Why Back-to-School Portraits Don’t Have to Be the Worst
- Deanna Dunham
- Sep 7
- 5 min read
We all know the feeling: school picture day rolls around, and you cross your fingers hoping for a decent shot. The kids are rushed in and out, barely given a second to breathe. The lights are harsh, the poses are stiff, and often the result feels distant or unflattering. You don’t get to choose your photo — you just hope for a good one.
And let’s be honest… those portraits often end up in a drawer rather than proudly displayed on your wall.
That’s why I’ve reimagined the school portrait experience.
The Little Joys Approach
With my 5-minute Back-to-School Portraits at Gratify, the experience is designed to be quick, comfortable, and actually enjoyable:
✨ Kids get a chance to adjust and feel at ease.
✨ I use soft, diffused flash lighting — never harsh or scary. This gives me the consistency of professional studio portraits with the warmth and natural look families love.
✨ Parents can guide little details (a smile, a hair part, a tie straightened).
✨ And best of all — you actually get to choose your favorite image.
At Gratify, families will have a choice of two classic backdrops — blue or green.
📅 September 14 | 1–3 PM📍 Gratify | 544 Main Street, Penticton BC
Options at Little Joys Studio
If the Gratify pop-up doesn’t work for your family, or if you’d like more flexibility, you can book a Back-to-School Micro Mini or Block Session at Little Joys Studio.
Here, the possibilities are endless:
Classic backdrops: white, black, blue, or green
Custom creations: We can design something totally new for your child’s portraits
Micro Minis: short and sweet sessions — perfect for siblings or children with special sensitivities
Block Sessions: book all your children at once so everyone’s portraits match in style and editing
🌸 Sensory-Friendly Options
Every child deserves portraits they feel comfortable in. For children who may be sensitive to flashing lights or have a history of seizures, I offer sensory-friendly lighting options.
✨ Instead of flash, I can use constant, soft studio lights that stay steady throughout the session. These lights create the same warm, flattering look — just without any sudden bursts.
✨ The studio is kept calm and flexible, so children can take breaks, move at their own pace, and feel safe.
✨ Parents are welcome to guide the process — whether that’s helping with a favourite pose, adjusting hair, or simply being nearby for reassurance.
With these adjustments, your child can have the same elevated portrait experience as everyone else, without added stress or discomfort.
Designed with the Home Learning Community in Mind
For families in the homeschooling and home learning community, traditional school portraits often aren’t even an option. That’s why I’ve made these sessions available at a reasonable cost — giving your children the chance to mark milestones with professional portraits, but with the elevated experience Little Joys is known for.
Think of it as your opportunity to capture this chapter of learning with the same quality and intention as families who receive standard school portraits — only warmer, softer, and truly personalized.
Luxury Print Packages
Because portraits deserve to live beyond the screen, I’ve partnered with Technicare, one of Canada’s top professional labs, to offer heirloom-quality prints on Fujicolor Crystal Archive Professional Lustre Paper.
Package A – Keepsake Pack ($27.99)
2 × 5x7 prints
8 wallets
Package B – Family Pack ($57.99)
4 × 5x7 prints
1 × 8x10 print
16 wallets
Digital + Print Bundle ($150)
All photos in your gallery (full resolution digital files)
2 × 5x7 prints
8 wallets
✨ Retouching Option Add quick, natural blemish touch-ups for $5 per image — perfect for scratches, acne, or temporary marks. Standard edits (skin tone, smoothing, and light correction) are already included.
Prep Guide for Parents
A little preparation goes a long way! Here are my tips to help your child shine:
👕 Clothing:
Solid colors photograph beautifully. Avoid busy patterns or logos.
Mid-tones (not too light, not too dark) work best.
Think about your backdrop choice — whites, blues, greens, and blacks all interact differently with clothing tones.
💇 Hair:
Style it the way you love to see your child every day.
Bring a brush or clip for quick touch-ups.
😊 Mindset:
Let your child know it will be fun and quick.
If they’re shy, reassure them I’ll guide them every step of the way.
Why This Experience Matters
School portraits shouldn’t be something you dread — they should be something you look forward to.
With Little Joys, your child gets the time, the warmth, and the guidance they deserve. And you get portraits that are flattering, natural, and truly worth keeping.
✨ No more harsh lights.
✨ No more rushed poses.
✨ Just timeless portraits that capture your child exactly as they are — full of personality, joy, and confidence.
👉 Book your Back-to-School session today:
Gratify | September 14 | Penticton
Little Joys Micro Minis & Block Sessions | Summerland Studio
Here is what I got out of my kids in 5 minutes or less
Niko, age 3. Home learner.
Attention span: non-existent.
Energy level: powered entirely by Bear Paws.
Direction-taking: only if it was his idea first.
Special skills: maximum wiggles, minimum chill.
✨ Somehow, in just 5 minutes, we still got the shot.
Matteo, age 5. Grade One Home Learner.
Attention span: negotiable (depends if the bike is nearby).
Preferred classroom: hiking trails.
Special interests: picking grapes, selling grapes, eating grapes.
Portrait skills: professional level — mom’s been pointing a camera at him since day one.
✨ Nailed his school photo like it was just another Tuesday.
Amayah, age 15. Grade 10 High Schooler.
Attention span: long enough to ace exams, short enough to scroll TikTok between them.
Preferred classroom: anywhere with good lighting and WiFi.
Special interests: friends, fashion, basketball and rolling her eyes at her mother.
Portrait skills: expert — knows her angles better than the camera does.
✨ Effortless smile, natural glow, totally unbothered — high school portraits, upgraded.
✨ Flash Back to Custom Back-to-School Sessions in the Past ✨
Every year, I’ve had the joy of creating school portraits that go far beyond the standard “say cheese” moment. From vintage sets to playful studio backdrops, each session has been designed with intention — letting kids show off who they really are. These portraits are a reminder that back-to-school photos don’t have to be stiff or rushed — they can be fun, elevated, and totally unique to your child.
(If this is more your vibe, it is totally still doable. Just ask!)
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