First Day of School Photo Ideas Guide

Back-to-school time is fast approaching, and everyone is looking for cool ideas to document the momentous occasion. Every new year is a milestone in your child's life, and getting great photos of the day can bring joy to the family for generations. Here are some fun ways to make the memories last:

Involve the Kids

Talk with your kids to discover their goals or interests for the year. Then work together to find creative photo ideas that everyone loves.

Don't worry if their aspirations are unrealistic or silly. That is all part of their growing journey and will be fun to look back on in the coming years.

Prepare in Advance

A little preparation goes a long way in sparing you from unnecessary frustration. Do as much work and planning as possible before the big day.

Set up decorations and gather all the things you want to use in the photo during the days before. You won't want to rush around trying to put everything in place that morning or find out at the last minute that your cheerleader is missing their socks!

Allow Plenty of Time to Get Ready

Get everyone up a little early to avoid last-minute rushes. Try to allow an extra 20-30 minutes that you can dedicate exclusively to taking the pictures.

Pick a Theme and Prep the Props

The beginning of the school year photos marks a landmark achievement in your child's development, so have some fun with it.

Let's get your props on for you creative types who still have time to prepare! Here are some awesome themed props you can personalize with just a little planning.

Creative School Props

The most obvious theme is back-to-school. Think of props using desks, chalkboards, apples, graduation gowns, uniforms, armloads of books, and backpacks, you get the point. You can use any of these things to set up a scholarly theme.

Maybe they want to sit on a desk wearing a "class clown" outfit or wear their football/cheerleader uniform with nerdy glasses and a graduation cap. You don't have to settle for boring just because it's back-to-school time.

Bring In Your Favorite Toys

Use your child's favorite teddy bear, blanket, or other treasured items to include in the picture. Having Buddy-the-Bear might encourage cooperation, especially in camera-shy kids.

For teens, their favorite things might include video games, best friends, sports, or maybe their skateboard. You know where they spend most of their time, so you might as well make it official in a photo.

Make It a Family Affair

Another theme can include parents, pets, or other family members. It's always fun to look back and see everyone together.

Got more than one kid headed off for the first day? Have them play piggyback, compare foot sizes, or come up with their own fun ideas. Let them be as diverse or silly as they want because that, too, will be a fun memory.

Create Signs, Flags, and Letter Boards

Have them hold a sign, flag, or letterboard to include facts that the picture won't clearly convey. You can include their grade, date, new teacher's name, what they want to be when they grow up, height, weight, or their best friend’s name.

Chalk It Up

You don't have to stick to chalkboards. Sidewalks and driveways decorated with chalk can also show that it's back-to-school time. Use colorful chalk drawings to make fun themes or include dates, grades, or other important facts.

Go Retro With Photo Booths

Everybody loves photo booths! Whether you all cram in a booth and be silly together or let your child strike their own pose, photo booths are an easy way to get fun pics without the headache.

Decorate With Balloons and Streamers

Festive decorations like balloons and streamers make it feel like a real celebration. Deck out an area with the works and add a bit of well-timed confetti. While you're at it, you might as well have some cake.

Photo Customize Your Stuff

Use your favorite pics to make custom cards, calendars, magnets, or even art.

Stand Out

Sometimes kids don't want to stand out in the crowd, but here are some fun ways to make sure they stand out in the pics:

Grab Some Shades

They can look cool with some reflective aviators or funny with some nerdy frames. Using glasses can definitely bring some attitude to a photo.

Wear Bright Colors

Stand out from the background. Wearing bright colors will help your child remain the primary focus of the pic regardless of your setting.

Strike a Pose

Consider unique ways to add interest to a pose. Experiment with standing, sitting and lying poses to get the right angle. Try having them lean against a tree, sit on a wall, or lie across a car. Catch high-fives, crossed eyes, or whatever unique pose they can think of. Try both front and profile shots to see what works best.

Do a Selfie

Have them take a selfie! Holding the camera at different angles or heights will make it unique. They can personalize the moment by capturing shots of running through all their wardrobe choices or even before and after photos of getting ready. Use whatever they feel is important as a potential awesome selfie.

Use Your Surroundings

Make use of playgrounds, school bus parking lots, open classrooms, their homeschool area, libraries, or even your own backyard. If you are stuck on this one, just ask your kids where their favorite place is and try that.

Go with Variety

Can't find them the perfect outfit? Why not use them all? Let them incorporate all their favorites by using school uniforms, sports outfits, funny t-shirts, or whatever they are into. A good variety will give you plenty of material for montages or custom photo books.

Allow Costumes

We've all heard about the kid who loves their Spiderman costume so much that they refuse to take it off. Well, as much as you'd like to dress your kid up as a respectable, well-groomed executive-in-the-making, catching their current reality will be the memories you will treasure... Or at least laugh together about it later.

Get Active

Capture your kid in motion. Let them make that tent fort, jump on the bed, or climb a tree. Snap them running off to school with their backpack or catching the bus with their friends. Go candid with dance moves, ball catches, or other activities using their arms or legs to add in extra personality.

Improvise

So, the day has come, and you haven't had time to prepare boards, backdrops, or balloons. It's ok. Last-minute shots can look great too. Here are some eleventh-hour improvisations that can save the day:

Cheat!

In this instance, it's perfectly ok to cheat! When life is too hectic to catch photos on the actual first day of school, cheating is just fine. There is nothing wrong with snapping your pics in the days before or after. The point is to create and capture great memories, not stress out.

Find Good Lighting

Try to aim for well, naturally lit areas. Morning and evening rays can create the most alluring depths and colors. Consider photos by open doors, windows, or even outside in front of the house.

Use Neutral Backgrounds

Busy backgrounds with a lot of colors or patterns can distract from even the best shot. Instead, try using neutral walls or doors to highlight your child's expression.

Zoom In

If you're not happy with your background, don't sweat it. Use close-up shots or zoom in to dial in on your angel's smile. Filling the picture with a goofy grin or cranky scowl is all it takes to capture the moment.

Edit Photos

Use a photo editor app to edit your photos if you aren't initially happy with them. You can change the lighting, crop out uninteresting backgrounds, or add text and stickers. So, shoot away and worry about corrections and decorations later!