Once, it was just a “one-click-and-next!” process on school picture day.
The professional photographer would set up their portable portrait studio in the auditorium, and teachers would single-file their students to the front of the line. Then, a month or so later, the envelopes full of photos would arrive.
“And who knew what you were getting back then because those photographers were shooting with film and didn’t waste much,” explained Sheri McAninch, owner of MacSnaps Photography in Bellaire. “We’ve all seen those funny school photos, but I wouldn’t have wanted to be those parents, that’s for sure.
“But we’re shooting digital now, and that’s a big deal when it comes to the younger kids because it’s more difficult to get them to sit still and to smile. I’m usually taking several shots of them to make sure I have something for their parents to look at,” she said with a laugh. “Kids are kids. There have been times when I’ve had to use the tools in Photoshop to put something together because the child really didn’t want to cooperate for whatever reason.”
Digital photography also provides more than what parents received before the turn of the century, and that has helped relieve pressure at school and tension at home.
“I’ve never really had a parent upset with their child’s school photo, but I also shoot more than one photo in case the child wants to have a little fun with it,” McAninch explained. “I know when the photographers were shooting with film, the number of shots was really limited, but now that we’re digital, I just shoot and see what’s great when I’m reviewing them.
“I definitely have kids who come in, and they toss up a peace sign, and I’ll be like, ‘OK, I’ll take that one, but we got to do a nice one, too,’ and they’re always good with it,” she recalled. “I try to appease the kids to get that kind of orniness out of them. They’re just having fun, and some of those shots come out really cool.”
Say Cheese!
McAninch is entering her fifth year with Bellaire Local Schools, the only local school system with which she works each year. As a retired Bellaire educator, she’s not only familiar with the district’s facilities but also with many of the teachers and parents.
“I’ve had kids who give me a thumbs up, or they stick out their tongues to be funny,” McAninch said. “And some kids sit down and automatically say they don’t want to smile. I might say something like, ‘Oh, c’mon, your Mom wants to see you smile,’ but they won’t care. When I’ve been in that situation, I’ve just snapped what they want and move on.
“Now that I’m in my fifth year at Bellaire, most of the kids have gotten to know me, and that’s made it easier for me, too. They know I’m having as much fun as possible, so they try to, too,” she said. “Most of the teachers and administrators know me, too, because I was a teacher in Bellaire for so long, and, of course, I know my way around the schools, too.”
Is it as simple as a smile?
“It really depends on the child, but I try to take at least two or three of each one so the parents will have a couple of options when picking,” McAninch explained. “Some parents really just want the straight-on headshot, but other parents really like the orney ones because they believe those shots catch their kid’s spirit. I really love those photos, too.
“I love when they’re ornery because that’s what they’ll be looking at when they are remembering their high school days,” she said. “I do pre-school all the way through the seniors, so those photos over the years tell a lot of different stories. It’s really an honor to be able to do those for our parents. I know how much those photos mean to us at home.”
So, is there a secret to success when it comes to school pics?
“First and foremost, you want them to be well rested because if they are tired and cranky, you’ll likely not like the photographs,” McAninch said. “Also, be careful of what you wear and remember that no matter who the photographer is, they likely will bring a neutral background to use. So, you’ll want to wear clothes that will stand out and look sharp.
“Of course, if we’re shooting other portraits in student, the parents have their choices of backgrounds, but at school, I always go neutral,” she said. “Senior photos are completely different because that’s when we go on location, and the student always gets to pick that out for themselves. But for school photos? Have fun with it. That’s the real secret.”
