Choosing a preschool photographer is different from choosing a photographer for an elementary school, high school, or even a family portrait session.
Preschool photography requires great photos, of course, but that is only part of the job. Your photographer also needs to work well with very young children, keep picture day moving without making it feel rushed, communicate clearly with families, and make the process easy for your staff.
A preschool picture day might include a confident five-year-old who loves the camera, a two-year-old who wants absolutely nothing to do with it, siblings who need to be photographed together, a child who needs a few extra minutes to warm up, and a classroom that really needs to get back to its normal schedule.
The right preschool photographer understands all of that.
If you're comparing photographers for your preschool, daycare, childcare center, Montessori school, Primrose Academy, or early learning program, here are the most important things to consider.
Save this photo for your next call with preschool photography companies.
1. Look for a Photographer Who Actually Specializes in Preschool Photography
Photographing young children is its own skill.
A photographer can be incredibly talented and still not be the right fit for a preschool picture day. Preschool photographers need to connect with children quickly, recognize when a child needs a different approach, and capture genuine expressions in a very short amount of time.
Ask potential photographers how much of their work is specifically with preschool-age children.
At Those Photo Ladies, preschool photography is a major part of what we do. Our photographers are used to working with toddlers, preschoolers, siblings, VPK students, and children with a wide range of personalities.
A good preschool photographer shouldn't expect every child to respond to the same joke, direction, or pose. Some children jump right in. Others need a minute. Some want to talk. Some would rather not.
Knowing how to read those situations quickly can make the difference between simply taking a school picture and capturing a portrait that actually looks like that child. Read about what happens when a child won’t smile for us here!
2. Ask What the Photos Will Actually Look Like
Before choosing a school photographer, look carefully at their portfolio.
Do you like the lighting? Are the photos consistent from child to child? Do the expressions look natural? Can you imagine parents wanting to frame these photographs in their homes?
Also consider the overall style.
Some school photography companies rely heavily on digital backgrounds, props, themes, or elaborate sets. Others take a more portrait-focused approach.
Neither is automatically right or wrong, but the photography style should fit your school and your families.
Our approach is contemporary and timeless. We use simple backgrounds and posing so that the focus stays on the child. We want parents to receive portraits that feel like photographs of their child rather than photographs of a picture-day theme.
Read about our services that we provide on this page (scroll down!)
3. Find Out How Much Work Picture Day Creates for Your Staff
This is one of the most overlooked questions when schools compare photography companies.
A photographer may take beautiful pictures, but what does your staff have to do to make picture day happen?
Ask questions such as:
Does the school need to collect order forms or money?
Who creates the picture-day schedule?
Does the photographer provide parent communication?
How are siblings handled?
Who gets children from their classrooms?
How much staff assistance is required during photography?
What happens when a child is absent?
How are parents notified when photos are ready?
How does the photo team get the student’s name for photo day?
Your teachers and administrators already have jobs to do. Picture day shouldn't turn them into photography assistants.
We design our process around minimizing the workload for the school. We provide the information families need, organize the photography process, and work with your team ahead of time so everyone knows what to expect.
4. Ask How They Work With Children Who Don't Want Their Picture Taken
This question tells you a lot about a preschool photographer.
Because it will happen.
A child may be shy, nervous, tired, overwhelmed, or simply having a difficult morning. Preschool photographers need to know when to try something different and when pushing harder is likely to make things worse.
Ask the photographer how they handle hesitant or upset children.
Their answer should reflect patience and realistic expectations.
Our goal is always to give each child the best opportunity for a successful portrait while respecting that child's comfort level. Sometimes that means changing our approach. Sometimes it means giving them a little space. Sometimes another attempt a few minutes later makes all the difference. Our team goes by the motto, “Remember that everyone that you take a photo of is someone favorite person in the world”.
Young children aren't miniature adults, and preschool picture day works better when the photographer understands that.
5. Consider the Actual Picture-Day Experience
Photos matter, but so does the experience of getting them.
A preschool photographer is temporarily becoming part of your school environment. How they interact with your students and staff reflects on your school.
Picture day should feel organized, calm, and positive.
When talking with a potential photographer, ask what a typical picture day looks like. Find out how long children are away from class, how many students the photographer can reasonably photograph, and what the setup requires from your school.
A professional preschool photography company should be able to explain its process clearly.
6. Ask About Safety and Professional Standards
Anyone working inside your school should take safety seriously.
Ask whether photographers and assistants are background checked and how the company trains team members who work with children.
You should also understand how student information and photographs are handled.
A professional school photography company should have established procedures rather than figuring these things out on picture day.
