School Photo Day: 7 Tips to Help Your Child Get Ready

School photo day is coming up. The uniform is ready, the hair has had an extra brush and, just as your child heads through the door, you find yourself saying:

“Make sure you smile nicely!”

Sound familiar?

As a school photographer based in Minehead, Somerset, I photograph lots of different personalities - from children who can't wait to get in front of the camera to those who would much rather be anywhere else! And one of my biggest tips for parents is actually very simple: Don't over-prepare them.

The school photographs I love most aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest, most perfect smiles. They're the ones where you can see the child's real personality.

So, whether your child's school photo day is coming up in Minehead, Taunton, Bridgwater, Wellington or elsewhere in Somerset, here are my tips for helping them arrive happy, relaxed and ready for their photograph.

1. Don't Practise the Perfect Smile

“Smile properly.”

“No... your nice smile.”

“Show me your teeth!”

We've probably all done it.

But the more children practise their special “photo smile”, the harder it can sometimes be to get past it when they're actually standing in front of the camera.

I'd much rather let your child arrive without feeling that they have to perform.

Getting that natural smile is my job.

A bit of chatting, some silliness and a few tricks I've learnt from photographing children can make a huge difference. And if all else fails, I might even have a little help from Gloria and Stitch, my puppet assistants!

2. Keep Photo Day Relaxed

For some children, having their photograph taken is exciting. For others, it's a big deal. If your child is naturally shy or doesn't particularly enjoy being photographed, try not to build school photo day up too much beforehand.

They don't need to worry about where to look, how to sit or what they're supposed to do. I'll guide them through that. The more relaxed they feel when they come to me, the better chance I have of capturing the child you recognise at home.

3. Sort the Hair at Home... Then Accept That School Happens!

If there's a particular hairstyle you'd like for your child's school portrait, it's worth doing it securely before they leave home. After that, however, you're handing control over to school life!

There's wind. There's rain. There are hats. There's playtime. And somehow children have an incredible ability to leave home looking immaculate and arrive at school looking as though they've already completed an obstacle course.

Don't panic. I'll always keep an eye out for obvious stray hairs and anything that needs a quick tidy, but I don't believe children have to look unnaturally perfect either.

4. Do a Quick Uniform Check

If there's something you'd particularly like your child wearing in their school photograph - their jumper, cardigan, tie or another part of their uniform - make sure it goes to school with them. You don't need to send them in terrified of getting a single crease or mark on themselves.

They're children. They're at school. Life happens. Part of my job as a school photographer is paying attention to those little details before I press the shutter.

5. Tell the School If Your Child Might Need a Different Approach

Every child who comes in front of my camera is different.

Some are confident from the second they walk in. Some need a little chat first. Others might need more time, fewer instructions or a completely different approach.

If your child is particularly anxious about having their photograph taken or has additional needs that may affect their experience, it's worth letting the school know.

Sometimes a little bit of information beforehand can help us make the experience much more comfortable for them.

6. Please Don't Tell Them They Have to Smile!

Yes, I'm a school photographer telling you not to tell your child to smile. There's a reason.

The moment a child thinks they have to produce a particular expression, we can end up with the photo face.

You know the one.

I'd rather work for the smile.

Sometimes that means chatting to them. Sometimes it means being silly. Sometimes my puppet assistants get involved.

And sometimes the best photograph isn't a huge toothy grin at all.

A small smile or a more thoughtful expression can make a beautiful school portrait - particularly when it genuinely looks like your child.

7. Don't Aim for Perfect. Aim for Them.

This is probably the most important one. The missing front tooth. The slightly wonky fringe. The cheeky grin. That expression they pull all the time that drives you mad now but you'll probably miss one day.

School photographs become part of a family's history.

When you pull that photograph out in ten or twenty years, you're unlikely to care that one strand of hair wasn't quite where it should have been. You'll see your child at five, seven or ten years old.

And that's what I want to capture.

If you're a Somerset school looking for a local school photographer and would like to find out how Carla Tier Photography could approach your next school photo day, I'd love to hear from you.