their hair. Photographers want to produce the best possible image and will ask if they can smooth a stray hair or fix tangles. Many times, the child will be uncomfortable and unwilling to accept help. If you are OK with having someone second check the hair (and outfit) let your child know so they can feel more secure if the situation arises. They may still tell the assistant no, but maybe not.
- Are they old enough to touch up their own hair? That makes a big difference. Make sure they have a comb or brush and encourage them to use it before they get in the photo line. Each school has rules about how children can get ready but most allow them to freshen up before their close up.
Faces:
- It is all about being clean. Yup, having them check for stray dirt or food is a biggy. The photographer should be looking too but if your child is on top of it you stand a much better chance of getting a neat, fresh face in the image.
- Messy foods for snack or lunch are a no-no. If it will leave a stain on clothes or smear on faces it should be off the menu for that day. If they get their lunch at school, talk about what choices might work and cross your fingers they remember. Actually, just hope the photos get taken before they eat anything.
If you can follow most, if not all, of these suggestions you are well on your way to a great photo day, however there are two big rules that will make or break the experience for all of you.
Rule 1 – Make sure your children know that you love how they look and you are going to love seeing their photos. Seems simple but you would be amazed at how many children tell me that their mom thinks they squint too much or their dad doesn't want them to show too many teeth, too little hair, too much nose. If it was pointed out to them, you name it, they will be self-conscious about it.
I was there when my child told another photographer that, ‘my Mom thinks I have a fake smile but I can’t help it.’ He was so sure he wouldn't do it right that he couldn't relax and be himself. I assure you; I never meant to make him self-conscious. It never dawned on me that helping him practice smiling translated to me hating his ‘photo smile’ but to my son it did. Now, my only suggestion when I drop him off in the morning is to think of something that makes him giggle because I love how his eyes sparkle when he is truly happy.
Not stressing about how he looks in the image has allowed him to relax and have fun in front of the camera. Maybe that is what he is giggling about...
Rule 2 – Relax, it is just a school photo. The honest truth is that school photographers get to spend on average 30 seconds with your child. They try to pose them, click the shutter once, maybe twice to make sure that their eyes are open and move on to the next child in line. The best ones have their tricks to keep the children interested and giggling but it can't be 100% effective 100% of the time.
Looking back, I have two grade school photos that are actually cute and one that is OK. The ones I really remember are the three that are cringe worthy but they are all me. The time I gave myself a haircut four days before the big event. The day my mom tried a high ponytail that was low and to the side by the time my photo was taken and the one where I thought I would be cool and ‘pose’. Don’t ask, it isn't pretty but it is pretty funny now.
See, there really are no ‘bad’ school photos. There are cute ones, funny ones and memorable ones, but they are all reflections of those faces that we love the best. That is what makes them wonderful. As long as we remember that, then school photo day will be one to look forward to, not dread. Doesn't that sound like a pretty picture?
Did you like this post? Check back soon. School photo tips for your preteen and teen are on the way.
Do you have any tips or tricks that make grade school photo day easier? Please add them in the comment section. I would love to hear them.
All images used in this, and other Jean Terman Photography posts, are copyrighted. Do not copy, print, or reuse.
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What you need to know: 
