DIY SCHOOL PHOTO TUTORIAL
If you are looking to create school photos of your kids yourself, here is a super easy 5 step guide!
5 STEPS TO BEAUTIFUL AT-HOME SCHOOL PHOTOS
1. Use a window.
Look for one you can stand with your shoulders against, photographing along it (see diagram above). Wait for whatever time of day you get soft light or pick a window with a white sheer curtain. Soft light means the light will "fall off", or turn to shadow gradually instead of creating harsh lines on the face.
Your subject will be seated with their side against it, and you will not be including the window in your frame (unless you want to!). Minimize the background by removing whatever is behind the subject (take items off the wall, counters, etc).
**If you don't have a window that does the trick, any place where natural light is coming inside will work, like an open door or somewhere under a porch overhang.
2. Turn off all the lights.
Yes, every single light in the room. And if you are near a hallway, turn that off too. Different bulbs will have varying color temperatures, creating color casts on skin that is not appealing. By eliminating all except the natural window light your camera or phone can balance the skin tones effectively. This step makes a HUGE difference - don't skip it!
3. Create a makeshift reflector.
You will need something for the window light to bounce off of and fill in the shadow side of the face. A white poster board is an ideal makeshift reflector, and you get can them for under $2 at the store. Use whatever you have - a chair a person - to hold it so the light bounces off it and back to the subject.
Keep the poster for that inevitable 9pm "Uh oh I have a project due tomorrow!" moment. You can thank me later :)
4: Set up your camera.
The camera height is going to make a big difference in the feel of the image. For school portraits, the camera should be at eye level or a little above. Play with the angle to see what you like best.
If you are using a camera, the ideal focal length is an 85mm lens. A smaller depth of field (lower F stop, or aperture) is going to give you a soft background look. Your shutter speed and ISO is going to depend on the light - in a pinch throw the camera on “A” mode and somewhere between ISO 1600 and 3200. This means aperture priority, and you can set your aperture while the camera selects the right shutter speed for you. You’ll want to brush up on all of this at some point, but when you need something quick this is a start.
If you are using a phone, use 2x or 1x lens on your phone. I do not recommend using portrait mode. I find the edges of the subject often get blurred, or the software misses an ear or does something weird with hair. Go ahead and try this mode but a crisp image without a filter is going to look great!
5: Set up your subject & Take the photos!
Have your subject sit up straight, knees and shoulders aiming between the window and camera. Lean forward at the waist and turn the face towards the camera. If you want a little more drama, turn the body away from the light and the face back into it. If your kid is serious ask a funny question to get them to crack that smile! Need some inspiration? Check out my children's portraiture portfolio.
DIY SCHOOL PHOTO GUIDE FAQ
Why share all of this?
I believe every parent, with any budget, deserves beautiful “school” portraits of their children. When my kids were little, we just didn't have the budget for school photo packages. And some years we just didn't care for what came home. Luckily, as a photographer, I was able to take my own. Now the my oldest kid is a senior, the value of those images from the last 12 years is immeasurable.
Do you photograph school portraits?
As part of fall family sessions and fall mini sessions I photograph each child individually. Many clients use these images as an alternative to their school photographer photos. With little ones especially, it's great to have a parent there to make sure hair, outfit, and smiles are just right! With more than one option for each child, you get to choose which smile is best instead of having it chosen for you. And because my fall mini-session packages include a full set of digital files, clients receive these portrait files as part of their package. You can then make prints on your own, or order through your gallery, exactly what you want. With multiple kids, it's great to have another option to update your kids' portraits! And for those with big families on a budget, getting family photos done at the same time as everyone's annual school photo for one price is a great way to go!
Why a window and not outdoors?
What we want with portraits is use light to shape the face. If you’ve ever noticed why social media influencers take videos in their car, it’s because the lighting in the car is flattering. The roof removes light coming from above and only allowing light to hit the face from the car windows, at eye-level. Outdoor light can be much harder to control and make flattering (one of the reasons why wedding photographers have such a hard job!). A single light source is going to mimic the soft lightbox that a photographer uses in a portrait studio.
How far should I place the subject from the window?
Depends on the window light, and how strong it is. If there is too much contrast (light vs dark) on the face, move the subject further away from the light source - the window. If not enough, move closer or wait until a different time of day when you get more coming through.
What can I use as a reflector?
Anything! You want something free of a color that will reflect back onto the skin. If you use something blue, the light reflecting back will be blue. Pick literally anything flat and white to use as a reflector, and use anything on hand to position it at the right angle.
My kids are not going to sit while I figure this out. Any ideas?
Yes! I bet you have the perfect subject in your house - any doll or stuffed animal will do. Place them on a chair and really look at the light falling on their- um - fur- and ears. You'll get a great idea of what works and be in position to have your kiddos sit for just a moment.