This is also a good time to ask about insurance, business licensing, contracts, and other basic professional requirements.
Beautiful photos matter. Professionalism behind the scenes matters too.
7. Understand How Parents Order
The ordering experience is a significant part of school photography.
Ask exactly how families will view and purchase their child's photographs.
Can parents see their images before purchasing? Are orders placed online? Are there packages as well as individual products? Can families purchase digital images? How long are galleries available? What happens if a parent has a problem with an order?
The process should be easy to understand.
Parents shouldn't need your front office to explain how to order photographs, find their gallery, or contact the photography company.
A good photographer should be prepared to handle photography-related customer service directly. Take a peek into “how to order a la carte” we send this to some of our parent if they are having trouble.
8. Look at What Parents Receive, Not Just the Price
It's tempting to compare school photographers based entirely on package prices or school commissions, but those numbers don't tell the whole story.
Look at what families are actually receiving.
How many different images are available? Are parents choosing from multiple expressions and poses or receiving one traditional school-picture pose? Are digital images available? Are black-and-white versions included? What is the quality of the finished portraits?
Price matters, but value matters more.
Families are much more likely to purchase school photos when they genuinely love the photographs.
9. Ask About Siblings
If your school has siblings enrolled together, ask how the photographer handles sibling portraits.
Preschool siblings can require extra planning because children may be in different classrooms or attend on different schedules.
Find out whether sibling photos are offered, how they are scheduled, and whether parents need to register ahead of time.
This is one of those small logistical details that can become a big picture-day headache if there isn't a system in place.
An experienced preschool photographer should already have one.
10. Ask How Communication Works Before and After Picture Day
Good communication can make picture day dramatically easier.
Your photography company should have a clear plan for communicating with both the school and families.
Before picture day, parents need to know when photographs are happening and how to prepare. Afterward, they need to know when photographs are available and how to order.
Your school shouldn't have to create all of those materials from scratch.
Ask potential photographers what communication they provide and what they expect your school to distribute.
The easier it is for your staff to communicate picture day, the better the experience will be for everyone.
11. Make Sure Their Capacity Matches Your School
A photographer who primarily photographs small private sessions may not have the systems necessary to photograph an entire school efficiently.
Ask how many students the company typically photographs in a day and how many photographers or assistants they bring.
You want enough time for photographers to connect with each child without creating a picture day that disrupts your entire school schedule.
This balance is particularly important with preschool students.
Efficiency should never mean treating children like they're moving down an assembly line. At the same time, a photographer needs a system that keeps classrooms moving.
12. Decide Whether You Want Traditional School Pictures or Modern School Portraits
School photography has changed significantly.
The classic school-picture model is familiar: one pose, one expression, and often a digitally created background.
Modern school photography can look very different. Families may receive a gallery with multiple poses, expressions, and compositions that feel closer to a portrait session while still working within a high-volume school environment.
Before hiring a photographer, decide what experience you want to offer your families.
Look beyond what your school has always done and ask what kind of photographs your families would actually be excited to receive.
This is another strong supporting article because it lets you explain your philosophy in much greater detail without making this guide overly long.
Questions to Ask a Preschool Photographer
When you're interviewing photographers, you don't need to make the process complicated. Start with a few practical questions:
How much experience do you have photographing preschool-age children?
Can we see complete examples from actual school picture days?
How do you handle children who are nervous or don't want to participate?
What does our staff need to do before and during picture day?
How do parents view and order photographs?
Do you photograph siblings?
What parent communication do you provide?
Are your photographers and assistants background checked?
How long does picture day typically take for a school our size?
Who handles parent questions and customer service?
What happens when a student is absent?
What products and digital options are available to families?
The Best Preschool Photographer Is a Good Fit for Your School
There isn't one photography company that's right for every school.
The goal is to find a photographer whose style, process, communication, and approach to children match what your school values.
Look at the photographs, but look beyond them too.
Think about how the photographer will interact with your students. Consider how much work the process creates for your teachers and administrators. Look at the experience your families will have from the first picture-day announcement through receiving their finished photographs.
When all of those pieces work together, picture day becomes something families can look forward to instead of another administrative task for your school.
At Those Photo Ladies, we specialize in creating contemporary school portraits while keeping picture day simple for schools and families. We photograph preschools, daycares, and private schools, throughout Brevard County, Central Florida, Orlando, Jacksonville, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Learn more about our school photography services and how our picture days work.
If you're considering a new photographer for your preschool, we'd be happy to talk through your school's needs, enrollment, and picture-day goals.
Contact Those Photo Ladies to start a conversation about photography for your school.
