Picture day at a K–12 school moves fast. Every student sits for an individual portrait during the school day, class and grade groups are photographed on the same visit, and each student is in front of the camera for about one to two minutes. A few minutes of preparation the night before is the difference between a photo that gets filed away and one the family actually puts on the wall.
Skip the rehearsed smile
There's no need to coach a student on their expression beforehand. A grin that's been practiced in the mirror tends to look tighter on camera than one that just happens in the moment. On the day, we take the time to get each student talking and comfortable in front of the lens before the shutter goes, so what comes through is closer to how they actually look when they're not thinking about a camera at all. Those are the portraits families end up happiest with.
How to prepare
Hair: keep it off the face and out of the eyes. If a trim is due, book it a few days before rather than the night before, so it has time to settle. Photo day is not the day to test a brand new style.
Clothing: Avoid white and light colours. Solid medium and dark tones look best on camera. Busy patterns, logos and fine stripes pull attention away from the face, and thin stripes can strobe. A neckline that sits close to the neck frames the face best. If the school sets a uniform or a dress code for photo day, that comes first, and shoes turn up in group photos, so pick a pair that goes with the outfit.
Hats and masks: we advise against wearing a hat to a photo day. Hats create shadows, damage hair once removed, leave a mark on the forehead and just don't photograph well. Removing masks the last minute always leaves a mark on the skin that is very hard to retouch.
Glasses: glasses can glare and leave deep shadows on the face. We advise at least one photo without the glasses.
Braces: your smile is priceless, smile the way you normally do.
Blemishes: don't worry at all, temporary blemishes are fairly easy to remove during editing.
What those two minutes look like
Every student is photographed with the same lighting and the same background, so the set stays consistent from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and from year to year. Posing is guided: a small turn of the shoulders, chin forward, and a moment to settle. Students who would rather not smile with teeth are welcome to say so. A relaxed expression that looks like the student is the goal, not a performance.
If a student is away
Depending on the school, either a retake day is scheduled after the first visit or we welcome the student to our Willoughby studio by appointment. Please contact school admin for details.
How families see and order the photos
Ordering is online and paperless. About a week after photo day, families receive a private access code for their student's gallery, choose what they want, and check out securely. Prints come back to the school roughly two weeks after the batch order window closes, and digital files are available right away. The minimum family order is $18, and families buy only what they want. See the school picture price list.
Booking a picture day for your school?
Free for the school and paperless for families, with class photos, staff headshots, yearbook-ready files and a retake day included.
School Photography