How to Look Good on School Picture Day: Full Checklist

6 min read · Glowmaxx

The secret to how to look good on school picture day is prep you do before you ever sit on that stool: sleep, water and a planned outfit the night before, a simple skin and hair routine that morning, and a relaxed smile with your chin slightly forward in the chair. Most bad school photos come from rushing, not from your face.

You get maybe ten seconds with the photographer. This checklist makes those ten seconds count.

If you're 18 or older and want to know which part of your look to work on before picture day (skin, hair, grooming, posture or light), Glowmaxx scores one selfie and points to your weakest lever. Start my glow-up

The night before: how to prepare for school picture day

This is where most of the work happens. Picture day tips that help the most are boring, and that's fine.

Picture day checklist for the night before

• Lay out your outfit and try it on. Check for stains, pet hair and wrinkles. (Stuck? See what to wear for school picture day.)
• Wash your hair tonight if it usually looks best on day two. Wash it in the morning if it gets greasy fast.
• Do your normal skin routine. Cleanser and moisturizer. Don't try a new face mask or product tonight; a surprise reaction is the last thing you want.
• Skip salty snacks late at night if you notice you look puffy the next morning.
• Drink water through the evening.
• Practise your smile in the mirror for two minutes. Our guide on how to smile for school pictures has the full routine.
• Pack a mini kit: comb or small brush, hair tie, lip balm, blotting paper or a tissue.
• Go to bed on time. Tired eyes are the most common picture day regret.

Don't do this the night before

• Don't cut your own bangs.
• Don't pop a pimple (it gets redder and more noticeable).
• Don't try a brand-new hairstyle you haven't tested.

Morning of: skin and hair

Picture day skin care in five minutes

1. Rinse or cleanse your face with lukewarm water.
2. Moisturize, even if you have oily skin. A light gel is fine.
3. Put on lip balm.
4. If you're oily, carry blotting paper for right before the photo.
5. If you wear makeup, keep it close to your everyday look. Heavy shimmer can reflect the camera flash.

Hair that holds up until your turn

Your photo might not happen until third period. Choose a style that survives backpacks and hallways.

• Smooth flyaways with a tiny bit of hair product or water on your palms.
• Bring your comb and do a final check right before your turn.
• If you want a specific style, check out our picture day hairstyles for teens.

Picture day tips for guys

• Shave or trim the night before, not the morning of, so any irritation calms down.
• Tidy the edges of your hairline and neck if you can.
• Use a little product to keep hair from going flat by lunch.

Outfit that photographs well

School photos are usually head-and-shoulders, so the top half of your outfit is what matters.

If you wear a school uniform, there's still a lot you can control. See how to look good in school photos with uniform.

What to do in front of the photographer

This is the moment that decides the photo. Here's how to pose for school pictures without looking stiff.

Before you sit down

• Take a sip of water.
• Do a last hair check in a mirror or your phone camera.
• Blot shine off your forehead and nose.
• Take a slow breath out to drop your shoulders.

In the chair

1. Sit tall with your back off the backrest if there is one.
2. Turn your body slightly if the photographer asks, then turn your face back to the camera.
3. Listen to their directions. They'll tilt your head or move your shoulders. Go with it.
4. Look into the lens, not at the photographer's face or the flash.

Here's the hard part: you can't see yourself in the chair, and you can't really judge yourself fairly the night before either. For readers 18 and up, Glowmaxx scores one selfie a day on skin, hair, grooming, posture and angle, and light and fit, with a one-line note for each and three moves for today, so you know what to fix before a big photo. Start my glow-up

Smile and chin

How to not look awkward in school pictures

• Push your chin forward a little, then tilt it down slightly. It sounds weird, but it gives your jaw shape and avoids a double chin.
• Breathe out right before the click. It relaxes your face.
• Think of something funny. A real memory beats "cheese."
• Smile with your eyes. A real smile lifts your cheeks and slightly squints your eyes.

If you don't like smiling with teeth, a closed-mouth smile is completely fine. Pick the one you practised and commit to it.

Retake day: how to ask

Hated your photo? Most schools that use a photography company have a retake day a few weeks later. Here's how to handle it.

1. Check the proof when it comes home or online.
2. Ask your school office or check the photographer's info sheet for the retake date.
3. Bring the original photo packet if you ordered one; some companies ask you to return it.
4. Say it simply: "Hi, I'd like to do a retake. My eyes were closed," or "My hair was messed up." That's it.
5. Use this checklist again the night before.

Picture day tips for middle school vs high school

• Middle school: keep it simple. Clean hair, a favorite solid top and a real smile. You don't need a complex routine.
• High school: you might care more about the photo showing up in the yearbook. Plan your outfit a week out and test your hairstyle once. Seniors, see our guide to yearbook photos.

Walk in ready on school picture day

That's how to look good on school picture day: prep the night before, keep the morning simple, and relax in the chair. If you're 18 or older, snap one selfie today and Glowmaxx gives you a glow score out of 100 across five levers, with three moves for today aimed at the lowest, right in your browser. Glowmaxx is for adults 18 and over.

Start my glow-up

FAQ

How can I look better in school photos?

Get sleep, plan a solid-colored outfit, and practise your smile the night before. In the chair, sit tall, bring your chin slightly forward and down, and breathe out before the click.

What should I not do before picture day?

Don't try a new skin product, cut your own hair or pop a pimple the night before. Don't stay up late, either; tired eyes show on camera.

How do I prepare for school picture day as a guy?

Get a haircut about a week before so it settles. Shave or trim the night before, pick a solid shirt with a collar or crew neck, and bring a comb.

Can I retake my school picture?

Most schools have a retake day a few weeks after picture day. Check with the school office or the photo company's info sheet, and bring your original packet if you have one.

What are the best picture day tips for high school?

Plan your outfit a week ahead, test your hairstyle once, and keep makeup close to your everyday look. Look into the lens and use a smile you've practised.