Prep Guide FOR SCHOOL PICTURES
School picture day doesn’t have to feel stiff or stressful. My goal with every student—whether they’re a wide-eyed preschooler or a confident teen—is to create portraits that feel natural, genuine, and true to who they are in this season of life. Here’s a quick guide to help you and your child know what to expect and how to prepare.
what to Expect with a School Portrait session?
I spend about 5–10 minutes with each student, enough time to help them relax and show me their real smiles. For preschoolers, I sometimes work with small groups of 2–3 children at once for 10–15 minutes. This often feels more like play than a “photo session” and helps younger kids loosen up.
Because I photograph school portraits with a lifestyle approach, you won’t see stiff poses or forced smiles. Instead, I gently guide students with prompts—maybe encouraging them to twirl, laugh, or show me their favorite spot on the playground. With a little encouragement to move naturally, kids quickly forget the camera and start being themselves. The result is portraits that feel genuine and full of personality.
Older students get a little more independence in front of the camera, but the heart of the session is the same: making sure they feel comfortable and seen.
Timing
Portraits move along quickly, and I always work within the school’s schedule to keep things smooth and stress-free. Preschool sessions often flow right alongside the day’s activities, so children aren’t waiting long. With older students, we keep things moving but also give just enough space for them to settle in and let their personalities shine.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
While I’m always on-site at the school, I love to take advantage of natural backdrops—trees, playgrounds, and shady spots with soft, beautiful light.
- For preschoolers, being outside often feels more like recess than “picture day,” which makes the whole process easier.
- For teens, those outdoor settings give portraits a timeless, authentic feel instead of the classic indoor backdrop.
what to wear
Clothing doesn’t need to be fancy, but a few simple choices can really make portraits shine:
- Solid colors or simple patterns photograph best—try to avoid large logos or neon brights. But, there might be a special shirt that your child loves, and I’m okay with that too.
- Layers (like cardigans, jackets, or scarves for older kids) add personality without being overwhelming.
- Comfort matters most. When your child feels good in their outfit, that confidence will come through in the photo.
How to have the most success
A few small steps can make a big difference:
- Rest & routine. A good night’s sleep and a familiar morning help kids show up feeling their best.
- Talk it up. Let your child know picture day is fun! A simple “You get to play outside and have your photo taken” works wonders.
- Trust the process. Some kids grin right away, some need a few minutes. My job is to meet them where they are and capture their genuine personality.
BELOW ARE SOME GOOD PRINCIPLES TO KEEP IN MIND . . .
~ DO ~
~ DON’T ~
what happens after the session?
After the school portrait session, I will select the best images — I promise at least 5 and usually deliver a couple more — and then will start the editing process. Your photos will be waiting for you in your online proofing gallery within 4 weeks of your session.
Remember, your proofing gallery is only available for 24 hours once you click the link, or until you purchase your Photo Collection – whichever comes first – but once you’ve selected and paid for your Collection, your gallery will be available for fourteen days, pre-loaded with your print credit and set for you to download the number of files that corresponds with your Collection.
copyrights (and wrongs)
Once you’ve got your digital files in hand, you are free to print them when, where, and as often as you wish – you can use them to make holiday cards, share on your social media pages or personal blog, etc.
The only things you can’t do are related to the resale of your photos or use for commercial/business purposes. For instance, you wouldn’t be able to enter one of the photos into a contest and win prize money for it.
I believe in the power of print …
I strongly believe you should print your images to share and enjoy. I’ve searched for the highest quality professional print labs the world over. I source the highest quality products and these are archival quality and will last a lifetime. So get excited and start thinking about what heirloom products you’d like to purchase with your print credit.
printing your images
While everything that I offer in my store is printed in professional labs and guaranteed to be beautiful, I also recognize that you may want to print your images yourself, and thanks to those digital files, you absolutely can!
I recommend artifactuprising.com for local online printing (they’re in Denver) or mpix.com. Both of these labs offer higher quality prints than some other popular consumer labs. Be sure to upload the original files you downloaded, not copies. The files you receive from me should allow you to print up to 20′ x 30″ at a minimum (but holler if you need help – I’m just a phone call away!).
THANKS FOR CHOOSING ME for your SCHOOL PORTRAITS!
School portraits are more than just a record of what your child looked like this year. They’re a little time capsule of who they were in this exact moment—missing teeth, giggles, braces, shyness, silliness, and everything in between. With a little preparation, we’ll make sure those memories are captured beautifully.
