How Better Than School Portraits Began…
The inspiration behind children’s fine art portrait mini sessions
When I was first starting the school portrait photography side of my business, I took a test shot of my son in our garage. At the time, he was three years old. He was the only live subject I had at home with me, and although typically he wasn’t particularly cooperative, I figured if I kept things quick, he’d suffice!
I loved how the light hit his cheeks and how his gaze off in the distance showed his inquisitiveness. I was happy with the portrait, and knew I was ready for my upcoming school portraits.
What I didn’t realize, however, was how I’d feel just a few years later about this test image I had taken.
From school portrait photography to fine art portrait mini sessions
Soon I was working with several preschools. Parents were excited about a fine art approach to school photography - one that didn’t have a “green screen” or mottled backgrounds, themed props, or awkward, forced smiles. Fine Art Portraits put all the focus on their child without any distractions.
This type of imagery was something parents were proud to enlarge and hang on the walls of their home. Parents began asking if I could photograph their other children in this same way (outside of the school setting), and they spread the word to their friends.
A demand was growing for fine art mini sessions, and that’s when I coined the name, Better Than School Portraits.
Time gives us all the perspective we need
Three years after taking that test shot of my son in my garage, I was setting up for my first Better Than School Portraits event, and again, he was the closest guinea pig.
You should know, he isn’t keen on producing smiles on queue. In fact, he says, he “can’t” produce a real smile unless he truly feels happy. Not only was he a free model, he gave me sage advice for how to handle all the kids to come. Thanks, buddy!
I asked him to look over at our next door neighbor’s house, the same pose I had taken a few years prior.
When I compared the two images side by side, I was taken aback…
The chubbiness had melted from his cheeks; he had started wearing glasses; maturity had crept in. How had I not noticed?
Yearly portraits are a treasure every parent and child should have
I look at my son every day, but do I really SEE him? Do I notice the changes that are happening each week, month, year?
I suddenly wished I had pictures in a similar pose at age 4 and 5. I wished I could have the visual progression, but the time had already passed. It’s the feeling I come back to time and time again as a photographer. The realization that if you don’t photograph the now, it quickly becomes yesterday, last week, last month, last year. There is no going back to capture what is gone.
Has your child had Better Than School Portraits taken by me? Have you gone back and looked at past photos recently? Maybe it’s time to schedule that yearly update or start a new tradition.
Join the club (my Better Than School Portraits mailing list) to be in the know when the next session takes place.
