How to make your child’s day picture perfect

By Amy Park

It’s picture day: A hectic, stressful and much-anticipated event! The resulting school photo will be hanging on your wall for years to come. Here are some tips to make sure your son or daughter has a picturesque moment.

Communicate your child’s needs. The photographer will do his or her best to give your child a great experience, but might need guidance on how to achieve that. If you can’t be there on picture day in person, send a note with tips for the teacher to discreetly share with the team.

Solid colours. Patterned shirts or graphics can clash with the colour or texture of the photographer’s backdrop.A solid-coloured shirt will usually look best.

Plan ahead for special needs. Children often gather for picture day in gymnasiums or libraries, settings that can get very noisy. If that’s problematic for your child, ask if his or her picture can be taken during recess, when itshould be much quieter and not as rushed.

Remember, there’s a retake day! Sometimes it’s just not a good day for a photo. If your children’s hair won’t co-operate or they’re not in the mood for a natural smile, there’s no need to push them. Most companies come back to the school for retakes, which are usually calmer than the first try.

Things to pack for picture day
• Hairbrush
• Spare shirt
• Wet wipes, in case the photo is taken after lunch
• A dryer sheet to smooth fly-aways and puffy hair