When you send your preschoolers off for Picture Day, you have high hopes the results will perfectly capture the amazing kids they are. You can't wait to see an image that reflects their great smiles, sparkling eyes and shining personalities with plans to display that perfect portrait at home and at work.
Those high hopes can come to a screeching halt, however, when you get pictures that are less than perfect.
Maybe it's a forced smile. Perhaps it's a scrunched nose. Or — oh no — eyes a tad red from crying. It's difficult to predict how preschoolers will react during photo shoots. Add the fact that everyone has good and bad days and you're bound to have some children with better portrait results than others.
Your child's preschool teachers will do their best to make each child feel comfortable on Picture Day. Additionally, Lifetouch Preschool Portrait photographers are specially trained to photograph kids ages 0 to 6 years old, which means they have a trick or two up their sleeves to get kids comfortable and smiling beautifully.
However, if your kid is unhappy or simply doesn't want to smile, it just might not be their day for photos. And that's OK.
If your child's photos don't come out great, you're not out of options. In fact, you have a wonderful opportunity to get the perfect shot again.
No Smiles Today partnership
Lifetouch Preschool Portraits has a partnership with JCPenney Portraits that allows parents to take their child for picture retakes free of charge at a local JCPenney studio. That means no sitting fee — just a fresh start so you can encourage your child to relax and smile. You'll get a variety of background options to choose from, so you'll enjoy the same results as the photos shot at school.
Tips to help your child
Whether it's anxiety, silliness or flat out refusal, some kids aren't up for that first Picture Day. You can help your child be ready the second time to show those pearly whites proudly with these simple tips:
- Get plenty of sleep, eat well and don't rush the preparation process.
- Bring a comfort item with, whether it will be included in the photo or not. Teddy always helps, right?
- Tell kids it's quick. One beautiful smile and a lightning-fast click of the camera and it's over.
- Show kids where you'll display their photos. They'll feel proud and more motivated to smile.
- Remind kids to relax. There's no pressure.
For more information about the Lifetouch Preschool Portraits No Smiles Today partnership, call 877-381-8276 or fill out the online contact form.
Not every child is comfortable on Picture Day, which can cause a forced smile that doesn't showcase your child. With our No Smiles Today certificate you can take your child in for retakes.