This time of the year is school photo season for everyone in Cayman, including CIS and Village Montessori in Camana Bay and you know what that means: fresh haircuts, new uniforms, packed lunches and of course pictures! Now that everyone walks around with sophisticated photo-taking equipment in their back pocket, here are some simple pro secrets to make this year’s back-to-school photos your best pics yet.
Same pose, same place.Back to school photos mark an annual milestone and, as such, are a great way to document your child’s growth from year to year. Those changes are especially remarkable when taken with the same pose and same location each year, so take at least one photo each school year of your child on the front porch or in your backyard. You’ll be capturing a wonderful progression of your child growing up. Use your front door or porch
Have your child stand in the shaded area just inside the door frame or under a covered porch while you stand outside (on the step or sidewalk) and shoot towards him / her. This is a tried and true setup for beautiful, even lighting that will give your photo pro-quality results. Bonus, it will remind you of your home and surroundings at the time.
Fill the frame. This classic photography tip applies to back to school pictures, too. The new back-to-school uniform and school entrance sign are probably already on your list, but a child’s face changes more year to year than you might think. So while you have that camera out (and a squeaky clean kid :)), go close up and grab a few pictures which will fill the whole frame with your child’s face.
Dress up a letter board
Felt letter boards are convenient because you don’t have to worry about whether your handwriting will be readable in the photo. Using the letter board also allows you to capture the school name, grade or year. This will serve as a convenient reminder in years to come when you look back at your child’s growth without having to try and figure out when exactly the picture was taken.
Go candid
Not every photo has to be posed with your child looking at the camera. Some of the best images come to life when your kiddos are in their element. Take photos throughout the first day of school as your kids are in motion, capturing those micro-moments that illustrate a day-in-the-life. When they don’t know they’re on camera, their personalities and mannerisms often truly come out, making for authentic photos.
