The first day of school is a significant milestone, but capturing the perfect first day of school photo can feel like a challenge. These years fly by, and without creative ideas, you might miss the chance to document your child’s growth in a unique way.
Below, you’ll find 19 first day of school picture ideas to highlight your child’s personality and make for great keepsakes. From fun props to sibling shots, these tips will help you preserve these memories. With a little inspiration, you can get a great shot every year.
1. Letter board with grade or year
Letter boards are a fun, classic prop for marking milestones. They create consistency in your annual photos and highlight how much your child changes.
You can customize the board with their name, age, grade, and even their dream job. This is a great way to get cute photo ideas that are also organized.
By following the same tradition each year, you can build a collection of photos that tell a story. When you place these pictures side-by-side in a photo book, you see a visual timeline of your child’s growth, creating a beautiful record of their journey from one grade to the next.
Creative cue: Have your child write a one-word aspiration or goal for the upcoming school year on the letter board, like “Grow,” “Create,” or “Explore.” This adds a layer of personal meaning and captures their mindset at the start of each year.
2. Personalized chalkboard sign
A personalized chalkboard sign is a classic way to document the first day of school you can reuse year after year. Write down your child’s current grade, age, and favorite subject, and include funny details like what they want to be when they grow up or how they feel about school starting.
You can let your child add their own doodles or use different colored chalk for a creative touch. The chalkboard becomes a canvas to show off their current interests. A collection of these photos shows their evolving personality over time.
Creative cue: Set up the chalkboard outside and use natural light for the best shot. Before you take the photo, have your child practice a few poses in front of a mirror so they feel confident. This is a simple way to help them pose for pictures and get a great photo.
3. Holding balloons
Balloons add a festive, celebratory feel to any first day of school photos. Bright colors and shapes bring energy to the picture and capture your child’s excitement. Choose balloons in their school’s colors or use large numbers of balloons to mark the grade they're starting.
For some dynamic shots, have your child walk while holding the balloons, or toss a few in the air. These lively pictures bring a lot of cheer to the pages when you're creating your photo book. They’re also a great way to get funny first day of school pictures that are full of movement and life.
Creative cue: Use your phone’s portrait mode to blur the background and make the balloons and your child pop.
4. Standing with a backpack
A backpack is the ultimate symbol of the first day of school. It represents new beginnings and your child's growing independence.
Pose them standing with their backpack on, or have them turn around to show it off. These simple shots capture their gear and excitement and make for cute school pictures.
For something candid, take photos as your child is zipping up their backpack or adjusting the straps. This captures a genuine moment of preparation, and those natural, unposed photos tell a more authentic story of the morning.
Creative cue: For a clean shot without distractions, have your child stand against a simple background like a plain wall or a garage door.
5. Side-by-side with last year’s photo
Recreating last year's first day of school pictures is a fun way to highlight your child's growth and change. Have them hold a printed copy of last year’s photo or simply try to replicate the same pose and location. This tradition can help you see just how quickly they're changing, from their height to their smile.
These side-by-side shots are great for sharing on social media or in a photo book. Placing the photos on facing pages creates a beautiful “then and now” story.
This tradition can become a yearly ritual for your whole family, creating a collection of memories that shows your children's journey through school.
Creative cue: Label each photo with your child’s grade and year to easily compare side-by-side shots and track their growth over time.
6. Chalk art on the driveway or sidewalk
Let your kids draw their new grade, fun shapes, or silly doodles around them in chalk, turning a simple photo into a fun and memorable activity. Get a shot from above to show off the whole scene, or take a wide shot that includes your child and all their artwork.
Involving your kids in creating the art gets them excited about the day and lets them express themselves. They can draw things that are important to them right now, creating a snapshot of their current interests. This is a great way to get funny first day of school pictures that are full of joy and character.
Creative cue: For a fun phone photography tip, have your child lie on the ground and take a photo from directly above. This perspective makes it look like they’re part of the artwork.
