CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

How to Take Preschool Graduation Photos That Are Actually Cute

You want to document the occasion, of course, but getting good photos of your child is tall task. Here, a professional photographer shares her top tips.
save article
profile picture of Julia Kelleher
By Julia Kelleher, Owner of Jewel Images
Published May 24, 2019
pre-school age girl on pre school graduation day
Image: iStock

Graduation time is here again, which means your preschooler is about to be a full-fledged kindergartener! How time flies. Snapping a few photos is the perfect way to mark the milestone—but getting a preschooler to cooperate isn’t always the easiest. Here, Julia Kelleher, a professional photographer and Nikon ambassador, shares her top tips for capturing the cutest preschool graduation photos.

1. Take Photos Outside

Outside your front door is a great location. Chances are the light is good there, plus it’s symbolic of the door your graduating child is going through to the next stage of their lives. Another great location is the school playground. Your child spent a lot of their time there this year, and if it’s one of their favorite spots, you’re sure to get genuine moments and lots of expression there.

2. Avoid Shooting in Full, Bright Sun

Find some shade if you can—preferably shade that’s not in the grass. The green grass will bounce green light into your child’s face, making them green! If you’re dealing with dark lighting, shoot near a window. If you can’t move to a spot with better light, increase your ISO so the camera has more sensitivity to low light.

3. Use Chalkboards to Track Milestones

Chalkboards (or letter boards) are the perfect props for this age. Write down your child’s favorite foods, phrases, stuffed animals and what they want to be when they grow up, along with their age, height and weight. It makes a great addition to that graduation photo and helps you remember all the fun, quirky characteristics they had at this age.

4. Let Your Child Dress Themselves

Preschoolers always pick such creative, crazy outfits, and it makes the image have so much personality!

5. Add Toys and Accessories as Props

Things like your child’s favorite stuffed animal, a balloon, lollypop, rain boots or a pair of sunglasses are an easy way to add dimension to your graduation photo.

Related Video

6. Ask Your Kids to Sit on the Same Stool

If you have two little ones, getting both siblings in the frame makes for super-cute graduational photos. A stool is an easy prop, and the expressions you’ll get are priceless.

7. Turn On Some Music and Let Your Kid Dance

I do this all the time with preschoolers, and they eat it up. "Mommy shark, doo-doo, too-doo!!! Daddy shark, doo-doo, too-doo!!!”

8. Trick Your Kid Into Looking at the Camera

Tell your preschooler there’s a creature living in your camera, and that the creature winks at them if they look close enough. I use this every session, and I always get great expressions.

9. Get Good Behavior By Gossiping

I pretend the camera is talking to me and telling me secrets about the child. This trick works every time, especially when I lower my voice to a whisper. Kids tend to calm down and listen when you whisper!

10. Let Kids Be Kids

Smiles are great, but not the be-all, end-all to good graduation photos. Sometimes a soft, soulful expression that makes their eyes stand out is the most stunning. After all, you want to capture ALL of your child’s expressions, not just when they’re smiling.

Julia Keller is a Nikon Ambassador and world renowned, award-winning photographer specializing in newborn, maternity and family portraiture. Julia runs her own studio and educates other professional photographers in the creation of unique imagery and the building of profitable studio businesses. Get more info about Julia here, and check out her website.

Published May 2019

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

mom shopping for diapers with baby
Moms Pay It Forward as Part of #SheDeservedThePurse Trend
By Wyndi Kappes
mom at home with son
Viral Post Asks ‘How Do You Measure Success as a SAHM?’
By Wyndi Kappes
shawn johnson and family at the beach
How Shawn Johnson Supports Olympic Parents and Hypes Up Her Household
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
adrienne bailon and son
Adrienne Bailon-Houghton on Being a New Mom, Her Fashion Line—and Group Chats With Kourtney Kardashian
By Natalie Gontcharova
 Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau attend "Babes" Special Screening & Reception at The West Hollywood EDITION on May 09, 2024
Babes on Babes: Michelle Buteau and Ilana Glazer on the Daily Wins and Woes of Parenting
By Lauren Barth
stressed and tired mom of 2 children
Are You a ‘Mom in the Trenches?’ Viral TikTok Points to 4 Clues
By Wyndi Kappes
Keshia Knight Pulliam and her two children at home
Keshia Knight Pulliam on Life, Facing Bias and Raising Babies
By Lauren Barth
ADVERTISEMENT
affirmations for black moms to be
Black Moms Empowering Black Moms With Words of Wisdom
By Ashley Simpo
empowering-parenting-products-HERO
9 Empowering Products for Brand-New Parents
By Korin Miller
baby with a smash cake
10 Smash Cake Ideas to Help You Celebrate Baby’s First Birthday
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
family with baby standing outside of home
These Are 2024’s Best States to Raise a Family, Report Says
By Wyndi Kappes
toddler playing in his room with toys and teepee
Tips for Purging Your Kids’ Overstuffed Toy Bins
By Lauren Kay
baby playing with mom and dad in nursery room
What to Do if Your Child Has a Preferred Parent
By Blair Sharp
ADVERTISEMENT
child smiling at thanksgiving dinner
Activities to Help Teach Your Kids to Be Thankful
By Christin Perry
mother kissing her toddler son at home
Coping in Crisis: How to Be a Present Parent During Difficult Times
By The Bump Editors
tb-cool-gifts-for-mom-HERO
Cool Gifts for Moms That Deserve a Treat
By Martina Garvey
Khloé Kardashian, Penelope Disick, Kim Kardashian, North West and Kris Jenner attend the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR" at SoFi Stadium on September 04, 2023 in Inglewood, California.
These Are 2023’s Most Influential Celebrity Parents
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Twin Halloween Costumes-hero
Twinning for the Win: 28 Best Twin Costumes for Halloween
By Korin Miller
Amazon Prime Benefits Hero
Awesome Amazon Prime Benefits Parents Didn't Even Know Existed
By Martina Garvey
mom congress in front of capitol building
The 2023 Mom's Agenda: a Path to More Parent-Friendly Legislation
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List