Our kids are growing up! They’re another year older and ready to start the next grade. While some families are sad that summer is over, others are ready for their kids to return to school. As parents, we remember how special that first day of school was when we were kids, and we want it to be just as special for our kiddos. One way to do that is to take a fun first-day-of-school picture! It’s normal to want to memorialize this moment so we can look back and see how much our kids have grown year after year. And there are so many great ideas for a cute first-day-of-school picture! You can choose the same theme every year or try something different. To help you decide, we’ve rounded up a list of the best back-to-school photo ideas to make your child’s first day of school picture-perfect.
Cute First-Day-of-School Picture Ideas
First, there are some things to consider to get your perfect first-day-of-school picture:
- What will my child wear?
- Do I want my child to use a prop in the photos?
- What’s going to be in the background? (What location will I use?)
- Will these photos be of just my child? Who else do I want in the pictures?
There are lots of options, so let’s break each down and share the best first-day-of-school picture ideas for your child to take:
1. What To Wear?
Let your kid join in on the fun with this decision! The more they love what they wear, the more confident and ready they will feel to conquer their first day of school. There’s so much to choose from — classic, trendy, cool, etc.
2. Prop or No Prop?
I love a good prop. It brings out the theme of the photo and can make photoshoots more fun for your little model! Since the dawn of social media, the props have gotten more elaborate and impressive every year. Here are some great props to consider for your child’s first-day-of-school picture:
Pennant Flags
Pennant flags are easy, lightweight, and so cute for your kid’s first-day-of-school photo. I like how they show off the new grade level your little scholar is going to next. What’s great is that you can easily DIY your own by printing on some stock paper and getting some items from your local craft store. If you’re not the crafty type, here are some great pennant flags to consider for purchase:
Backpacks
Every kid needs a backpack on their first day (and every day) of school. This backpack will carry their books, homework, projects, and memories for the whole school year. It’s a great prop to use in your child’s first-day-of-school photo since, often, kids pick out a new backpack for the school year. Here are some backpacks that we recommend:
Books
Watching our children learn to read and enjoy books is such a joy! Books open up a whole new world of learning, and they’re something we love about school. Your child can hold or have some of their favorite books on the side (or even books they’ll read this school year). We find them to be a great prop! The ones below would make cute props — and your kiddo will enjoy reading them, too:
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
- Time for School, Little Blue Truck
- The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!
- How to Be Confident in Kindergarten
Chalkboards
There are tons of different chalkboard signs you can use. You can get a blank chalkboard and write out your child’s name and grade, or you can write something cute and memorable!
Personalized chalkboard signs designed specifically for back-to-school have become really popular. These are great because you can change the information on them each year and reuse them. There are different sizes, styles, and fonts to choose from, so you can find the perfect sign for your little one.
Here are some great choices if you’re looking for a few options:
Globe
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X
As some great leaders have said, education is the key to a brighter future. Adding a globe to your child’s first-day-of-school picture is a cute idea! This photographer did such a great job incorporating several prop items into one photo. We even have a great globe crafting project for you to make for their teacher as an appreciation gift.
If you’re looking for a globe to include in your photo, here are some great options:
- Exerz Antique Globe
- Juvale Spinning World Globe
- Replogle Antique Globe
- Waypoint Geographic World Globe
Desk
Nothing says “school” more than a school desk. Many photographers host mini photography sessions for their clients to book “back-to-school” photos. If that’s not your style, consider getting a picture of your kid sitting at their desk in class. It will be their desk for the rest of the year, so it’s a great time to capture that moment to remember.
Large Shirt of Graduating Year
We love the idea of ordering a larger graduation year shirt for your child and having them wear it each year on the first day of school. They can grow into it and place their handprint on the back. How cool will it be to see them from their first day of kindergarten to the first day of their senior year?! This tradition is too precious.
Here are some great options if you’re looking for some graduating class shirts. Just remember to order a larger size!
