Preparing for your child’s Better Than School Portraits Session with Glasses

Let’s talk about eyewear and what you need to know.

As kids move into elementary school and beyond, some start to need glasses. Quickly, frames become a big part of who they are. My own son wears glasses, and he simply doesn't look like himself without them (although I do secretly love when he forgets to put them on and I can kiss his cheeks!). Of course you want your child to wear their glasses for their fine art children’s portrait during their Better Than School Portraits mini session.

A few things to consider regarding glasses

😎 Transition glasses are great for sunny days on the town, but not ideal for portraits. As fashionable as they are, transition glasses can go from clear to dark with very simple changes in light. You don’t want a smoky lens blocking your child’s beautiful eyes for their portraits.

🤓 Additionally, many lenses are highly reflective. If you have ever looked at your child when they were wearing glasses and there was a distracting glare, it’s likely to show up in their portraits.

So, what’s the solution?

Although there may not be a quick and easy answer, thinking about the options ahead of time is always best.

• When purchasing glasses, I HIGHLY recommend non-glare lenses. 🤩 It's a slight upgrade, but SO worth it. My son has them and he never has glare in his glasses when I take pictures of him (even with a cell phone). I also don’t see that green or purple cast when he looks up at me - just his beautiful brown eyes.

• If your child has transition glasses, you may consider bringing a back up or alternate pair with lenses that don't turn dark.

• You (or your optometry office) can remove the lenses of your child's glasses and only use the frames. This works great!

• As a last resort, your child can forgo glasses all together. However, if your child wears glasses full time, I highly recommend considering whether the above options are an option.

Of course, I'm happy to work with your child during their session to minimize glare, however, this can result in stiff portraits. To avoid glare on glasses that don’t have non-reflective lenses, the lenses (or your child’s face) have to be held at a particular angle to avoid reflecting light.

Imagine, your child and I work together to angle the face just so, but then it’s time to get a genuine smile. I tell a joke, and your child makes an adorable expression or gives a huge smile and inevitably moves their head. I snap the picture, and (oh no!) the reflection is back. Ultimately, these are mini sessions and it's best if our time together is spent eliciting natural, fun expressions, not trouble-shooting or expecting them to hold their head at a precarious angle.

If you have questions before your session, please feel free to reach out to me. All children (and parents) deserve beautiful portraits that embody personality and authenticity. Let’s work together to make sure you are prepared.

Wondering what your child should wear for their fine art portraits? Check out this post.

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