Make First Day of School Photo Memories: Show Off the First Day of School on Facebook & Instagram!

In the rush to get out the door on an extra busy morning, stopping to take an Instagram-worthy photo of your (hopefully) still stain-free progeny might seem like a waste of time.

But these moments and milestones are fleeting, and snapping even a simple commemorative pic on the first day of school can give you something to cherish and look back on forever, whether preserved in a scrapbook, hung on the wall, or stored for nostalgic (and teary) viewing later on. We’ve gathered some of the best free printables for your back-to-school photos, so get your cameras and “cheese” faces ready.

All About Me printable

All About Me: My number one favorite is this printable you can fill out. This style is great for scrapbooks! I love the fill-in-the-blanks that let the personality of your child shine through, and it would be fun to see how their answers change as much as their looks at each age.

Flash Card printable

Flashcard Fun: Another fun option is this adorable flashcard style. I love the suggestion to mount on a yellow No. 2 pencil so your child can hold the printable as a sign.

Pennant printable

Peppy Pennant: Especially good for the sporty kid, this fun and festive pennant styled doubles as a breakfast table decoration for a peppy start to everyone’s first day.

Graphic Design printable

Darling Designs: For the design-nerd parents, these simple and graphic signs for all grades are perfect. You have to subscribe to their newsletter to get the downloads, but they’re totally worth it.

Chalkboard printable

Quick Chalkboard: I also love these easy, quick-print chalkboard signs for those “Whoops, I forgot I meant to take a picture of everyone’s first day,” moments we all have. I’m bookmarking this one myself!

Ruler printable

Back-to-School Rules: Another printable with a clever sign post idea, these bright signs use the crafty idea of attaching a 12-inch ruler to the sign. The link also includes loads of party printables for an all out back-to-school fest.

Comic Book printable

Super First Day: If you’re willing to shell out about six bucks, these superhero-esque signs cover Pre-K through grade 12 and are beyond cute and available for instant download.

Writing Paper printable

Retro Charm: I love the old-school nostalgia of these writing-paper-style signs. Charming! You’ll need a Dropbox account to download the PDFs, but it’s free and easy to get, plus so useful for sharing photos and files.

After you click, download, and print, pick out a good spot with nice morning light for the big portrait.

A front porch or by the front door shot always looks great, but you could also grab a quick snap once everyone is buckled in their car seats or at the breakfast table. Whatever feels natural and showcases your child the best can work. It’s not about perfection, but remembering the real moment with your sweet little one.

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Emily Brown is a preschool teacher, freelance writer, and mom to two energetic, funny little girls with a flair for drama and a shared love of cheese and pickles. She’s also written a book on the history and food of restaurants in Birmingham, AL called Birmingham Food: A Magic City Menu.