Sample school photographs to draw or photograph. School photographer, school photographer

This was the first time you were offered to film graduating class for a school yearbook or are you just trying to get into school photography? Then this article is for you. In it we will tell you how to organize and quickly take photographs of student portraits for the school yearbook.

So, the most important photograph for a school photographer is to shoot individual portraits of each graduate. In this case, you do not yet have your own photo studio, and rent does not fit into the budget, so we will proceed from what we have at hand.

1. If the weather permits, we leave the room to get better natural light.

2. If you know that you are too lazy to cut out (isolate) each portrait later, then we are looking for a suitable background. To do this, in turn, you need to consider several things:

2.1. To ensure that the background is as far away as possible from the photography location, this way it will be possible to “blur” it as much as possible without opening the aperture to the maximum;

2.2. So that the background has a more or less homogeneous texture without clear horizontal and vertical lines, so that later you don’t have to bother with the alignment of each shot;

2.3. So that the place where the shooting will take place is in the shade. This way you will avoid overexposure and will be able to shoot high-quality portraits in a completely manual mode, which will give you the opportunity to get a finished picture as a result, which will not take a lot of effort and time for correction and processing in the editor. The most you have to do is raise the curve a little to increase contrast and enhance sharpness. That's it, the portrait is ready for the graduation album!

2.4. To give such a portrait a more artistic effect, it is advisable to include a play of light in the composition, but this must be done correctly. The easiest way is to find a place where the sun illuminates the space between the model and the background - this will give artistic volume to your photograph, and then no one will blame you for not wanting to cut out portraits of graduates and artificially place them on the “beautiful” background.

Where can you find such an ideal place? Yes, all the time. The most accessible one is the school yard: the place where graduates are photographed is in the shadow of the school building, the background is a green fence in the shade of trees, and between them is a sunlit space.

This can be found and organized in most schools. The optimal time is either before 11 a.m., or after 3 p.m. and beyond, depending on the time of year. A city park or alley near the stadium is also a good option for photographing school graduations.

Standard vignettes, a general photograph of the class—how much can they tell about the lives of students? School photography is, first of all, a live report, a photo essay about the time spent at school. These are the relationships between children, their victories and joys, and sometimes defeats and failures, their mischief during recess. Not all schools have open lessons for parents. Therefore, in addition to preserving memories, such reportage photography is also an opportunity for moms and dads to look into the world school life your child. Russian Photo club member Olga Kuzmina talks about the intricacies of school photography.

- Olga, hello. You've been doing school photography for quite some time. Therefore, today we will ask you to act as an expert. Very often, those who are just starting to master this genre have a question: the class is large, how can we manage to film all the children? How do you remember who you filmed and who you didn’t?

— If it’s a reportage shoot, then I take the time to shoot all the desks in a row. I can photograph one row, then shoot randomly, then another row, shoot randomly again, etc.

If it’s portrait photography, then I definitely ask for a class list and mark off those I’ve already photographed. Starting from the 4th grade, I try to review the photographs taken with each child and choose the one in which he likes himself. With high school students I make sure to select photos. I write down the number of the selected photo.

— The child clearly doesn’t want to be photographed. What to do?

- The younger the children, the more relaxed they are and the easier it is to film them. The closer they get to high school, the more complexes and dissatisfaction they have with themselves, hence often the reluctance to be photographed. Children can demonstratively turn away from the camera and cover themselves with their hands during reporting. The parents order the photoshoot; they decided that the child needs a photo album. Teenagers have their own opinions, and it is important to establish contact. By showing your child several good pictures on the monitor screen, you can often eliminate his stiffness and reluctance to be photographed. If he still doesn’t want to get into the frame, then longer focal lengths will allow you to shoot him from the other end of the classroom. You can also focus on the child and then move the camera to neighboring desks. Literally 20-30 seconds - and the person who does not want to be photographed is involved in the lesson process, and then you can take a photo with him. In general, school photography can become a real photo hunt.

— Do you have to direct a lot, that is, create staged photographs?

“During the lesson, the teacher leads, I don’t create situations, I just capture moments.” I most often take staged photographs if I can free up a lesson, part of a lesson, or during recess for filming. I like to come up with some interesting stories to diversify my reporting. On the street, you can invite children to jump in groups, in winter - to play snowballs, in May - to throw out notebooks; Believe me, there will be few indifferent people. You can fold paper airplanes in advance and launch them. Often in classrooms there is a globe, and you can suggest looking for something on it: “Can you find Moscow? Where were you in the summer? Which country do you want to go to? Of course, each age category has its own stories. If contact with the teacher is established, then you can ask him to ask the children simple questions, then you will be provided with a forest of hands. Often children, especially high school students, are happy to propose filming ideas themselves.

