I’m heading into a spring of school photos and am excited to welcome over 1000 kids in front of my lens in the next few months. As Fine Art School Portraits are set up to be timeless and to shine in both colour and black and white, here are few tips on what to wear and how to shine for school photos.

Neutral shirts that aren’t dark work best

As the background is black, it’s best to stick to lighter & brighter shirts so that the shirt doesn’t blend into the background. This is especially important if you think you might want to purchase black and white versions of the photos, as when the photo is converted to black and white, black, navy and charcoal blend right in.

Add personality through small patterns & petit accessories

You want your child’s photo to feel like them, use fun patterns and accessories they love to bring personality to the photos. Small patterns such as plaid, tiny flowers, stripes and repeating dinos all work great. Avoid patterns that are large and might not show the full repeating image from the chest up. It’s also best to avoid shirts with words or large graphics as they’ll likely be cut off in the middle.

Hair Down or Partially Down Works Best

As the majority of the images will have your child facing forward, having hair down or partially down (half pony, small side braid, etc) helps frame the face and gives the option for some movement. If your child prefers hair up, pigtails to the side are a great option so that the hair can still be seen. I’ll always make sure to do a quick check before I start to ensure hair is combed (if straight) and out of the face.

For Siblings, Stick to the same colour family

If siblings are being photographed together, it always looks best if colours coordinate. It doesn’t mean that shirts have to match exactly, but ensuring that one person doesn’t stand out more than another is important. All in pastels, all in jewel tones, or all in earth tones will look great when photographed together or when individual portraits are hung on the wall in a group.

Remember, photos are only from the waist up, so there’s no need to worry about coordinating pants!

Lastly, can I tell you a secret? The beauty of hiring a small business for school photos is that a REAL person is able to help you. I’m 100% here to help. If you’re wondering if an outfit will photograph well, take a photo and shoot me a text (780-709-4204) or email – I’m happy to go through options with you.

See you at school!

-Kelly