22 • AUGUST 2025 • www. OfficialKidsMag. com

Think like a historian, shoot like a photojournalist. If this August is your child’ s first experience with preschool, kindergarten or first grade, you have the chance to start a tradition. Take a picture of your child at the beginning of the school year and maybe you can keep it up until they graduate.

You don’ t have to use fancy props, like printed first day of school signs or frames, but certainly make or buy one if you enjoy such things. You don’ t even have to take the photo on the real first day if it is hectic – try the day before school starts. But if you capture a photo of your child at this age, you’ ll have the chance of creating a portrait tradition that you will love. And someday, your child and grandchildren will love them, too.

All it takes is a little effort to set up your shot. Find a spot, indoors or outdoors, with even and natural, indirect lighting that doesn’ t place glare or shadows on your child’ s face. Reduce the distractions in the background by shooting against a wall or some greenery. Try to get a head-to-toe shot, so the photos will show your children growing taller each year. Add a head and shoulders portrait if you can, as well.

Take an individual shot and one with siblings all together. If possible, include yourself in the photo. Moms and dads who always play the invisible photographer leave a scanty record. Get into the picture! Someday your kids may enjoy knowing what you looked like as each school year started.

You may find a natural setting that will serve as a“ yardstick” that shows your child’ s growth. If you grab a tape measure, this would be a great time to record your child’ s height. If you have an actual measuring poster or door jamb, be sure and note it is the first day of school next to the measurement.

Another possibility is a photo taken near the school’ s outdoor sign or gate, or at a place that identifies the building. If your student rides the bus, frame them on its steps or use the big yellow side as a pop of color. Other ideas from creative sources:

• Purchase a“ Class of 2038”( calculate your child’ s future graduation year) T-shirt in a size you think they will wear at that age and take one photo every year of your student growing into it

• Each year, have your child hold last year’ s portrait

• Let them wear their backpacks and carry their lunchboxes in the photo

• Take a companion“ last day of school” pic each year

If you are a secret film director at heart and your child has Toy Story characters, set them up in the foreground, facing away from you with hands raised, and direct your child to turn around and wave goodbye to them. Yes, it’ s corny. Yes, you will get a lump in your throat anyway.

Be a documentary filmmaker – go on and take a selfie or video of the little cry you had in the car after your dropped off your first-day-of-schooler. They may as well know the truth when you’ re ready to show them.

Here’ s another suggestion for best preserving this tradition: print this photo. You have held many a photograph in your hand that was perhaps a century old. How many digital photos have lasted so long? How many digital photos have you already lost? Printing a photo or enlarged photo is inexpensive and still much more durable. Make extra prints for grandparents!