First day of school photo ideas for busy mums

I can’t believe my daughter started junior kindergarten yesterday.

It feels like I was just getting ready for her first day, buying her backpack, lunchbox and school supplies. Now the first day has already come and gone.

Of course, I wanted to take photos.

Lots of photos.

But I also knew I didn’t want to spend the entire morning trying to get the perfect picture. We had somewhere to be, and I wanted to enjoy the morning with my daughter.

In the end, I managed to get quite a few first-day school pictures. I probably could have taken even more, but I was distracted by all the excitement of the morning.

So, now that I have actually been through it, I thought I would share some simple first day of school photo ideas for busy mums.

These are ideas you can use with nothing more than your phone and a few simple props.

The Morning Went Quickly

Our morning was a little rushed.

My daughter was up around 7 a.m. and was already excited about the day. She was happy to get dressed and put on her striped dress.

She had worn the dress before for an outing, so she already knew how it felt and was familiar with the colours. That made choosing something she was comfortable in much easier.

I had a few photos I wanted to take before we left the house, including pictures with her signs.

We made sure that she had a plentiful breakfast.

Then we needed to head towards the school.

And honestly, that is exactly why I think simple photo ideas are better for a busy school morning.

You Don’t Need a Professional Camera

I took all of my photos with my phone.

I use my phone for most of my photos anyway, so there was no reason to make things more complicated for the first day.

You don’t need a professional camera or expensive photography equipment.

Your phone is enough.

I also don’t spend ages taking the same picture.

I usually take around three shots and then move on.

Sometimes the first picture is the best.

Sometimes the second one is better.

And sometimes none of them are perfect.

That’s okay.

The point is to capture the memory.

My First Day of School Photo List

If you are looking for easy first day of school photo ideas, here is the list I would save.

You don’t have to take every photo. Just choose the ones that work for your family.

1. A Photo While Your Child Is Getting Ready

Take a quick picture while your child is getting ready.

It could be them putting on their shoes, fixing their hair or simply standing in their outfit.

You don’t need to create a special setup.

These little moments are part of the morning too.

2. A Full Outfit Photo

If your child has a special first-day outfit, take a picture showing the whole thing.

For my daughter, that meant getting a few photos of her in her striped dress.

She liked the dress, which helped.

I think choosing something your child already feels comfortable wearing is a good idea. You don’t want the first morning of school to be the first time they wear something that feels unfamiliar.

3. Take a Photo With the “My First Day Of” Sign

I had one of those “My First Day Of” signs ready for my daughter’s first day.

I actually took some photos with the sign a few days before school started.

That turned out to be a good idea because I didn’t have to worry about getting every sign photo on the morning itself.

I also took some on the actual first day.

This is one of those photos that I think will be nice to look back on.

You can include details such as the grade, teacher and what your child wants to be when they grow up.

Those little details will change so much over the years.

4. Take a Photo With the Lawn Sign

This was one of the photos I really wanted to get.

I had arranged a lawn sign that said “Happy First Day of School.”

It arrived the night before and was beautiful.

It had lovely colours and designs, and I was really happy with how it turned out.

The problem?

My daughter did not want to stand still!

Trying to get a good photo with the lawn sign was probably the hardest part of my photo list.

I managed to get some pictures, but I had to work quickly.

If you have a lawn sign, don’t expect your child to stand perfectly beside it for ten photos.

Take a few quickly and move on.

5. Take a Photo From Behind

This was one of the easiest photos to get.

Have your child put on their backpack and take a picture from behind.

You don’t need them to look at the camera.

You don’t even need them to stop walking.

Just capture them heading toward school.

It also gives you a different type of first-day photo.

Instead of another picture of your child looking at the camera, you get a picture that shows the backpack, outfit and the beginning of their walk to school.

6. Take a Photo Walking to School

This ended up being one of my favourite opportunities for photos.

We walked towards the school, and I took pictures along the way.

There was no need to make my daughter stop and pose.

She could simply keep walking.

This was also one of the easiest parts of the morning because we were already heading to school.

I wasn’t creating another activity just to get a photo.

I was simply capturing what was happening.

7. Take a Photo in the School Yard

Once we arrived, I took a few pictures outside.

I didn’t try to take lots of photos inside the school.

There were other children and families arriving, and the morning was already moving quickly.

A couple of pictures outside were enough.

If you can get a quick photo in the school yard or outside the entrance, take it.

If you can’t, don’t worry about it.

You have already captured the important part.

8. Take a Goodbye Photo

This one may not be the easiest.

My daughter was a little clingy when it was time to go.

She was excited about school, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to want Mum nearby.

Eventually, she went off with her teacher.

I think a goodbye picture can be lovely, but don’t force it.

If your child wants a hug, give them the hug.

If they don’t want a picture, put the phone away.

The photo isn’t more important than the moment.

9. Take a Photo of the Backpack

A new backpack is another simple first-day detail to capture.

You could take a picture of your child wearing it, holding it or walking away from you with it on.

I like the photo from behind because it captures the whole first-day feeling without requiring another posed picture.

10. Take a Few Photos Inside the House

Looking back, I wish I had taken more photos inside the house.

I took some pictures, especially with the first-day sign, but the morning was moving quickly.

There were plenty of other little moments I could have captured.

Your child putting on their shoes.

Standing by the door.

Getting their backpack.

Having breakfast.

Waiting to leave.

These are the everyday moments that can become meaningful later.

So, if you have a few extra minutes, look around and think about what you might want to remember about your home and your child at this particular age.

11. Take a Photo After School

Don’t forget that the first day doesn’t end when you leave the school.

When my daughter came home, she was full of stories.

