The 20 Pictures You Should Take of Your Kids on the First Day of School

Taking back-to-school photos has become more and more commonplace in recent years, with parents donning letter boards or chalkboards to outline their child's first-day-of-school "stats" and others marking the occasion with unique photos or hilarious before-and-afters. However you choose to document your child's first day and week of a new grade is up to you, but we're here to encourage you to do it, even if you're on the fence about staging your kids for a few snaps. It'll be a fun thing to look back on at the end of the school year, when they graduate high school, and even years down the line when they're out in the real world.

Scroll through for some of our best back-to-school photo ideas (and check out these photo ideas for you to star in on the first day of school).

— Additional reporting by Rebecca Gruber

01
Best Friends Forever
Flickr user angelinasphotography

Best Friends Forever

A kid can't get through the school year without their best buddies. Gather the group before the first day for a few sweet shots.

02
Can I Graduate?
Flickr user 53497385@N07

Can I Graduate?

Count down the time to their graduation with this class year t-shirt idea. When the big day arrives, the top is sure to fit!

03
Books Galore
Unsplash

Books Galore

Every kid has their favorite books, so why not celebrate them during back-to-school season?

04
Style It Up
Unsplash

Style It Up

Although dressing up for school won't be an everyday occurrence, getting in touch with their stylish side for day one makes for the cutest photos. Dresses, button-downs . . . Sunday's best is Monday's photo op!

05
Photo in a Photo
Flickr user kazzpoint0

Photo in a Photo

Snap a few shots of your child holding a photo of themselves from the previous year. Continue this tradition until they graduate high school, and you'll have quite an impressive picture. Or take first-day photos as normal and have them hold that photo up on their last day of school. The possibilities are endless!

06
Capture Candid Moments
Flickr user anjanettew

Capture Candid Moments

Posed pictures are great, but candid shots are priceless! Step back, and capture your little ones engaging with their peers or siblings.

07
Meet the Teacher
Flickr user isf-florence

Meet the Teacher

A new school year means a new teacher. Snap a photo of your child meeting his or her teacher on the first day of school.

08
Frame It
Flickr user jeremymiles

Frame It

Use a photo frame to quite literally frame your child's photo. The fun prop gives a very Modern Family opening credits vibe.

09
Chalk It Up
Flickr user Alex Geslani

Chalk It Up

Need some photo inspiration for that back-to-school picture? We love Smile and Wave's chalkboard photo props. Imagine using them on a yearly basis. They'd make a fun archive of your little one's first days of school.

10
Set the Stage
Flickr user rottnapples

Set the Stage

Set up a mini back-to-school photo session with your tot the weekend before school starts. Use your child's new school supplies as props, and play professional photographer for a day.

11
Start a Tradition
Flickr user angryjuliemonday

Start a Tradition

Taking the same back-to-school picture every year is a great way to document your child's growth. A printed sign that includes the grade, the year, the school, and the teacher's name works well as a prop.

12
Go Classic and Colorful
Flickr user rottnapples

Go Classic and Colorful

There's a lot to be said for a classic black-and-white shot, but shooting some in black-and-white and others in bright colors gives you options when you go to put together your annual album.

13
The Bus
Flickr user woodleywonderworks

The Bus

There's no surer sign that school's back in session than seeing yellow school buses roll through town. Before the kids get on the bus, snap a quick picture of them posing with it.

15
Don't Forget the Parents
Flickr user ftmeade

Don't Forget the Parents

Back-to-school time is an emotional one for parents, too. If you have a moment, step back and capture your emotions — the pictures are certain to become keepsakes.

16
Spell It Out
Flickr user plasticrevolver

Spell It Out

Sidewalk chalk art is all the rage, and photos of the work are equally popular. Before heading off to school, take a moment to write out your little one's new grade and then snap a photo of them with it. The cute photo will definitely be one for the memory book!

17
Pictures of Details
Flickr user Scott Miller

Pictures of Details

Think about the bigger picture. Snap some detail shots of everything that goes into going back to school — like backpacks and school supplies. They're part of your tot's back-to-school story, too.

18
Get Goofy
Unsplash

Get Goofy

Don't take the first day back to school too seriously. Capture your kiddos being their silly selves!

19
Capture the Excitement
Flickr user isf-florence

Capture the Excitement

Back to school is an exciting time for kids. They haven't seen some of their friends since the last school year. If you can, snap a few pictures of your children with their friends!

20
Back-to-School Outfit
Flickr user fashionkids

Back-to-School Outfit

Do you have a special outfit picked out for the first day of school? Hang it or place it on the bed, and take a few pictures to capture every detail.