Apple
It was an old tradition to bring your school teacher an apple to class as a token of appreciation. Apples are a popular school symbol, along with school books, notebooks, and pencils. We think this is such a sweet prop idea to add to your first-day-of-school picture!
Balloons
We love balloons! They’re a symbol of celebration, and going back to class is certainly a day to celebrate! There are many ways to use balloons for your first-day-of-school picture; you can write on a balloon, get a large number that represents the grade your little one is entering, and more! Here are some balloons that you can use:
- Back-to-School Balloon
- LED Balloon
- Back-to-School Globe Balloon
- Mylar Number Balloon
- Back-to-School Arch Garland
- 20-Piece Back-to-School Bundle
Letter Board
Letter boards are a classic prop because you can customize them to say whatever you want. You can write something sweet and simple or detailed and funny. We love that you can use them for moments besides the first day of school. They can even become part of your home decor! Some great letter boards are:
- First-Day-of-School Board
- Wooden Message Board
- Black Felt Letterboard
- Multicolored Letterboard
- Light Pink Letterboard
Sign
As you can see, there are lots of different signs and props your child can hold to celebrate the start of the new school year. This pencil sign is super cute, and you can reuse it every year! Here are some other great ideas that are perfect for the first-day-of-school picture:
- Interchangeable Apple Sign
- Reversible School Sign
- Personalized Dry Erase Sign
- First and Last Day of School Sign
- Printable Back-to-School Sign
3. What’s in the Background?
When thinking of ideas for your kid’s first-day-of-school picture, it’s important to be aware of what’s in the background of your photo. You don’t want it competing with your little star! Some spots that are perfect for your first-day-of-school photos are:
In Front of Your House
Before you leave home to take them to school or the bus stop, snap a photo of your child in front of your house. This is a helpful idea because you can leave all your great props at home afterward! Another popular photo spot is in front of the garage door.
The Sidewalk or Road
Now, this is a fun idea! You can make your prop your background. Simply get some sidewalk chalk and write/draw something special on the sidewalk or road (make sure it’s not a busy road!) for your child’s special day. Have them sit or lay down for a good flat-lay shot.
The School Bus
If your big kid rides the bus, we recommend snapping some shots of them waiting at their bus stop and taking a picture of them in front of the bus. That bright yellow bus is a fun way to bring a pop of color to your photo!
A School Sign or the School Marquee
If you prefer to drive your child on their first day, you can get some great photos of them standing in front of the school or by the school marquee. This is such a cool idea to remember this big day! It’s an extra good idea if your child is starting at a new school. Maybe they’re going to elementary, middle, or high school for the first time, or perhaps the family has moved somewhere new. Taking a picture of their new school will be a fun memory to look back on.
Your Child Walking to School
If you live close by, other great photos to take are of your child walking to school. You can capture the emotions of excitement and anticipation as they near the entrance doors.
Your Child Sitting in Class
If you’re fortunate enough to go inside your child’s school and see their classroom, take a picture of them in their class. What their class looked like and where your child sat is a fun memory to capture and later remember!
4. Who’s in the Photo?
Obviously, your child will be in the photo, but maybe you have more than one child. Do you want a “sibling photo” of them together? Just individual separate photos? Or maybe when your child gets to school, you want a photo of them and their friends together. Another great idea is getting a picture of your child with their teacher. Remembering the people in their lives is something your child will appreciate in the future. They’ll be able to look back and appreciate everything the school year offered.
With all these ideas, we know you’ll take a fantastic first-day-of-school picture of your little one(s). We can’t wait to see all of yours posted! 🙂
Friendly Reminder: If you plan on sharing your child’s first-day-of-school pictures with the public on social media, it’s not recommended to share information that’s too personal — like your child’s school name, teacher’s name, etc. Keep those photos for yourself and your family since you don’t want the wrong people to have this important info about your child and locate them. Have a happy and safe first day back at school!
