Edmonton Photographer | I call it the back to school blues.

While there is relief in getting back to routine, to normal meal planning, early to bed and early to rise, I’m always saddened when the first day of school rolls around.  I know that it is a rite of passage and I celebrate my children’s achievements, but my heart hurts just a little bit.  (DISCLAIMER!!! – I’m a photographer – yet some of the images below are simple snapshots, not fabulous photos, many are snaps I’ve taken throughout the years.  However – they mean the world to me, regardless!  Your back to school pics don’t need to be fine art portraiture, they just need to be important).

What I love about back to school?

Watching my daughter choose the perfect outfit for the first day of high school.  Helping to create a beautiful school schedule to hang in her locker.  Watching her bake for her school lunches, giggle as we sample her wares.  I love watching the flood of back to school photos that my friends and family post on social media.

I’m a family, lifestyle and school photographer in the Edmonton, Tofield, Ryley, Camrose and Sherwood Park region.  One of my favourite things to do is back to school minis and school photos year after year, to capture those little faces and watch them grow up through my lens.  As parents, we are so blessed to watch our children take those first steps, grow, blossom and then spread their wings.  Trust me when I say that it flies by in the blink of an eye.  That little boy below?  He’s 22 now.  I treasure the images I have of him, and I’m so glad that I took the time to make them.

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you get some truly memorable images, and some hints to keep the picture taking going all year long!

 Get those traditional, front step poses, it’s so much fun to see the excitement (or terror) on those shiny little faces!

Also – it’s fun to have a photo of your front door and your home to remember that house as through the years we often change homes.

Remember to get a last day of school pose to remember how much your sweet little one grew and changed over the year.  If you can, take the photo in the same place as you did on the first day.

Get Low!

It’s a unique perspective your child has on the world.  Get down to their height to capture their world, what they see.

Get High!

If you want to show just how little your little sweet one is, stand and aim the camera downward.

Fun ways to capture that first day:

There are so many ways to uniquely capture your child’s first day, here are a few snaps that I made as the kids grew up.

This was a quick shot of the kids heading to the schoolbus while the baby was left behind.  Even the dog was sad, and let’s look at the boy’s face.  He was certainly thrilled to be going back.

This one melts my heart.  Poor little darling.  Such a poignant way to illustrate the relationship between siblings.

Back to school blues for Mom this time.  It’s not only a big day for the students, Moms often shed a tear or two on the big day.

It’s a very non-traditional back to school image, but really illustrates just how little she was.  I love it.

A classroom shot is always a nice way to make a memory for your child.

There is no limit to your imagination in how to make memories:

 

Small things count, I had a client that requested I ensure her daughters’ hands were included in every  fall photo.  Throughout the years, as I photographed the two girls together, always a different pose, but always with their little hands.  When you pose your child, think about the small things, those little hands for example.  In the photo below, a mini session from last year, I included little Hannah’s hands, a reminder for her Mother of just how tiny she was.

Brody told me all about himself at his back to school mini session, his life, his loves (video games) and his future career.  How fun to commemorate that with his photo for a lasting memory.

The last day of school.  EVER.

While I wasn’t able to be there, I requested the photo be taken, and my son complied.  This was his last day of grade school.  One of his buddies patiently created the images that I requested, the last walk down the hall, the last time opening the big blue doors, the last time walking away.  This too is an image to be treasured, an important one as my son took his last steps as a high school student, and his first steps into the adult world.  They are iphone snaps, not professional photos.  Totally ok with me, as I have the memory.

How to keep the memories going, all year long?

1. Bring a camera, or have your phone handy on parent days, field trips, sports days, or special events.  My kids love to look back at their photos from field trips.
2. At home, keep your camera close for fun opportunities.  I take lifestyle photos of my kids baking, especially if they’re baking with Grandma or creating a masterpiece together, watch the flour fly!
3.  I loved to watch my kids sleep when they were little.  It’s fun to have a photo of them all curled up in their beds with favourite blankies.  (Fair warning – don’t try this with teenagers.  I learned the hard way…).
4. Do they play a sport? A photo of your child lacing up their skates or taping a stick is a fun off-ice way to capture their sports moments.
5. When my kids play guitar, I get a shot of them playing, then a simple shot of their hands, a unique and non-traditional way to commemorate the moment.
6. It’s so much fun taking a photo of your child opening their stocking on Christmas morning.  For something a little different, have a photo of them holding their favourite ornament, then another of them hanging it.
7. Get yourself in those shots.  We spend so much time taking photos of our family, but we so rarely get into them ourselves.  Your kids want to see you with them in their growing up memories.  As a photographer, I know better, as a Mom in sweats, I still cringe.  Remember – they are always beautiful to us, why would we be any different to them.

Celebrate your child!

Whether it’s their first day of kindergarten, or their last first day of school, celebrate.  I’ve learned over the years, that rather than being sad that the kid above walking out those school doors on his last day ever isn’t the little kid at the top of this article, about to embark on his first day ever, that I should simply cherish every single milestone.

Hug your babies, shed a tear, have a glass of Mom wine.  Also…

Be Present, Be In The Moment, Be In The Picture.

I’d love for you to come see me for your back to school minis!  Email me at carla@carlalehmanphoto.ca, or check out my site, www.carlalehmanphoto.ca.