6 Steps to Prepare for School Picture Day
School picture day is an exciting and memorable moment in a child’s life. These photos often become cherished keepsakes for years to come, capturing a snapshot of just how your child is at this specific time in life. As a parent, there are several steps you can take the day before to ensure your child feels confident and prepared to smile their brightest for the camera. Here's a helpful guide to make picture day smooth and stress-free. As a school photographer, I definitely interviewed both Owen and Letha Kate on what their experiences were like at their school. It was truly enlightening and incredibly helpful. Hoping these six steps below will help parents and children bring their very best for School Picture Day!
What to wear? Depending on your child this question might be the scariest of them all. Both of my children are very opinionated about their clothing. When Owen was younger he refused to wear anything with buttons. Furthermore, I deeply believe in giving children limited choices. Below are a few guidelines to help with these choices. Including your child in this process can make for the “day off” smoother.
Pick Simple Clothing: Solid colors or subtle patterns work best. Avoid bold prints or busy designs that can distract from your child’s face. Remember the goal is to always capture your child’s innate personality.
Ensure Comfort: Make sure the outfit fits well and isn’t itchy or uncomfortable. A confident, comfortable child is more likely to smile naturally. If my child picked something that I knew wouldn't last in the outfit I simply asked the teacher if I could pack a change of clothing for after the pictures were taken.
Check the School’s Dress Code: Some schools have specific rules for picture day. Review them in advance to avoid last-minute surprises.
Have a Backup Plan: Kids are kids—accidents happen. Lay out a spare outfit just in case of spills or other mishaps.
High School Fine Art Portraits
Practice Makes Pictures!
Make It Fun: Turn it into a game by asking your child to show different smiles in the mirror, from "big toothy grins" to "soft, natural smiles."
Talk About Relaxing: Remind them to relax their face and shoulders—tense smiles can look forced.
Reassure Them: If your child is camera-shy, let them know it’s okay to just be themselves. During each of my school photo sessions I encourage the student/child to give me their best look. They don’t have to smile to be their best! For the little children we get warmed up with silly faces and sounds. 99.9% of the time after we warm up with each other I will be able to capture an authentic look.
3. A Good Hair Day - Hair can make or break the look, but you don’t need to overdo it.
Plan Ahead: Decide the hairstyle the day before. Whether it’s a simple comb-through or a styled braid, having a plan reduces morning stress. Practice any ideas beforehand.
Avoid Last-Minute Haircuts: Fresh cuts can look unnatural in photos. Aim to trim hair at least a week in advance.
Use Hair Accessories Wisely: Headbands, bows, or clips should complement the outfit without being overly flashy. This step can be so much fun to have your child come with you in your bathroom and get ready together!
4. Get Ready for a Bright and Happy Face -A well-rested, healthy child is key to great photos:
Encourage a Full Night’s Sleep: Rested kids are happier and more cooperative during photo sessions.
Hydrate and Moisturize: Make sure your child drinks water and applies a gentle moisturizer to avoid dry or dull-looking skin.
Check for Cleanliness: Gently remind your child to wash their face and brush their teeth before bedtime and in the morning.
Full tummies: produce big smiles! Plan a healthy and filling breakfast the morning of.
5. Stay Calm and Positive
Picture day can feel overwhelming for some kids. Ease their nerves with a calm and encouraging approach:
Avoid Overemphasis: Treat picture day as just another fun school activity to reduce pressure.
Give Compliments: A little confidence boost—like telling your child they look amazing—can make a big difference.
Pack Essentials: If touch-ups are allowed, include items like a small comb or wipes in their bag for last-minute fixes.
6. Prepare for the Unexpected
Life doesn’t always go as planned, so be ready for surprises:
Check the Weather: Rainy or windy conditions might call for extra preparations like an umbrella or a jacket to protect their outfit.
Confirm Picture Day Details: Double-check the date, time, and any specific instructions from the school.
Unexpected illnesses - life happens and sometimes we wake up on picture day sick. Ask your school when the “retake” of school pictures will be held and make sure to calendar that date.
I hope these 6 steps can help guide parents before Picture Day! I truly love connecting with students of all ages from preschool to seniors in high schools. School pictures are timeless and necessary to timestamp our children’s lives. Marlo Moody Photography offers natural lighting to full backdrop set-up (variety of colors).
Elementary School Fine Art Portraits - Tallahassee School Photographer
