School Photos Are Getting a Makeover: A New Approach to School Photography in Salmon Arm

If you hear the words “school photos”, do you immediately picture the blue or grey backdrop, forced smiles and the classic “Okay, next!” routine?

If your answer was yes, I get it because I’ve been right there with you.

For as long as I can remember, school photos have followed a pretty predictable road: sit in the gym, look at the camera, say cheese, and move along.

But what if they could be a little different?

What if your child could actually be themselves in front of the camera, and the photos you end up with captured their personality instead of simply documenting what they looked like that year?

That is exactly what I’m trying to create with school photography at Sarah’s Grassroots Photography.

Some of my favourite photos of my own kid are the ones where you can see nothing but his personality, being goofy, making a ridiculous face or just doing something that is completely and unmistakably him.

So here I am, yelling it from the rooftops:

school photos can show their personality!

These sessions are designed to feel relaxed, fun and positive.

Kids can get goofy. They can jump around. They can twirl if they want to. They can make silly faces, laugh, or just be themselves.

And the best part?

They don't need to know how to pose.

They don't need to give me a perfect smile.

They definitely don't need to sit perfectly still while someone tells them to “say cheese.”

Instead, I encourage them to relax and let their personalities come through.

Sometimes that means a huge genuine smile.

Sometimes it's a serious expression.

Sometimes it's a little bit goofy.

And sometimes the photo that ends up being your favourite is the one where they're simply being themselves.

Because let's be honest, your kid probably isn't going to remember whether they smiled perfectly for their school photo.

But you might look back at that photo years from now and think, “Yep. That's so them.”

And that's what I'm after.

The focus stays on your child

So now for the nitty-gritty part of it all.

I photograph school portraits using simple white or black backgrounds.

No busy props. No distracting backgrounds. No elaborate setup competing for attention.

Just a clean portrait with the focus where it belongs:

Your child.

And because every child is different, I don't expect every session to look exactly the same.

Some kids are naturally comfortable in front of a camera.

Some need a little time to warm up.

Some are full of energy and ready to go the second they step in front of me.

That's okay.

There isn't one “right” way for a child to be photographed.

You get to choose your favourites

One of the things I really love about offering school portraits this way is that parents get to choose the images they actually want.

After your child's session, you'll receive a private online gallery where you can look through their photographs and select the images included with your package.

And if you fall in love with more than you originally purchased, you can upgrade your package when you're choosing your images.

I think that's important because we all have different tastes.

The photograph I might love most might not be the one that means the most to you.

Black & white or colour?

You Choose!

Your gallery will include images in both colour and black & white, so you can choose the ones that fit your family's style best.

Maybe you love the classic look of a black-and-white portrait.

Maybe you want those bright eyes and all that personality in colour.

Or maybe you end up choosing a little bit of both.

Either way, your getting to pick what works best for you.

Siblings can be photographed together, too!

Here's another part of these school photo sessions that I really love.

If you have more than one child, you can add sibling photos to your booking and have them photographed together.

And you only need to purchase the sibling add-on once, rather than paying for it separately for each child.

Want a photo of the whole family together?

No Problem, Family photos are also available as an add-on.

This can be a really fun opportunity to update those family photos on your walls while you're already there and get something a little different from the usual posed family portrait.

You can have your children's individual personality portraits and photographs of them interacting together.

What does school photography cost?

I've kept the options simple:

$30 | One Digital Image
Includes the sitting fee and one digital image.

$50 | Three Digital Images
Includes the sitting fee and three digital images.

$80 | Full Gallery
Includes the sitting fee and the complete gallery of digital images.

A note if you're booking more than one child

Prices are per child.

If you're booking more than one child for individual portraits, you'll need to reserve more than one spot.

If you're booking siblings, I recommend emailing me directly so I can reserve everything together for you and send you a single invoice. It makes the process much easier when you're trying to coordinate multiple kids.

School Photos in Salmon Arm | October 2 & 3, 2026

School photography is happening October 2 & 3, 2026.

Spots are booked individually, so you'll be able to choose an available time that works for your child.

Once you've selected your package and booked your time, you'll receive the required contracts and booking information.

Your spot is officially reserved once the booking, paperwork and invoice have all been completed.

At the end of the day, these photographs are about more than having a school picture for the yearbook or the fridge.

They're a little snapshot of who your child is right now.

Because they won't be this exact age forever.

And I'd love to create a school portrait that actually feels like them.

Ready to give school photos a little makeover?

School photography dates: October 2 & 3, 2026

I can't wait to meet your kids, have a little fun with them, and create portraits you'll actually want to keep.