Learning Center
Back to School

Back to School Photography Tips

by Candice Stringham

Back to School! Those three little words conjure up memories for all of us. The yearly chronicles played out in pictures still make us smile as we are reminded of the clothing styles, the innocence and excitement painted on our faces and the events we participated in throughout each passing year. Candice Stringham is not only a talented photographer; she is also the mother of two young boys. Marry these two professions and you get photos that are rich in composition and filled with creative features. She offers great tips on how to tell each child’s unique story through her tamron lenses.

1. Take Group Shots Employing Levels Such as Stairs.

In her school bus photo, she uses the stairs to insure that everyone can be seen equally. She employed the Tamron AF18-200mm using a focal length of 18mm with an aperture of f/11 @ 1/60 sec. This lens is great for group shots when it is used at its widest focal length and perfect for head shots using its full length at 200mm.

2. Focus in on The Expression.

Let your child’s face tell their story. Stringham’s favorite wide open lens is her Tamron AF28-75mm F/2.8. “The open aperture blurs out distractions.” The close up photo of her smiling son was taken with this lens at a focal length of 35mm with an aperture of f/2.8 @ 1/160 sec.

3. Frame The Photo To Show Where Your Child is Headed.

Stringham’s photo of the boys walking to school was created in black & white because the school is painted bold colors and would become the focus of the photo, not the boys. She used the wide open 28-75mm with a focal length of 28mm and an aperture of f/11 @ 1/100 sec.

4. Find a Reference Point.

Take a photo of your child in the same place year after year. You might even consider planting a tree on the first day of kindergarten and capturing your child next to it each year in order to provide perspective. The photo of her son waving is a great reference shot with the fence providing an orientation point. She used the full focal length of the lens at 75mm with an aperture of f/2.8 @ 1/125.

5. Compensate For Poor Lighting.

School plays and chorus performances inevitably occur in lowlight conditions. Stringham suggests turning up the ISO as well as using a wide open lens. She has also found great success using Tamron’s 28-300mm Vibration Compensation lens which is made to perform in lowlight conditions. The range in focal length makes it a great all around school lens that can be used for every program or event.