5 Tips for Perfect Back to School Photos

Oh, it's that time of year again! I'm in Michigan and our state has a law that schools have to start after Labor Day. It has something to do with tourism, I think? But lucky us! Our county applied for a waiver that allows our schools to start early. Here's how my kids feel about that:

Enough said.

I realize that many of you have been back to school for a few weeks now (or maybe go year round) so I shouldn't be complaining.

Each year we mark the first day of school milestone with back to school photos, and I've compiled a few tips for making them perfect without a lot of work.

1. Look for shade.

This is a good tip for any photo, not just photos on the first day of school. Find shade, or better yet, the edge of shade. It allows for plenty of light, without squinty, overblown subjects.

The overhang on a porch, a tree in the front yard, or the shade of your child's school building can be helpful.

2. Don't take them on your kids' first day of school.

Listen, there will be some storytelling purists out there that disagree with me on this, but getting your kids to sit for photos can be stressful. The first morning of school can also be stressful. Putting the two together can be like gasoline on a fire. No one will ever know that you took first day of school photos two days early or two days later. Save yourself the trouble and plan ahead, or wait until you're a few days in. I promise you that no one will ever know!

For me, photos aren't worth making everyone stressed out and angry with each other. Do it when it's convenient and fun. Having fruit snacks or M&Ms handy as bribes isn't a bad idea, either.

3. Show and Tell

Having your kids hold milestone signs in their photos is popular for a reason.  There will never be a question as to what year this photo was taken, or what grade your child was entering if he or she is holding a sign showing all of that info. Buying a simple chalkboard is a great way to easily display that info.

I honestly think printable signs are the best option! You can download them immediately, print at home, and be ready to go. Because every grade is included with these signs, you can purchase them once for all of your kids.

You can also use the sign to tell more about your child and the year they're headed into! These printable signs in my Etsy shop are a great way to do that (and are editable, so they can be used year after year)!

Just one note: If you're taking photos of your child, with lots of personal information showing, be sure to check privacy settings on your social media before posting the photo publicly.

4. Make them Laugh

We reserve potty talk like this for when I'm trying to get my kids to laugh for photos. We don't use terms like "butt crack" or "fart" very often, so when it's time for photos, those are go-to options for getting smiles. Saying something like, "OK, everyone has to look at the camera and NOT LAUGH when I say this next thing: DAD FARTED" is the very best way to get genuine smiles on my kids' faces.


What are the things that make your kids smile? Is there a face that Dad can make, a story that you can tell them, or a word you can use? Do what you can to get those giggles that make for the best photos!

5. Landmarks

Take photos in front of the same tree, on the same porch or in the same place every year. There's no better way to show your child's growth than to photograph them in the same place every year. If you move around a lot, consider having them hold the same sign or object to show growth.


Whether your kids are in preschool or middle school, start now with documenting your child's first day of school. You'll be so glad you did!

Don't forget that I have several printable sign options for back to school photos. You can download them and print them instantly!