Lights… camera… action! The school year’s here, and so are school pictures, with their awkward poses, weird backdrops and even new wardrobes. Should we parents look forward to the occasion, or should we run to the nearest exit with our children cradled?
Picture day should never be a day of remorse for us or our children. Here are a few tips to make a day of pictures a day to remember!
Tip #1: Nothing too extravagant.
Now that we’ve talked about distractions, let’s keep in mind that our kids’ favorite cartoon characters can be a bit distracting too. Steer clear of big, bold graphics—our kids love them, but the camera may not be so forgiving.
Tip #2: Cheese is better on pizza.
Cheese has been the go-to phrase for decades. No matter the occasion, if you step foot in a room and someone yells “Say cheese,” it’s engraved in our brains to give the biggest smiles our jaws can handle. But think, is that something we want to our children to do? For picture day, think natural! What naturally tickles your child pink? Encourage her to think about that when she’s in front of the camera.
Tip #3: Hair, blemishes and scars!
Light on the hair spray and easy with those clippers. Most photographers can fix a glare if your child wears glasses or can even spot check a small pimple or scrape when editing, but even the best will struggle with editing a bad haircut. For things like this, think of trims in advance. This will give your kid a bold fresh look on life and on his photos. For bumps and bruises, try calling the school or photographer to see what their editing capabilities are. It’s never a good idea to try to cover them up yourself; it‘ll only make matters worse.
Tip #4: Makeup.
Young adults can be hard to handle, especially teens wanting the “extra” touch. If your child has a thing for makeup, convince her to let you give her that touch. Use a sheer powder for a natural look. Reinforce that less is more and remind her how perfect she is makeup free.
Tip #4: Lunch.
There’s nothing like planning for pictures the week before, only to have your child spill breakfast or lunch on her clothes the day of. In cases like this, Tide to Go is a must-have! If your child is small and doesn’t know how to use it, send it to his or her teacher with a note marked “In case of emergency” and explaining what you want the teacher to do with it. If you pack your child’s lunch, ModernMom.com suggests that broccoli, spinach, celery, orange, corn on the cob, chips, chocolate anything, concord grape juice, popcorn and black bean soup are a huge no-no for picture day. Avoid packing things that easily stain or get stuck in teeth.
Tip #5 Attitude.
A bad attitude is hard to shake, and motivation to do good and have good behavior starts at home. If you show interest in the outcome of a good day, so will your child. This is particularly important for picture day because this memory will be captured.
Tip # 6: One year here, one year there…
Picture day comes annually! Children grow overnight. If the pictures don’t come out perfect this time, just think…there’s always next year!
Jessica Samuel is a St. Louis native and current Kansas City resident. Journalist, photographer, graduate student, ALLY.