6 Easy Tips for Back to School Photos

It’s back to school season which means shopping at Target for school supplies, getting fresh haircuts, and taking those first day pictures. Here are six easy tips to make this year’s back to school photos your best yet! 

1.    Same place, same pose.

Back to school photos mark an annual milestone and are a great way to document your child’s growth from year to year. Those small or big changes are especially noticeable when a photo is taken in the same place, with the same pose every year. I really like this area along the side of our house so that is where I take my son’s photo on the first day of school. These are such fun photos to look back on side by side!

2.    Jump around!

If you are struggling to capture a relaxed pose or natural expression, try having your child jump around for a bit. For little kids, they sometimes just need to get the wiggles out. For older kids, sometimes they just need help loosening up. Jumping jacks, dancing silly, arm waving are all great options to bring out real smiles! And keep snapping in the process!

3.    Shoot from above.

I love changing my perspective when I take photos of my kids. One really great angle for children is standing over them so they look up at you. Not only does this emphasize how little they are, but when you turn their face up towards the sky, you’ll bring light into their eyes that makes them sparkle. 

4.    Use your doorway.

Doorways are a great way to frame your child for the back to school photo. This can also be your go to spot year after year as described in the first tip. Another great reason to photograph your child in the doorway is that you can obtain some really beautiful, even lighting in this location. To do this, have your child stand in the shaded area just inside the door frame or under a covered porch while you stand outside and shoot towards them. 

5.    Tell them they’re amazing.

This may sound cheesy but this tip can make the photo experience a lot of fun for you and your child. Your job is to make like a fashion photographer and tell your child, “Beautiful! You’re amazing! That’s perfect! Incredible!” while snapping photos. I guarantee you will get lots of laughs and smiles along with a wonderful dose of positivity to help calm those first day of school jitters.

6.    Capture the details

Don’t forget to capture the other aspects of the back-to-school story! It can be them boarding the bus or walking into school. Or their brand new backpack, lunchbox, and shoes that you all picked out together. These are great photos to remember about the back to school experience!