This year I made albums for the 9th grade, which I have been making for several years now. Like it or not, we had to come up with something new. The idea was born easily: 9th grade is GIA (now OGE). The guys took two general exams, Russian and mathematics, plus additional ones of their choice. Therefore, I painted the board in accordance with the specialized subjects: biology, chemistry, literature, German, English, social studies and physics.

— What shooting points and angles are used most often?

— Of course, at the child’s eye level. But he sits at a desk, sometimes he also slouches, so in order to “get” his eyes, I spend most of the shooting squatting between the rows. After this, despite training, my legs always hurt. If there are free chairs at your desks, you can sit on them and work comfortably for two or three minutes. Now in elementary and high school It is often practiced to work in groups of 4-6 people, and here the upper angles work well, then I stand on chairs and desks.

— How to shoot so as not to distract from educational process?

— You can tell the children before the lesson that this is a report and the most best photos- in which they do not pose, but simply go about their business, that is, study. But during recess we will be able to take pictures in groups, fool around and pose.

— Do children often pose? Are they embarrassed?

— If there is a lesson, then, as a rule, the guys stop paying attention to the photographer after five to seven minutes, but it also happens differently. Some children start making faces and getting into the frame. For such a child, it is often enough to whisper to him to continue doing what he is doing, or to point at the teacher/board with a glance. If this doesn’t work, then without taking a picture, I turn the lens to other children and shoot them. This is a good distraction, and the next time the child reacts calmly to the camera. It also happens the other way around: when a child sees a camera pointed at him, he sits down “properly”, puts the hand that he was stretching almost to the ceiling on the desk “correctly”, gives his face serious look, and nothing remains of spontaneity and liveliness. Again, I either quietly ask not to pose, or I film such a “correct” child from the other end of the class when he is not looking.

— What do you like about school photography?

— I like the fact that this is real life! Favorite shooting - 1st grade on September 1st! Children have a variety of emotions: some have joy and delight on the threshold of a new “adult” life, others have worries and fears. Happy and proud mothers, fathers, grandparents. Sea of ​​flowers. “First time in first grade” is an event and celebration for the whole family of a first-grader. I am very glad that I help preserve the memories of this holiday for many families. I also loved mine school years. Filming at school allows you to go back to that time (smiles).

— What lenses do you prefer??

— For shooting in a small room, lenses with variable focal lengths are best suited. My favorite is the Canon 24-70 f/2.8. Small focal length allows you to shoot both general plans and individual children, located literally half a meter away from them. The 70-200 f/2.8 lens allows you to take close-up photos of kids from across the classroom, lately I only shoot with it. If the day is sunny, I can put on a fast fifty-kopeck lens and shoot without flash.

— How to use light and what to do if you have to shoot against a window?

— Since there is often catastrophically little light from windows, I almost always use a flash aimed at the ceiling, and sometimes a second one to illuminate the background. It can be placed on a windowsill or closet, also directed towards the ceiling. An on-camera flash saves you against backlight from the sun.

— What pictures do parents most often want to see?

— The old rule applies here: the larger part of the photo the child takes up, the more his parents like it (smiles). And of course, dads and moms want to see emotions and interesting situations in the pictures.

— Do details matter?

— Textbooks scattered on desks, a classroom corner, and children’s crafts are an integral part of the school process. I'll definitely take them off.

— Who is easier to work with: boys or girls?

— In reportage photography it’s absolutely the same. In portraiture, it’s easier with girls in terms of desire to shoot.

— What stories can you catch during recess, where children open up more?

— Change is an informal atmosphere, which means new interesting stories. The guys run around, chat with friends, play, and copy homework. This needs to be removed! Unfortunately, the corridors of schools are quite dark, and the intensity of movement of children can be enormous; high ISO values ​​save the day.

— What role does the teacher play in school filming? How should a photographer interact with him?

— A teacher is a person who can help you a lot, so it’s worth talking about him separately.

If you feel psychologically comfortable while shooting, then the shots will come out good. And in order to achieve comfort, you initially need to win over the teacher and establish contact with him.