7. Holding a favorite book
A first-day photo of your child holding a beloved book can document who they are right now. You can pose them reading the book, holding it proudly, or dressing up as their favorite character. These photos capture their passions, creating a timeline of their evolving interests over the years.
Imagine seeing a photo of your child with their favorite picture book and, a few years later, a photo of them with their favorite chapter book. With a photo book, you can capture the moments that reflect your child’s journey from a young reader to a lifelong one.
Creative cue: For a candid shot, snap a picture as you and your child read their favorite book together on the last night before school.
8. Showing off a homeschool setup
The first day of school may look different for homeschool families, but it's just as special and worth celebrating. A great way to capture this milestone is by showing off their homeschool setup. You can take a picture of your child at their decorated desk, in a cozy reading nook, or in the main school-at-home area.
Focus on the small details that make the space unique, like new school supplies, motivational posters, or a personalized learning board. Taking a similar photo every year shows how the learning space evolves as your child grows.
Creative cue: To show the start of their learning journey, take a shot of your child at the start of their first lesson. This might be writing in their new notebook, drawing, or working on a first-day project.
9. Siblings together
Capturing your kids together on the first day of school is a great way to celebrate their shared journey and highlight their bond.
Whether they’re hugging, walking hand-in-hand, or giving each other a high-five, these shots capture the unique relationship they have.
These sibling photos tell a larger story about your family photos. Watching them go from little kids holding hands to older teens walking side-by-side is a beautiful thing to look back on.
Creative cue: If your kids are different ages, have the older one(s) help the younger one(s) with their backpack for a candid action shot.
10. At the bus stop
The bus stop is a classic backdrop for first-day photos. You can capture a sequence of moments: waiting for the bus, the moment they board, and waving goodbye from the window. Including friends in the shot adds personality and shows who they'll share their school journey with.
Capture it all in a single layout by making a photo collage. You can arrange a few shots in a grid to show the progression from waiting to getting on the bus. These photos create a complete picture of the first moments of the day and become part of a larger school album.
Creative cue: If you have an iPhone, use burst mode to take a series of quick, consecutive shots to capture the action of them getting on the bus.
11. On the front porch
The front porch is a backdrop that stays consistent year after year, so you can see your child grow against the same familiar background. Add some charm with potted flowers or a special "first day" sign.
If you take a front porch photo every year, you’ll have a series of photos that serves as a visual timeline of your child’s journey. This is a great way to capture each year’s milestone.
Creative cue: Get a unique shot by having your child sit on the steps or peek playfully through the balusters of the porch.
12. Holding school supplies
New school supplies are an exciting part of the first day, and a photo with them captures your child’s readiness for the new year. Have them pose with a brand-new notebook, a box of colorful crayons, or a stack of books. You can also arrange the supplies around them for a visually creative shot.
These photos freeze a moment in time, showing what was new and exciting for them this year. It’s a sweet way to see them grow and remember what their personality was like that particular year.
Creative cue: Lay out all their new school supplies on the floor and have them lie in the middle, then take an overhead shot for visual interest.
13. Posing with friends
A big part of the first day of school is reconnecting with friends. Taking a photo of your child with their friends captures the excitement and social side of school. Try to get candid group shots of them laughing, walking together, or comparing backpacks.
These special photos can help you remember the friendships that are so important during the school years. It’s a simple way to get some fun first day of school picture ideas that tell a bigger story.
Creative cue: Before the school year starts, arrange for your child and their closest friends to meet in front of the school during drop-off. That way, you can get a group shot that captures their excitement.
14. Silly selfies
Sometimes, the best photos are the imperfect ones. Encouraging your child to take a few silly selfies is a great way to capture their personality. You can have a "silly face contest" or take a quick selfie together right before you leave.
These moments remind you of your child's unique personality, and it's nice to have a mix of serious and playful shots. These photos add a nice contrast to a photo book or calendar with more traditional photos.
