Recess Portraits       frequently asked questions

Before photo day

FAQs

Playful and professional. We use great lighting and colorful backgrounds, but the real magic comes from connecting with kids. Expect genuine expressions, not stiff school-photo smiles.
Hype it up! Let them know Photo Day is fun, like recess, but with lights. Remind them it’s okay to be themselves. Silly jokes and practice smiles at home are totally welcome.
Keep it comfy and classic. Solid colors or soft patterns work best. Clean necklines (like a collared shirt or simple dress) help frame the face. Avoid loud logos or writing. And if your school has a dress code, stick to it unless otherwise told by your school administrator.
Natural is best! Keep it off the face and minimize accessories to let their personality shine through.
If your school is offering them, sibling photos are a fabulous way to capture those sweet moments between brothers and sisters. Recess Portraits offers complimentary sibling sessions—make sure your school signs up for them. These quick 5-minute sessions (registration is required!) happen during or around school hours. Double the fun, double the smiles!
We’ve got you covered! We encourage each school we partner with to offer a retake day so that no one misses their moment to shine. Life happens, and if your child misses Photo Day, they’ll automatically be rescheduled for a make-up session if it is offered.

Siblings, Retakes & Missed Days

Yes — if your school offers them. Sibling sessions are complimentary and just as sweet as you'd imagine. Sign-up may be required, and they take place during or around school hours.
Don’t worry. If your school offers a retake day, they’ll be automatically scheduled. No need to stress — we’ve got backup plans.
You can request a retake! Just note: when you opt in for a second session, we’ll replace the originals with the new ones.

Ordering & Products

Yes! You’ll get an email with your private online gallery about two weeks after Photo Day. No pressure — buy only what you love.
From your gallery, you can select digitals, prints, or bundles. It’s click-to-cart easy, and the store includes tips if you need help.
Check out our cost-saving purchasing tips HERE.
Recess Portraits offer a variety of beautiful backgrounds that make your child’s natural expressions stand out. And guess what? Unlike some other companies, we don’t charge extra for these options.
Fall galleries close on December 31, Spring galleries on June 30. After that, archived = no more orders.
Our Family Choice digital bundle gives you the most value. If you love prints, try mix-and-match packages D, E, F, or G — they include large frame-worthy sizes and a discount on digitals if you want them all.
Yes! Register with the same parent email to see all available galleries in one place. Register with Recess HERE to easily view all of your children’s active galleries in one location.

Backgrounds, Effects & Edits

Yes — and we don’t charge extra for it.
Only for packages with multiple poses. Single-image packages = one background per pose.
Totally. Choose your effect in the editing tool before checkout.
Yes! Use the editing tool in your cart — just remember to click Save.
Nope. The proofing gallery will have a watermark, but purchased photos and digitals are clean and crisp.

Privacy, Retouching & Support

Privacy! Class photos include lots of kids, so we only offer them as prints to help protect everyone’s identity.
We keep it real — but polished. Minor lighting or color corrections are included. For specific retouching requests (like blemishes or scratches), you can add it during checkout, and we’ll reach out with options.
Digital files are final sale. For prints or products, if something’s not right, reach out — we’ll always try to make it better.
Yes! Use the editing tool in your cart — just remember to click Save.
Click the link in your confirmation email or log in to your account anytime.

THE RECESS PORTRAITS EXPERIENCE