By Melanie Merkling, mama of 1 and professional photographer
One day you’re sitting in the hospital holding the precious baby you’ve been waiting nine LONG
months for. Then in the blink of an eye, you’re watching them head off to school. They hop up on the sidewalk and walk, tall and proud, up to a big school that makes them seem so small all over again.
If only we could freeze time. Since we can’t, the next best thing is to pull out your camera and start clicking, capturing the moment forever. When taking back-to-school pictures of my son, I always try to get pictures that not only show what he looked like that year but also give glimpses of his personality and what he’s interested in at the time. The day school starts is always hectic at our house, so I like to take a few shots the day before and a few the day school begins.
Here are a few shots that make my list:
The day before:
*Hand prints on paper
*Close-up of hand holding pencil, writing name on paper
*Foot next to something to show size, like a pencil, box of crayons, etc.
*Picture next to school sign
The day of:
*Standing next to front door
*Shot of them walking towards the school bus, if they’re a bus-rider (Even if they aren’t, this can make for a cool shot.)
* All the excited facial expressions made in the car on the way to school
*From behind walking hand-in-hand with Dad, Mom, or a sibling up to the school
*From behind down a sidewalk or path toward school or away from home with their backpack on
*Of course, one nice big smiley close-up that shows teeth!
(Example photos shown here courtesy of Gwen Rockwood, website mama and mama to Adam, Jack and Kate.)
Hope you get some great back-to-school shots that you’ll treasure forever.
Melanie Merkling is a mom and a professional photographer. E-mail her a question at mamas@nwaMotherlode.com or visit her website to see examples of her work. Click here to go to MELANIE’S WEBSITE.


forgotten when taking a photograph. Creating a contrast between our subject and the background significantly affects how much our subject stands out in the picture. So if the subject of your photograph is light, try to get a darker background, and vice versa. This is a great way to add some personality to your shots. For example, I’m thinking of all those great rain boots in bright colors. If your child has a pair of these or some other brightly colored object that symbolizes this moment in their life, dress them in some white, khaki or similarly light-colored clothing and find a sidewalk, driveway or something else with little color and take some pictures of them in those adorable bright green frog rain boots or with their bright red tricycle. The child will be the star of the photo, and that special childhood memento will “pop,” giving you a fun creative picture.
The best time of day to take pictures is 30 minutes after sunrise or 1 hour before sunset. These times provide nice even soft lighting. If you’re taking pictures during the middle of the day on a bright sunny day, turn subjects away from the sun and turn on the flash to prevent shadows. (The picture to the right is an example of a “don’t”. Notice the shadows on his face and the forced “say cheese” smile.)
To make sure you get a good selection of photos to enjoy, take lots of pictures. Try shooting from different angles and in different types of lighting. Including people in scenic shots – with the subjects closer to the camera and further away from the landmark, sign or other background – make for more interesting shots. Be invisible. The best pictures are most often captured when people forget you’re taking them. (Notice the example to the right. This kind of shot will remind Mom how much he loved playing in the sand and is a natural action shot.) Looking back on photos that truly reflect the expressions that come naturally will bring back much fonder memories than those with the same old “say cheese” smile that’s already in hundreds of other photos. Have fun and don’t forget to jump in a few shots yourself. Happy clicking!