Arrive a little earlier than the agreed time to have time to meet the teacher. Notice how wonderfully the classroom is decorated; what beautiful plants it contains (many classrooms would be the envy of any winter garden); how neat the children look and how great it is for photography; what interesting wall newspapers; how many auxiliary materials and so on, so on, so on. All of the above is the result of the teacher’s work, and such indirect compliments are always appropriate. But, of course, this must be done sincerely. Find something that really delights you, and your praise will not leave anyone indifferent.

During recess, you can approach the teacher again. Involve him in the process, interest him. You can show several successful shots from the footage. Inquire about how the next lesson will be held and ask to include in it some points that are interesting for filming: work in groups (this is now practiced in many schools), calling to the board (if this was not the case) and so on. And again, don’t forget about the compliments: how well the guys worked in class; what was it like complex material and how simply and skillfully he presented himself; what kind of discipline or, conversely, an easy and trusting atmosphere... In the end, the mere fact that a teacher manages to cope with 25-30 children, each of whom “has two hundred grams of explosives or even half a kilo,” deserves sincere admiration! Don't be afraid to talk about it!

- Thank you very much for useful tips! Good luck to you!

Every year in June, schools hold graduations. School graduation is a special event, the memories of which remain in a person’s memory forever. Graduation only happens once in a lifetime; unfortunately, you won’t be able to graduate from school twice. Therefore, you always want to capture your graduation party in beautiful and lively photographs. For this purpose they usually invite professional photographer, or the filming is carried out by the children’s parents who have the appropriate equipment and experience. What are the features of such photography and how to film a school graduation party correctly?

Graduation album photography

As a rule, the graduation program consists of a formal part with a festive concert, a banquet and a disco. The ceremonial part involves the presentation of certificates, to which graduates, their parents, teachers, and representatives of the school administration are invited.

Considering such a busy program prom, we can highlight the following features of photographing this festive event:

• Large number of people filmed. At the graduation party there are two to three dozen graduates who need to be given attention; no one should be missed. Plus teachers and parents. And everyone should look good in the frame.
• Changing lighting. Shooting in a school, on the street, and then at a banquet is associated with changing lighting conditions, which requires the photographer to be able to competently and quickly manipulate the settings so as not to get too dark or overexposed photographs.
• A combination of reportage and studio photography. At the beginning of the ceremony, graduates can pose for a photograph in a relaxed atmosphere. You can take several staged shots for your graduation album. Then the holiday itself begins - concerts, competitions, dances - and no one will pay attention to the photographer. As a result, filming turns into reporting.
• It's difficult to take good shots when everything around you is in spontaneous motion. But it is precisely in these moments that, as a rule, the best, “live” photographs are taken, when no one is posing on purpose and everything turns out naturally. Only a competent combination of reportage and staged (studio) photography allows you to create a truly bright, colorful photo report that will reflect the most significant and fun episodes of the holiday.
• Duration. Graduation photography can last for several hours (if not only the formal part is being filmed), which requires good physical preparation and patience from the photographer. The long duration of filming also means that you need to stock up on batteries and memory cards in advance.

Equipment for prom photography

For high-quality photography graduation, of course, it is better to use SLR camera good level. The requirements for photographic equipment here will be quite serious: the ability to obtain high-quality images in conditions of changing or insufficient lighting, high resolution photos, access to a wide range of manual settings, shooting at high ISO values ​​without noise or loss of detail. It is better to take several lenses with you at once - a good portrait lens and a wide-angle lens, or a zoom covering a focal length of 25 to 70 mm. However, the main thing for a photographer when photographing a graduation ceremony is to know his technique well and be able to use it without spending extra time selecting settings.

- The photographs must show all parts of the prom - presentation of certificates, speech by the school principal, congratulations from teachers, banquet, disco.

- For graduation photo album It is imperative to take several staged photographs, individual and group. They can be removed both indoors and outdoors.

— The main part of the graduation ceremony is the presentation of certificates. Here you will need to film each graduate: walking across the stage, presentation and congratulations. You should find in advance the most suitable, advantageous shooting point in the hall.

— Group portraits are also an integral part of graduation. Here you should correctly place people in the frame - preferably in several levels. Even if all participants fit into the frame, standing in one line, this photo will not be the most comfortable for perception.

— Take duplicate shots. If you are filming a group of graduates (and even with parents or teachers), then one of them may close their eyes or turn away at the most crucial moment. This is difficult to control, so it is better to use burst mode and take several shots.

