Tips for success on Picture Day

Top Tips for an Easy Picture Day at your Childcare Center

Picture day at a childcare center can be a whirlwind, but we can set you up for success. Here are our top tips:

• • Communicate with Parents Early and Often: Use all of your communication tools to notify parents of the upcoming picture day. Remind parents the night before, and send a text the morning of picture day if you have open text communication. For children not scheduled on the day of pictures, ask that the parents drop in with them during the FIRST HOUR of the picture day, not at the end.
  • Prepare Children in Advance: Talk to the kids about picture day! Explain what will happen in a fun and positive way. It’s a lot like stepping on stage when it’s the child’s turn to be photographed, so it’s normal to be apprehensive. You can read a book about taking photos, or even practice smiling in front of a mirror or in front of their friends. This helps ease any anxieties and builds excitement.
  • Plan Outfits: Advise parents to dress children in comfortable, clean clothes they love. Avoid busy patterns or large logos that can distract from the child’s face. Fancy shoes aren’t necessary. Suggest that parents send in a backup outfit a few days in advance, in case they forget to dress children for picture day, or if they spill milk all over their original outfit!
  • Stick to the Schedule: Work closely with the photographer to establish a rhythm that works for you and the children. For children under age 3, you probably shouldn’t bring in a full class all at one time. It will be easier on everyone if you bring no more than 5 children into the room at a time.  For ages 3 and up, you can expect things to move much more quickly, and it’s probably fine to bring those children in larger groups.
  • Start with the Babies: Infants should go first, if possible.
  • Have an Extra Helper: It can be tricky to stay in ratio on picture day, so it helps to have a floater or director escorting children to and from the photographer or covering a classroom while the teacher is with the children being photographed.
  • Keep Routines as Normal as Possible: While it’s a special day, try to maintain your regular classroom routine as much as possible around the photography sessions. Familiarity helps children feel secure and less overwhelmed. However, try to save outdoor time, snacks and messy art projects for later in the day, after their photos are finished.
  • Lovies Allowed: A favorite small toy or comfort item can be helpful. The photographer will likely suggest that they take some photos with and some without the toy.
  • Remove Tattoos and Stickers: If possible, remove tattoos and stickers before you take the children in for photos. The parents will thank you!
  • Comb Hair: Even if the child came in with bed-head, we encourage you to help them look their best by combing out or touching up their hair.
  • Help Cleanup Every Face: No one looks their best with a runny or crusty nose. Even for independent “big kids,” the photographer will need your help to polish up each and every face right before they step in front of the camera. Clean faces will reflect well on the daycare center and the photographer.
  • Be a Cheerleader: Your enthusiasm is contagious! Offer words of encouragement and praise. You can show the children how much fun it is to get pictures by having your own photo taken in front of them.
  • If Parents are in the Room: It can be really helpful to have parents bring children directly to the photographer, but keep in mind that this might backfire. If the child declines photos or becomes upset while their parents are in the room, the teacher should plan to bring the child back later in the day after the child has transitioned into their school day. Note that photo sessions with parents in the room also take about twice as long as regular photo sessions.
  • Don’t Take Your Own Photos: Now is not the time to take photos with your phone or tablet. In fact, it is often explicit in the contract that no other photos can be taken during the professional photo shoot. Out of respect for the professional photographer, let them take the pictures while you help in other ways. Please make this expectation clear with any parents who are in the room as well.
  • Engage and Distract: While waiting, engage children in quiet activities like reading a book or singing a song. This keeps them focused and prevents boredom that can lead to meltdowns.
  • Trust the Photographer: School photographers are pros at working with children. Let them lead the posing and direction. The photographer needs the child to look at them, not at you. Your role is to help prepare each child before they step up to the photography station.
  • You Might Get to be a Prop: Occasionally, the child can’t separate from their favorite grownup, so the photographer might ask you to hide in plain sight in the photo. For example, the teacher can sit on the floor with a blanket covering their legs, and the child can sit on the teacher like a bench, keeping the teacher’s face out of the photo.
  • Siblings are Great Helpers: Parents love to get sibling photos, and big brothers/sisters can show how helpful they are when they’re photographed with their younger siblings. Please arrange to have the big kids come to the photography room when their younger siblings are being photographed.
  • Classroom Groups Not Required: Don’t worry about getting everyone to hold still and smile at the same time! Instead, you can ask the photographer to create a group photo made up of each child’s individual photo. Photographers refer to that as a “composite” image.

Do you have other ideas for creating a great picture day? Please share them with us!