Back to School is such a significant time. If your child is moving up a year at their current school, it will be a big difference from last year. And if they are starting a new school this September – especially if it is their first school – it is a real milestone in their life.
So it’s very important to get the best pictures that you possibly can as your child goes back to school this September. And in this article we help you do just that by sharing tips for your best Back to School photography ever!
Yes we say this every time, but it’s really so very important! For most amateur photographers, their camera – even a phone camera – is capable of doing so much more than it is currently used for. If you consider yourself a fairly mediocre photographer, some of that may be due to the fact that you are not using your camera to its full potential.
So why not change all that this September. Take time to get to grips with your camera’s settings and ensure that you are all set up to get the best Back to School photography you possibly can.
For a few hints and tips on how to get started understanding more about your camera’s settings, check out our article Want to learn about photography? Start here.
We have often mentioned in our Guides – and in the above article – the concept of the Rule of Thirds.
The Rule of Thirds is a helpful way to compose your shots so that the eye is drawn to the most important aspect of the shot. If you think of your image as being divided into a noughts and crosses style grid of two horizontal lines and two vertical lines, you should then place the most important elements of the image either along the lines, or at the points where they meet.
And of course, in Back to School photographs, the most important element is your child. So make sure that you are creating images that are balanced and avoid too much wasted space.
Also experiment with photos at different angles. For example, you may find that you are able to achieve the best Back to School photography when you take shots from either above or below your child. For example photograph them from the bottom of a staircase while they are coming down it, or you take a shot above them from that staircase as they stand by the door.
Take time to experiment with composition and angles, to get a range of interesting shots that between them tell the whole story of this important time.
Of course the biggest day of Back to School is the day itself. That day they come out of the front door in their school uniform and head out into the next phase of their life. And you will definitely want to capture every step of those special moments on camera.
But bear in mind that the big Back to School day itself can be pretty overwhelming for your child – as well as for the rest of the family. Your child may feel nervous and anxious, and you yourself are likely to be feeling a wide range of emotions. There will be stress about getting them to the right place on time, residual anxiety about whether they really do have absolutely everything they need or if you have missed something, and of course the overriding realisation that your little one is gradually growing up and preparing to leave the nest. All of which means that the day itself may not result in those picture perfect images you really want.
So it’s a great idea to get a range of photographs before and after the day as well. You can get some great shots when they try on their new uniform beforehand, and when they are packing all their new belongings into their school bag. More opportunities are when they come back home from that all-important first day at school, and when they begin to relax into their new daily routine over the following few days.
Take as many shots as you can, to build up a stunning portfolio of your best Back to School photography ever.
A very important factor in how to capture the best Back to School photography is to make sure you get some specific shots that your child wants to have. Many of these are likely to be shots that you would never have thought of, but will add context to your chosen shots and make fantastic memories for the future.
Give your child free reign as to what these shots are, and be prepared for anything. Friends, family, pets, new stuff, their bedroom, and even images of their favourite pop star or footballer may well feature.
Being involved in choosing special shots is also a way to make the whole Back to School experience a happy one for your child , and help to relieve any anxiety they may be feeling.
Last but not least, even though you are focused on Back to School 2024, bear in mind that Back to School is an annual event until your child finishes school altogether.
Firstly, this means that everything you learn this year about getting the best Back to School photography will be useful time and time again.
Secondly, now is a great time to choose a tradition that you will also use in future Back to School photos. Ideally one that can help to show the growth and development of your child. Perhaps it’s a traditional doorstep photo with a feature that can indicate the height of your child. Or your child holding a tape measure, standing next to an adult family member, or posing in last year’s school uniform. Anything that you will be able to look back on in the future to see how much your child has changed from one year to the next.
Taking the time now to plan and create these memories for the future will bring you all great joy in years to come.
We hope that this article has given you some inspiration about how to get the best Back to School photography and that you create fabulous shots that you will be proud of for years.
Do check back here soon for more helpful photography guides from Print Your Memory.
