There is something special about looking at a photograph of your child and immediately remembering exactly who they were at that age.
The missing tooth.
The favorite sweater they wanted to wear every single day.
The way they laughed.
The little expressions you knew by heart.
School portraits have traditionally given us one photograph to mark each year, and I love the idea of having those yearly snapshots to look back on.
But I also think children’s portraits can be approached a little differently.
They don’t have to be stiff. They don’t have to feel overly posed. And they don’t have to look like every school picture you’ve seen before.
A Modern Take on the Traditional School Portrait
My Childhood Portraits are my modern take on the traditional school portrait.
Instead of a busy backdrop or props, I photograph children indoors using natural light and a simple black backdrop.
Just your child.
Their expression. Their personality. Their little quirks. The things that make them uniquely themselves.
The simplicity is intentional because sometimes the simplest photographs give us the most room to notice the child.
Why I Love a Simple Black Backdrop
A simple black backdrop might seem like a small detail, but I love what it does for a portrait.
It removes distractions.
There are no props to coordinate, themed backgrounds to compete with your child’s expression, or elaborate sets that will eventually date the photograph.
Instead, your eye goes directly to your child.
And because the background is simple, these portraits can feel both modern and timeless.
Years from now, you’ll still be looking at your child’s face rather than trying to remember what the trendy school picture backdrop looked like that year.
We’re Still Photographing Their Personality
Simple doesn’t mean boring.
In fact, when you take away all of the distractions, there’s even more room for personality to come through.
A child might give me the biggest grin.
They might make a serious face.
They might laugh at something happening just outside the frame.
They might give me that expression that is so completely them that you immediately know exactly what they were like at that age.
I’m not looking for every child to make the same expression.
I’m looking for their expression.
That’s one of my favorite things about photographing children.
You never quite know what they’re going to give you.
A Different Experience for Young Children
If you’ve ever tried to photograph a young child, you know that asking them to sit perfectly still and smile on command isn’t always the easiest way to get a great photograph.
Children are wonderfully unpredictable.
So while these portraits are simple, I don’t expect children to behave like tiny adults in front of my camera.
I’ll talk to them, make them laugh, give them something to think about, and let them be themselves.
Sometimes the best expression happens right after I’ve asked a silly question.
Sometimes it’s a tiny smile.
Sometimes it’s a completely unexpected face that their parents immediately recognize.
My job isn’t to make every child look the same. It’s to create space for them to be themselves.
School Pictures Are About More Than What They Looked Like
When we look back at photographs of our children years from now, we aren’t only going to care about what they looked like.
We’re going to remember who they were.
What their personality was like.
What made them laugh.
What they were interested in.
The little details that are so easy to forget as they grow.
That’s why I love the idea of modern school portraits.
We can still have that yearly photograph that marks a particular age or school year, while creating something that feels more personal and connected to the child.
Especially for Homeschool Families
If your family homeschools, you may not have the traditional school picture day experience.
But your children are still growing through the same beautiful stages.
A new school year can be a wonderful natural marker for documenting them.
Maybe your child is starting kindergarten at home.
Maybe they’re becoming a little more independent.
Maybe they’ve lost their first tooth or discovered a new obsession.
These are the things you’ll want to remember.
And you don’t need a traditional school picture day to make that happen.
Childhood Portraits in Silverdale
This September, I’m offering Childhood Portraits for young children and homeschool families in Silverdale.
These portraits are photographed indoors with natural light and a simple black backdrop, creating a modern alternative to traditional school pictures.
The goal isn’t perfection.
It’s to create a beautiful, timeless photograph that reminds you of this particular version of your child.
Because one day, this little person will be much bigger.
And you’ll be very glad you captured who they were along the way.
Interested in future Childhood Portraits?
Join my email list to be the first to hear about upcoming dates.