That gave me another opportunity to take a few photos.

She was no longer dressed and posed for the “first day” picture. She was simply home after her first day of school.

Those photos can be just as special.

They show what happened after the excitement of the morning.

12. Take the Photo You Didn’t Plan

This might be the most important one.

Keep your phone nearby and be ready for an unexpected moment.

Maybe your child gives you a big hug.

Maybe they are laughing.

Maybe they are walking ahead of you.

Maybe they are showing you something.

You might end up taking the photo you didn’t plan, and it could become one of your favourites.

You Don’t Have to Take Every Photo on the First Day

One thing I would do again is take some of the photos before the first day.

I took pictures with the “My First Day Of” sign a few days before school started.

That meant I wasn’t relying completely on the first morning.

If you have a sign, special outfit or another prop you want to use, there is nothing wrong with taking some pictures ahead of time.

Then you can take a few more on the actual day.

It gives you less to worry about.

Prepare Everything the Night Before

If you want to take first-day school photos, prepare as much as you can ahead of time.

Have the following ready:

• Your child’s outfit
• Shoes
• Backpack
• Lunchbox
• First-day sign
• Lawn sign
• Your phone
• Any other props you want to use

Charge your phone and make sure you have enough storage for all those pictures.

Most importantly, know roughly where you want to take your photos.

I knew I wanted pictures inside, outside on the lawn and while walking to school.

That made things easier because I wasn’t trying to figure everything out at the last minute.

Take Three Photos and Move On

I mentioned this earlier, but I think it is worth repeating.

Take three.

Then move on.

You don’t need to take 20 pictures of your child standing in exactly the same spot.

I normally take around three photos.

If one works, great.

If none of them work, I might try again.

But I don’t want my daughter getting bored or frustrated because Mum is still trying to get the perfect picture.

The first day of school is about so much more than photographs.

What If Your Child Won’t Cooperate?

They might not.

My daughter certainly didn’t want to stand still beside the lawn sign!

Children have their own ideas about how they want to spend their morning.

They might be excited.

They might be nervous.

They might be distracted.

They might be ready to get to school and not interested in Mum’s photo plans.

Don’t fight it.

Take the pictures you can.

Let the rest go.

A photo of your child walking away with their backpack can be just as special as a perfectly posed picture.

You Don’t Need to Share Every Photo

This is something I think is important to mention.

Taking a photo and sharing a photo are two different things.

You can take all the first-day pictures you want without putting them online.

I have a private Instagram account that is only accessible to family and friends. I shared quite a few first-day pictures there, including photos of the lawn sign, her first-day sign, walking to school and her backpack.

However, I don’t feel that every photo needs to be public.

Some photos are simply for us.

And that is perfectly okay.

Think About What Your Photos Show

This is especially important with school photos.

A picture can reveal more information than you might realise.

For example, a sign could show your child’s name.

The school could be visible in the background.

A teacher’s name could be written on a sign.

A school logo could appear on clothing.

Your location could also be easy to work out.

For me, the lawn sign was something I had to think about because it included my daughter’s name.

I still wanted the photo.

I just didn’t necessarily want her name visible if I shared it publicly.

So, I can cover part of the sign or crop the photo before posting it.

The same applies to other identifying details.

Before sharing a first-day school picture publicly, take a quick look at the whole image.

Ask yourself what someone could learn from it.

You can always crop something out.

You can cover a name.

You can choose a different picture.

Or you can simply keep the photo private.

There is no rule saying you have to share your child’s first day online.

The Photos Are for the Memories

I think this is what I kept coming back to throughout the morning.

I wanted the pictures because I want to remember this stage.

But I didn’t want to spend the entire morning looking at my daughter through my phone.

There is a balance.

Take the photos.

Take a few extra if you have the time.

But then put the phone away.

Watch your child walk into school.

Give them a hug.

Take in the moment.

Because you only get one first day of junior kindergarten.

My First Day of School Photo Advice for Busy Mums

Now that I have actually been through the morning, my biggest advice is to keep it simple.

You don’t need a professional photographer.

You don’t need a complicated backdrop.

You don’t need dozens of props.

You don’t even need your child to sit still!

Your phone, a sign and a few minutes are enough.

Take a few pictures inside.

Get a full outfit shot.

Take a picture with the first-day sign.

Get a quick photo with the lawn sign if your child will cooperate.

Take a picture from behind with the backpack.

Then take a few photos while walking to school.

If you get a picture outside the school, great.

If not, that’s okay too.

And don’t forget to take a few pictures after school.

Your child may come home tired, messy and full of stories.

Those are memories worth capturing too.

The Day After the First Day

It is hard to believe that my daughter started school yesterday.

The morning felt exciting and a little rushed as we tried to get our photos before walking towards the school.

Then suddenly, it was time to say goodbye.

She was a little clingy, but she went off with her teacher.

I was sad when I left.

As I mentioned in my previous post, my mum and I went out for breakfast and did a little shopping afterwards. It gave me something to focus on while my daughter was having her first day.

And then, before I knew it, she was home.

And she was full of stories.

That is the part I want to remember.

The pictures are wonderful, but hearing her tell me about her first day was even better.

So, if your child is starting school soon, take the pictures.

Take the sign.

Take the backpack photo.

Take the slightly blurry walking picture.

Take the three shots and move on.

But most of all, enjoy the day.

Because one day, you will look back and wonder how your little one got so big.

Here’s to a new school year.

 

I share more real-life moments from single motherhood, Ontario adventures, everyday style, food finds, and behind-the-scenes blogging over on Instagram. 

Come say hello: @lifeofgem28 

 

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