School photos are a childhood staple, a rite of passage. Perhaps your own parents still keep your school photograph proudly framed on the mantel. 

That’s because they capture a treasured memory for the whole family. When your children grow old, they’ll be able to look back on their school days warmly, spotting the primary colours of their uniform and picturing pleasant playground moments with their friends.

What they may not remember, however, is that a lot of work goes into capturing the perfect school picture. So we collected some useful tips for school pictures from our expert photographers.

How to Prepare for Picture Day

If you want to achieve elegant school pictures, the prep must begin before the camera is even taken out of its bag. Here are our expert tips on getting ready for the big day:

  • Ensure your little one is well-rested. A good night’s sleep will guarantee they sit well and look fresh on picture day.
  • Choose comfortable clothes and hairstyles. Leave that one itchy school jumper at home on the day so nothing will stop your child from feeling their best.
  • Show their unique personality. There isn’t too much wiggle room when it comes to school uniforms, so if you want your child to stand out, you may wish to use props or accessories. Most of all, encourage children to be themselves and shine as they are.
  • Take some practice shots. Have your little darling get used to being in front of a camera so there are no nerves on the big day. But don’t overpractice poses as their school photos will look and feel unnatural.
  • Avoid mess. It may seem obvious but some parents don’t think about the potential spillages from messy snacks or play.

How Lafayette Captures The Best School Pictures

1. We Use Flattering Lighting

Professional photographers will tell you that the key to appealing portrait photography is in the lighting. The impact of bad lighting on a photograph may be subtle; for example, the colouring may appear off. Or it may be obvious, for example, shadows that are cast over the subject.

When taking school photographs, we use natural light and artificial light that replicates this where possible, as it’s warm and flattering. We always use front lighting, ensuring your child is lit from the front, as backlighting may produce a shadowy or halo effect, resulting in a dark, shadowy figure rather than an illuminated one.

2. We Set the Scene

The best portrait photographs place the focus on the subject with no distractions. For this reason, we, along with schools, choose a neutral setting and backdrop, ensure there is no clutter in the background.

That’s not to say the scene must be plain and drab. Schools, or you, might use texture or colour in the background to give the photo depth, for example, the rustic brick walls of the school playground.

4. We Consider Posing

A certain amount of posing may be necessary to get a crisp, clear photograph. But this doesn’t mean your little one should be robotic, just comfortable in a position for a short while. That’s why school portraits are usually seated. There’s always the option to do things a little differently and be creative with poses, as long as your child has something to rest on comfortably.

Hire a Professional Photographer

While you can take your own photos, opt for a professional photographer if you want to make the experience of school photos easy and efficient. Professionals know how to get the best results from portrait photography as they understand the rules of composition, lighting, angles, and more. They also have the best equipment to capture clean shots that you’ll want as a keepsake, such as cameras that capture frames quickly or perform in low light.

Perhaps most importantly, professional photographers are used to making quick adjustments as they work. On picture day, there may be unexpected changes such as unfavourable weather, problems with the backdrop you may not have spotted, and similar. It’s particularly important that a photographer can cope with the unexpected when working with children.

Lafayette Photography offers portrait and group photographs to schools nationwide. Our vetted, professional photographers offer a fast turnaround and minimal disruptions to the school day. Contact us to learn more.