Preparing for In-School Houston Portraits

Every year, I offer back-to-school sessions for families here in the Houston, Texas area. Recently, though, I realized that private schools and homeschool co-ops are often underserved when it comes to school portraits. This year, I’m excited to help bridge that gap. Because these school portraits will look a little different than the sessions I normally offer—and a little different than traditional school photos—I thought it might be helpful to put together a resource guide to help families know what to expect and how to prepare.

How These Houston School Portraits Are Different

You might be wondering how my school portraits will differ from what you’re used to with traditional school photos. The biggest takeaway is this: as both a mom and a photographer with years of experience working with kids, I truly care about the finished product.

My goal is to deliver photos you’re genuinely proud to display in your home. Think of these as the school photos you always wanted, but never quite got. I know questions will come up, so let’s cover a few of the most common ones here.

What are the background options?

Instead of overwhelming you with lots of background colors or busy setups that are hard to style around, I’m keeping things simple and timeless. Schools will be able to choose between a clean white or classic black background, making wardrobe planning easier and ensuring the focus stays right where it belongs: on your child. This neutral approach works beautifully for printing and framing as well.

Can Siblings Be Photographed Together?

The overall approach for school portraits is different from a traditional family session. That said, if you have children who attend the same school and would like a sibling portrait taken together, that can absolutely be arranged.

Are These Full-Body Photos?

No, these portraits will have more of a headshot-style approach, typically framed from mid-chest and up. And honestly, this is good news! If your child is determined to wear their favorite Paw Patrol shoes, that’s not a battle you’ll need to fight—they won’t be photographed anyway.

Wardrobe Tips for School Portraits Houston

Many of my usual wardrobe tips still apply here, especially when it comes to color. I highly recommend avoiding neon or very bright colors, as they don’t photograph well and can distract from your child’s face. The same goes for logos, character shirts, and busy graphics—these tend to date photos quickly and don’t work as well for a more classic, headshot-style portrait.

Simple, clean, and timeless is always the goal.

Package Options for School Portraits Houston

School portraits will follow a more traditional, à la carte ordering model. Rather than paying a session fee like you would for a family session, you’ll only purchase the images you love.

Prints and digital images are sold individually. This allows you to choose exactly what works best for your family—no pressure, no unnecessary extras. 

And just in case you’re interested in ideas on what to do with those photos once you have them, I’ve got you covered. Note: the links I’m including are affiliate links. This means I make a small percentage of sales, but these are products I use in real life & highly recommend!

For wallet sized images, I love this magnetic frame. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve likely seen this one a time or two. That’s because I have these school mats with frames for all three of my own kids. It’s so simple to update & display each year’s photos!

School Portrait Photography in Houston

Hey, I’m Mel, a Houston based photographer capturing newborns, families, and now school portraits! If you’re part of a homeschool group, homeschool co-op, Montessori school, or private school in the Houston area and are interested in modern, timeless school portraits for your students, I’d love to connect. Ready to book or just want more information? You can reach out through my contact form to start the conversation.