How to take the best photos on the first day of school

The first day of school, nursery or even a new homeschool year is one of those big family milestones. The backpack is too big, the shoes are squeaky clean (but not for long) and everyone is buzzing with nerves and excitement. But taking photos doesn’t always feel as magical as the moment – kids suddenly forget how to smile, siblings bicker over who stands where and you’re left with fifty versions of the same slightly strained front door shot.

Content creator and mum of three boys Aimee Morris has been there, and understands the ups and downs of the day. Here, she shares her tips and ideas to help you make first day photos worth printing (and laughing over) for years to come.

Ditch the door shot (or at least mix it up)

Yes, the front door picture is a classic, but it doesn’t have to be the only shot. Try taking it in the garden with the morning light, under a favourite tree or while they’re wriggling into their shoes in the hallway. If mornings are too manic, snap one on the walk to school instead – backpacks bouncing, kids dragging their feet, you clutching coffee. It’s always the everyday moments you’ll miss – and love – most.

Let them take control (and turn the camera around)

Handing kids the camera is a brilliant way to get them involved. They might take a wobbly selfie or zoom in too far but they’ll show you their experience of the day. And here’s another twist – let them turn the camera on you. Parents are usually the ones with all the emotion on this day – nervous smiles, misty eyes, proud faces. A child’s-eye photo of Mum or Dad on the first day tells a whole different side of the story, and it’s one you’ll all treasure later.

Catch the unscripted moments

Not every child wants to pose for the camera, and that’s OK. The “I don’t want a photo” face can tell more of the story than stiff poses. The backpack-hits-sibling moment? Again, more real than any fake smile. These are the ones you’ll laugh at years from now, because they’re real. Don’t fight the grumpy faces or the mid-run blurs – those photos often end up being everyone’s favourites.

Get down to their level

One super-simple trick – crouch down. Shooting from your child’s height instantly makes the photo more personal and less “parent towering above”. You’ll capture the excitement (or nerves) on their face, the little details of their fresh uniform or first day outfit and their cute habits like chewing their sleeves or tugging at their socks, which disappear as they grow.

Walking away shots

Some of the most moving photos don’t even show their faces. A shot of them walking ahead, clutching their bag or holding your hand can sum up the feeling of this milestone perfectly. For little ones, it’s the tiny legs marching off in oversized clothing. For older kids, it’s that moment they wriggle free from your hand and stride off confidently. Either way, it says: “Here they go.”

Sibling spin (without the bribes… mostly)

Let’s be honest, getting all of your kids to stand together and smile nicely is… unlikely. Someone’s sulking, someone else is rolling their eyes and yes, sometimes bribes are involved. But instead of begging for forced smiles, give them something to do together. Set up a quick race down the garden path, ask them to show each other their new lunchboxes or challenge them to see who can pull the silliest face. The giggles (and occasional mayhem) that follow will feel much more real than a fake grin.

Capture the little details

Don’t just focus on faces, snap the tiny details, too. Their polished shoes lined up in the hall, a new water bottle, the sticker they proudly put on their jumper or the way they clutch their teddy before drop-off. In a few years they’ll make you stop and smile when you flip back through a photo book.

Non-traditional traditions

If your children have a different start of a new school year routine, you can celebrate in plenty of other ways. Some home educators mark it with a big picnic in the park, where the photos are less about posed portraits and more about kids climbing trees or sprawled on blankets with snacks. Others make a tradition of a special “first day adventure” like a nature walk or trip to the zoo, to capture their child learning in the wild. Think less stiff portraits, more storytelling shots that reflect your family’s version of learning and lifestyle.

After-school glow

Don’t stop snapping once the drop-off is over, often the best photos happen after the first day. For nursery or reception starters, stopping for ice cream on the way home is not just a reward but a golden photo moment: sticky fingers, clothes slightly askew, big smiles (or big yawns). For older kids, it might be collapsing on the sofa with a snack or proudly showing off the stickers in their reading diary. These little rituals are the ones you’ll want to remember, and make it much more likely they’ll want a photo taken!

Make it a mini-series

Instead of pinning all your hopes on one morning photo, spread it out. Take three or four across the day – the breakfast-table madness, the front-door rush, the walk to school and the after-school wind down. Together, they tell a much fuller story, and when you print them in a photo book, you’ve got a whole narrative, not just one pressured moment.

First day photos don’t have to be perfect, they just need to feel like you. Whether your child is striking a pose, scowling at the camera or running off mid-shot, those moments are worth remembering.

So this year, snap a few favourites, embrace the realness and don’t let them sit on your phone. Print them in a Popsa Photo Book because these are the milestones you’ll want to look back on (and laugh over) for years to come.