— Don’t forget that it’s a holiday for graduates, so you need to be on the same page with them. When photographing graduation, communication skills are important positive mood. Communicate with people, guiding them and advising them where to be and what to see. But at the same time, the photographer must remain invisible so as not to interfere with the graduates’ enjoyment of the holiday and express their sincere, lively emotions.

— Spice up your graduation photo report close-ups students and teachers, funny, dynamic scenes in the school corridors or restaurant where the festive banquet will be held. Try to capture on camera moments that will reflect the emotions that fill the hearts of graduates, the anticipation of the future, the premonition of an imminent separation from friends.

Not all photographers work with models. The job of many photographers is to photograph ordinary people, and our goal is to make them look like models in the photographs. How do we do this if our clients have no experience posing or managing their face in front of the camera? Here are seven tips to help your subjects feel like models.

1. Working with hair

We often don't think of hair as a part of the body that can be controlled, but it is possible! If you are photographing a person with long hair, then poorly placed hair will be the first thing that catches your eye in the photo. No general rule to make the hair look “super” in the frame. To different people Various hair placement options are suitable.

Let's say you're doing a simple portrait photography without a makeup artist and hairdresser. The first thing to remember is that hair lying on your shoulders looks terrible. They give the model a wild look and something needs to be done about it. Here are six options for working with long hair.

1. Original "wild" variant
2. All the hair in the back
3. All hair in front
4. Hair on one side in front
5. Hair on the other side in front
6. Hair collected

Option #1 should be avoided at all costs. All other options are applicable depending on the model and the effect you want to achieve. The existence of options 4 and 5 is explained by the fact that in life, hair can look better on one side than on the other.

Typically you want people to look at the camera and most face was visible. For this article, I chose option No. 6 with her hair tied up so that it would be better to see how the girl follows my instructions and there would be no distractions. For many women, the ponytail is an at-home hairstyle option, but it looks very nice in portraits, revealing the face.

2. Move your chin (or ears) forward

When a person stands normally and relaxed, or even stands beautifully and poses, a small crease may be noticeable under the chin. This manifests itself almost regardless of thinness. If you tell people to point their chin forward, which sounds obvious to you, they will likely point their chins at you, which will look like photographing their nostrils (not very attractive). So instead, encourage your model to move her ears forward.

“Before” and “after” the suggestion to move your ears forward.

The same thing from the outside. I sometimes call it "turtle" because it looks like a turtle pulling its head out of its shell. It may be a little uncomfortable or unnatural, but the results are always worth the inconvenience.

The same technique performed by a man. He is fit and athletic, but still, in a natural pose, his chin is not photogenic enough.

3. Raise your hands

When people just stand as usual, they often have their arms pressed to either side. This causes several problems. Firstly, it makes them look awkward and uncomfortable in photographs. Secondly, the arms pressed to the body look thicker than they actually are.

This can be corrected simply by raising your arms a few centimeters so that they are not pressed against the body. Or you can put your hands in some position, for example resting on your hip. In the picture above, the red line indicates the apparent size of the hand before changing position. The line of the same length in the second picture shows how much thinner the arm looks when it is not pressed to the body.

4. Leave visual space around the waist

Everyone likes to look slimmer. One of simple ways The way you can make your client look slimmer is to show their “natural” waist without any additions. I mean visually isolating the waist so that it doesn't look wider than it is. My model is standing with her hands on her hips. The first photo does not show the best position. The arm behind the body is not visually separated from it and adds width to the waist. But if you move your hand forward a little, space will appear, so that nothing will be added to your waist size.

The red line shows the apparent width of the case in the first photo. It is moved to the second photo to show how much the hand added. This rule applies not only to hands. Anything in the background behind the model can create this effect. This could be, for example, other people, tree trunks, lamp posts.

5.Rotate Your Shoulders

This is a very simple but important tip. If a person stands straight in front of the camera, he looks bigger. This is good if you are photographing a football player or the director of a large company, but is not very suitable for photographing model portraits. When turned, the model shows a more beautiful profile and looks slimmer.

The red line shows the width of the model standing exactly in front of the camera. A slight twist produces a photo of the model still looking at the camera, but with a slimmer profile.

6. Don't show the whites of your eyes

If you want to capture a distant, dreamy look away from the camera, don't ask your model to look into the distance. Point to a specific object behind you so you can control the direction of your gaze.

In the first photo, I invited the model to look towards the door next to us. You can mostly see the whites of her eyes, which is not good. You want to see the iris, the colored part. I invited her to look out the window. A slight change in the direction of the gaze brought her eyes back to us and the result was a more attractive portrait.

