The first day of school has long been a Kodak moment, but with the advancement in phone cameras and the rise of amateur photographers, Junior’s picture has gone from a last-minute, front-porch snap to a fully thought-out production, complete with chalkboard lists, professional signs and staged poses.

The photo experts at SmugMug – the largest independent photo-sharing site in the world – have compiled a list of tips to make sure all the effort you put into the first-day-of-school photo shoot results in the perfect snapshots to share with your friends and family. Or, as perfect as it can be when you’re working with children. 🙂

Choose the right light:

Aim for natural light. Taking snapshots in the living room can turn out dark and cast shadows across your child’s face. If you’re using a flash, avoid getting too close or your child will look more like Casper the Friendly Ghost than a fresh-faced kindergartner.

Keep it neutral:
To keep the spotlight on the star of the photo shoot, choose a neutral the background. Avoid positioning your child in front of wild patterns or cluttered furniture, especially if you’re using props.

Zoom in:

In addition to a full head-to-toe shot, get a close-up of your child’s face, so you can remember what he or she looked like during that time of life.

Don’t cry over spilled milk:

Don’t stress if Junior spills his milk on his just-pressed slacks or if Suzie rips the bow out of her hair. Sometimes the unplanned messes make for the most fun pictures and memories.

Have fun:

It might seem like a no-brainer, but have fun. Talk to your child during the photo shoot to capture natural reactions, like laughter, smiles and, yes, even, a frown that you’ll laugh about later.

The photos are by Meghan MacAskill Photography.

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