Back to school: Picture Time! (part one of three)

Believe it or not, summer is coming to an end! Well, the heat might be around a while, but school will be back in session in no time. We've got a three-part series to get you and your tween ready for the big day!

Part One: Picture Time!

Chances are, you've had a lot of fun this summer. If you're like us, those photos capturing all the good times stay on your camera for far too long. Before your tween heads back to school, why not gather up a few pictures from your favorite summer moments and create a mini photo album? This can be a project that gets the whole family involved, or a special project just for your tween. This can also be as involved, or as hands-off, as you need it to be to fit your schedule, budget and interests. One easy way to get started is to have your tween pick out her favorite shots and order them online for easy printing. You can even create your own photo albums virtually, with just a little time and effort. Check out Shutterfly and Blurb for cool, tween-friendly templates!

After you've got your summer fun album, let your tween pick out her first-day-of-school outfit. Maybe she can take a friend to the mall for a fun day out! Then, on the first day of school, get that camera ready one more time to capture the moment. Here are a few ways to spice up the back-to-school photo shoot:

• Take a Before and After shot (once in the morning, once in the afternoon)
• Grab a small chalkboard or whiteboard and write the year, their grade or any other fun note
• Have her hold the front page of the paper to document the day and major events
• Choose a spot that you can return to each year to watch how she grows along with the changing scenery

 Tune in next Tuesday for Part Two of our Back to School Series!