7. Don't let your nose interrupt your facial contours

This rule is a little more complicated, but also important. If you don't want to take a frontal shot, you ask the model to turn slightly to the side. Let's say you don't want to shoot a classic profile, in which only one side of the face will be visible, and the model will turn about a quarter so that both eyes are visible. If you mentally draw a line along the side of your face, then this line should not intersect with your nose.

If she turns too much, the nose will cross this line, ruining the natural contour of the face. This creates a “Pinocchio” effect and visually increases the length of the nose. To avoid this, you should ask the model to turn slightly back towards the camera so that there is a little space between the tip of the nose and the edge of the face. You should not cross this line or your facial features will look disproportionate.

Putting it all together

Here's a sample list you can follow on your next shoot.

• Hair is pulled back over one shoulder and loose in front of the other.
• The chin is pushed forward to create a stronger facial line.
• The arm is raised from the body.
• The waist has no visual enhancers.
• Shoulders turned.
• The pupils are visible, not the whites of the eyes.
• The nose does not cross the line of the face.

What are you doing to ordinary people did you look like a model in the photographs? Share your thoughts on the tips you read or your own tricks in the comments.

About the author: Ben Lucas is a Seattle-based portrait and wedding photographer. He strives to preserve the best emotions of his clients, be they brides, actors, chefs or even lawyers. You can follow his news at

Radiate freshness. Don't forget that personal hygiene is just as important as a great smile in a photo. You need to take a shower and wash your face before showing everyone your snow-white teeth.

• If you usually shower in the evenings, then set aside some time for this procedure on the morning of your photo shoot. Then your skin will look even better.
• If you don't wear makeup, just wash your face shortly before you take your photo.
• Wash your hair so it is shiny and not greasy.

Tidy up your hair and face. Your face and hair should look great in photographs. There's no need to overdo it, but it's worth using a few ideas to look your best.

• Remove hair from your face. Even if you think it's "cool" to cover half your face with bangs or hair, your parents won't appreciate it, and other students will focus on your hair rather than your appearance.
• Do your hair as usual. Do not invent anything extraordinary or unusual on this day. The hairstyle may not work out and you won't look like yourself.
• Use a little gel or other product to keep your hair looking fresh.
• Guys should make sure their eyebrows are neat, and if they have facial hair, they need to tidy it up.
• Girls should wear some makeup if they wear it. Just don’t need drastic eye makeup or flashy lipstick on the day of the photo shoot.
• Avoid any distractions. Girls should not wear big earrings; guys should avoid chains or hats. Focus on the face, not the accessories.

Find the perfect top. Your t-shirt or shirt is the next thing people will notice after your expression, face and hair, so pay attention to it:

• You need a simple, solid color.
• A black or dark top will help you stand out from the background.
• Nothing white or yellow, otherwise you will blend into the background.
• No T-shirts with logos, pictures or funny sayings. It will distract you from yourself.
• Don't wear very fashionable things. Your nautical shirt may seem really cool now, but years later it will look funny.
• If you really want the perfect photo, bring a shirt of the opposite color to school, just in case. If it turns out that the background is blue and you have a blue shirt, you will be very glad that you also took a black one with you.

Prepare before you take your photo. There are a few secrets to keep an eye on while you're waiting in line.

• Girls can go to the bathroom or take a mirror to touch up their makeup.
• Bring a comb with you. But don't comb your hair too often to avoid electrifying your hair.
• Grab the mirror. The photographer should have one, but be prepared, just in case. A mirror will help you check whether your hair and face are in order, and whether there is something in your teeth.
• If you have oily skin, use a special wipe and the shine will quickly go away.
• A good mood is the key to success. Be happy in the photo, and your positive energy will be transferred to the photo.

Choose the right facial expression. You need to rehearse several expressions in advance so as not to come up with something new on this day. The smile should be natural. It will show your best features that are unique to you.

• If you're used to showing your teeth in photos, try this before your shoot.
• Work on keeping your eyes open not too wide, but don't squint either.
• Don't slouch. Maintain a straight posture when taking photos and you will look much better.
• Practice your smile at home. If you want, you can ask a friend or relative to take your photo.
• Work on your look. You should look directly at the camera or tilt your head slightly to the side. There is no need to tilt or turn your head much, as this does not look photogenic. The photographer should give you some tips.
• If the photographer gives you a couple of photos to choose from at the end, choose the one in which you look natural.
• Be yourself! Your school photo album is an opportunity to show who you really are, not a complete stranger.