About your Photographer

Hi there, I am Nina

My goal is to provide a custom, boutique experience to all families attending the schools who have chosen Nina Ferentinos Photography to photograph their students.

My service is personal and professional. Unlike large, corporate photography operations, I only take on a few, selected schools so that I can provide superior customer service and artistic images.

My aim is to capture the essence of the children in front of the camera. I will never force a smile. No awkward poses or faces, just the authentic child. The results are genuine and timeless portraits that are far from the traditional cheesy photos we have become accustomed to.

I provide a light and fun experience for your children and take pride in providing an environment where the kids can relax and be themselves, naturally.

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The Picture Day Guide for Parents

How to help your child feel comfortable, confident & ready for their best school pictures

Picture Day is more than a photo for the yearbook.

It’s a little snapshot of who your child is right now—the missing front tooth, the crazy hair phase, the favorite smile, the personality that changes faster than you can keep up with.

And while we can't stop them from growing, we can make sure we remember them exactly as they are today.

Here are a few simple tips to make Picture Day easy and fun for everyone.

1. Choose an Outfit They Feel Good In

The best outfit is one your child feels comfortable and confident wearing.

A few tips:

Choose something that fits well and allows them to move comfortably.
Solid colors and simple patterns photograph beautifully.
Avoid large logos, characters, or distracting graphics.
Pick colors that complement your child's skin tone.
Make sure clothing is clean, wrinkle-free, and ready the night before.
Let your child have a say in what they wear!

And remember: their outfit doesn't have to be fancy.

The goal isn't to make them look like someone else. It's to capture them.

2. Keep Hair Simple

Picture Day is probably not the best morning to experiment with a completely new hairstyle. 😉

Choose a style your child already feels comfortable wearing.

For longer hair, consider bringing a brush or comb to school if possible.

For boys, a quick check for bedhead, cowlicks, or stray hairs is always helpful.

Most importantly: don't stress about perfection.

A little piece of hair out of place is part of who they are, too.

3. Don't Say "SMILE!"

This might be the most important tip of all.

Try not to tell your child:

"You better smile!"

"Give them your biggest smile!"

"Don't make a silly face!"

Why?

Because the moment children start worrying about producing the "perfect" smile, they often stop looking natural.

Instead, tell them:

"Have fun!"

"Just be yourself!"

I'll take care of the rest.

4. The Little Things Matter

Before heading to school, check:

Clean face
Clean teeth
No breakfast on their shirt 😉
Hair brushed
Shirt sitting straight
Shoes tied
Any glasses cleaned
Favorite accessories ready

For younger children, a quick bathroom trip before pictures can also be a lifesaver!

5. Don't Forget Breakfast

Hungry children are rarely excited about anything—including pictures.

Make sure your child has a good breakfast before school.

And maybe skip the powdered donut right before Picture Day.

Chocolate faces and white shirts are not always the dream combination.

6. Keep the Morning Calm

Picture Day already brings a little extra excitement to the school day.

Try to keep the morning as normal and relaxed as possible.

Lay out clothes the night before.

Pack backpacks ahead of time.

Give yourself a few extra minutes.

And most importantly:

Don't turn Picture Day into a stressful event.

Your child doesn't need to know that you have been planning their outfit for three weeks.

7. Talk to Your Child About Pictures

Especially for younger children, it can help to explain what will happen.

You can say:

"Your photographer will take a few pictures of you at school today. You don't have to do anything special. Just listen, have fun, and be yourself."

That's it.

No performance required.

No perfect smile required.

Just them.

8. Remember: Personality Is More Important Than Perfection

Some kids are natural in front of a camera.

Some are shy.

Some can't stop moving.

Some make the funniest faces imaginable.

Some need a minute to warm up.

And some will give you their biggest grin the second the camera comes out.

They're all wonderful.

My goal isn't to make every child look exactly the same.

My goal is to capture a little piece of their personality at this particular moment in their childhood.

Because someday, you'll look back at this photograph and remember more than their face.

You'll remember who they were.

And One More Thing...

Your child's Picture Day photograph doesn't have to disappear into the yearbook and then live forever on your computer.

Print it.

Frame it.

Give one to Grandma.

Put one on your desk.

Create a little collection of their school pictures through the years.

Because children grow up.

Hair changes.

Teeth fall out.

Personalities evolve.

And one day, that picture of your 6-year-old with the missing tooth might become one of your most treasured photographs.

That's why we take pictures.

Not just to remember what they looked like—but to remember who they were.