 Sydney |
Best Backgrounds for School Photos Please give me advice on choosing appropriate backgrounds for children taking school pics. Should I consider more the child's skin tone/eye color or clothing color?
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Ken Pang |
Generally the principle for portraits is to draw attention to the face. You do that by blending in the rest of their body with the background. You can do this by using the same colour background as their school uniform (assuming that their school has a uniform). From the school photos I see in Australia, they pay no attention to little details like that. I've seen photos that are unsharp, off-centered, or children not really looking into the camera, and parents still buy them. I am far from encouraging bad work - don't take me to be doing that. But let's just say when it comes to school photos, parents tend not to be too picky.
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Cheryll Williams |
Well, I wouldn't say that parents aren't picky. Being a mother of three and grandmother, I will tell you that when it comes to school pictures, we parents tend to accept what we get from the school photographer because it is usually difficult to have a second shot done. Scheduling doesn't allow much of an option. Think about what background color you would want behind your own child. Be different from other companies. It's true you only have so much time with so many students, but you can have some control over the background color. I would say, anything neutral except for white. One school in Westerville, Ohio, did a bookcase background for my grandsons' school. It was a nice change! Hope this is helpful.
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Mark A. Braxton |
Hi Sydney, I am not a professional by a long shot but, I would like to offer my 2 cents. First of all, Cheryll's idea is great. I haven't been in elementary school for almost 20 years now. The photographer of my pictures' used a background with a bookshelf painted on it. I think a wall with a school mascot or some symbolism of the school is good. It'll make it easy for picture viewers to see the reason for the photo. Also it should have some colors from the school uniforms in the colors on the uniforms as Ken P. comments. The background will then also have symbolism, strengthening the picture instead of taking away. Skin tones and the sharpness of your subject should be your highest concern I think. As long as your subjects are fairly clear parents will buy them true but, as a photographer every shoot you do adds to your resume. This shoot will affect whether you get called by the same school or others again. You might even get a referral from such a job as this one. Think of the prestige earned from doing a good job on school pictures. Most of us wanna be's can only dream of such a job. Good luck and do your best! Just take your time and think your setting through.
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Sydney |
Thanks for your responses.
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Mike |
I say "phooey" to school photographers. After photographing 3-800 elementary kids I'd be blurry and out of focus. I take my own kids photos down at the park in the fall. For $30 cdn I can take 72 shots pre-paid. My local camera shop will make any size re-prints at a reasonable charge. Most of us have camera's. How about BetterPhoto.com doing an article for the average Joe on taking kids photos? [Editor: I like the article idea - maybe the Muses will make something happen in the near future :) - Jim ]
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Cheryll Williams |
Well, gee Mike, that's great for those of us that really like taking our kids photos. But kids like to have the same type as their friends, to hand out. Also, the point is to help Sidney out with this job. No offense, I think you may have lost the point of his question. Anyway, I understand where you are coming from. I used to let the kids get the school photos and then I would take my own to hang on the wall. So, Sidney, go for it, get creative, and have fun with those kids. that is the biggest part of it. Getting the kids to respond to you. Good luck!
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Kristi Norbeck |
Hi Sydney, I am still new to photography, but I have done the school picture thing. I worked for a company so it was cut and dry what we WERE suppose to do. I dont know what you are working with as far as backgrounds but something standard and flexible works best in my opinion. Browns and greys tend to be the best neutral that I have worked with. I have found that those normally go with ANY skin tone and any color clothing, unless your dealing with shocking lime green!! Blues are ok too. School photography is hard....as well as KID photography!! So take your time with them, especially the little one and have FUN!!!! Why else do it right?? Hope this helps you out!! :o)
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Carol J. Guernsey |
A word of caution do not use a brown background unless you're using a light behind the children. I had my grad pics taken with a brown background and being a brunette my face looked as though it was floating! Blue may be a better choice - not many children with blue hair! Diffuser lenses aren't great for school pics either but are great for adults who have a skin flaw or two to mute! Best of luck! Sounds exciting!
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Michael Stevens |
I have had over 25 years experience at operating a pretty large sized School Photography business. There is more to just satisfying the parents when selecting backgrounds. At the Middle School & High School levels, most schools make yearbooks. In the section where the student's photographs are, typically a school wants the backgrounds to be consistent and not too busy, so when they are bunched together on a page, the page looks nice. At an elementary level, this is not so important. I reccomend looking at www.dennymfg.com, they have a lot of backgrounds to choose from. I work for a software company that uses green screen technology. Everyone is shot on the same green colored background and the parent chooses what background is placed in back of the student when the pictures get printed. For the yearbook it can be set to generate images with a single background. Good Luck!
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