Creative cue: Use filters and effects on your phone to make your child laugh and the selfies even more playful.
15. Using fun back-to-school props
Props add a sense of playfulness to first-day photos. You can use simple items like an oversized pencil, a shiny red apple, or a pretend graduation cap. These props are great for getting silly shots and can help shy kids feel more comfortable in front of the camera.
Using props also helps you tell a more complete story. A photo with a graduation cap on the first day of kindergarten, for example, is a lighthearted way to show how far they’ll go.
Creative cue: Involve your child in choosing the props before the big day to get them excited about the photo.
16. Parent and child hug
The moment you say goodbye on the first day can be emotional. A photo of you and your child hugging captures the love and emotions shared at this milestone.
Take a close-up shot to focus on the intimate moment and the emotion on your faces. You can also take a wide shot to include the school in the background, telling a fuller story of this special goodbye.
Creative cue: Use a self-timer or ask your partner or another parent to take a picture of you hugging your child goodbye.
17. In front of the school building
The school itself is a great backdrop for first-day pictures. Taking a photo in front of the school entrance or by the school sign adds significance to the moment, attaching the memory to a specific place.
These photos help you remember the school building itself, which often holds many memories of friends, teachers, and learning. This is an easy way to get a classic shot that ensures you’ll always remember the excitement of that first day.
Creative cue: Look for a unique architectural detail of the school, like an archway or vibrant mural. Frame your child in a way that incorporates this feature, turning the school building into a memorable backdrop for their first-day portrait.
18. Future dream job dress-up
Add imagination to the first-day photo tradition by letting your child dress up as their future dream job. One year, they might want to be a firefighter, so they can wear a helmet and carry a hose. The next year, they might want to be a veterinarian and can pose with a stethoscope and a stuffed animal. These costumes spark creativity and give kids some ownership over their photos.
Repeating this each year is a great way to see how your child’s interests evolve. It's fun to see the different jobs they choose over the years. These pictures showcase their current passions and personalities in a playful way.
And if mornings are tight, try capturing this one over the weekend or the night before school begins.
Creative cue: Add an interactive element by asking your child to explain why they chose that particular job. Jot down their exact words and use their quote to caption the photo in your photo book.
19. End-of-day photo
Taking a picture at the end of the day adds another layer to the story. Their hair might be messy, their smile a little more tired, their backpack full of new papers and projects.
These photos give a more complete view of the milestone, showing both the fresh start and the hard work from the day. They’re a sweet reminder of their effort and are a valuable addition to your collection of school memories.
Creative cue: When you're ready to create your photo book, use a split-screen or two-photo layout to place the morning and afternoon photos next to each other.
Tips for taking the best first-day photos
Taking a great photo on a busy morning can be tricky. These foundational tips make it easier to capture a great shot and help the ideas above come to life.
- Use natural light: Position your child facing a window or outside. This eliminates harsh shadows and makes colors look vibrant.
- Take both posed and candid shots: Start with a few posed photos to get the classic shot. Then, take pictures of the candid moments that often capture the best expressions.
- Get down on their level: Kneel or crouch to take a photo at your child’s eye level. This helps create a more personal, engaging shot and makes them the focus.
- Plan ahead: Pick out your child's outfit and props the night before. A little preparation helps keep the morning stress-free and gives you time for great photos. For ideas that need extra setup, consider capturing them the day before so the first day feels relaxed and fun.
- Take more than one photo: Take several pictures in a row to capture a range of expressions and ensure you have plenty of options.
Preserve your back-to-school memories with Mixbook
The first day of school is a major milestone, and these first day of school pictures can help you capture it in a meaningful way. Your kids grow up fast, but photos let you relive each stage of their journey.
Turning these moments into a custom Mixbook project is a great way to preserve them. Create personalized photo books to look back on these special days for years to come.
