While I encourage each child to act naturally and authentically, the following are a few of the basic poses I use during Better Than School Portraits, children’s fine art portrait mini sessions, to create a time capsule for parents to look back on forever.

When I first started school portrait photography, I took a test shot of my son in our garage. I loved how the light hit his cheeks and his gaze off in the distance showed his inquisitiveness. What I didn’t realize, however, was how I’d feel just a few years later about this test image I had taken.

As our kids move into elementary school and beyond, some start to need glasses. Quickly, they become a part of who our child is... I truly get it, my own son wears glasses, and he simply doesn't look like himself without them.

If your child is younger than three and has never been to preschool or daycare, they may be too young for Better Than School Portraits. My goal is always to get natural, relaxed, and genuine expressions, and I know that is what your mamma heart is looking for too! While it may be your desire to have matching portraits of all your children, please consider whether your youngest is old enough and confident enough for this type of session.

While your child’s personality will be the focus of these boutique fine art portraits, what your child wears can enhance and bring life to their portraits. Just like good lighting flatters the skin, well-chosen clothing can highlight your child’s features and help them look their best.

School portraits have become a time honored tradition. Wouldn’t it be nice if those yearly photos were worthy of hanging on your walls? Better Than School Portraits are time capsules that capture more than a single cheesy grin. They are an opportunity to put your child in the limelight and freeze those quickly changing stages of each age.