Nostalgic School Picture Day Photos That Still Charm

Written by Rachel Schneider on
Split image: On the left, a young boy wearing a white suit with dark shirt, sitting on a stool and smiling. On the right, a teenage girl with big, teased hair and a plaid shirt, looking at the camera.

No matter how much school changes, school picture day will always be a constant. From arguing with your mom about what you were allowed to wear to sneaking in a funny face, these vintage photos of school picture day take us back to one of the most nerve-racking days in school (especially if you had gym class first hour). 

1. How Mad Do You Think His Mom Was? (1998)

A young person with spiky blond hair and dark lipstick holds their chin and looks surprised, raising one eyebrow. They are wearing a dark shirt and are posed in front of a mottled gray background.
parenthetical_phrase / Reddit.com

2. The Photographer Was Going for a Joan Crawford Look (1948)

A vintage portrait of a young woman with wavy brown hair, wearing a dark top and a single-strand pearl necklace, looking slightly off camera with a neutral expression against a softly colored background.
gcupwanderlust / Reddit.com

3. The Most Sheepish Kindergartener (1979)

A young boy with short brown hair sits for a school portrait, wearing a tan collared shirt over a dark turtleneck, smiling slightly against a neutral mottled background.
rlprice74 / Reddit.com

4. Snoop Dogg Saying ‘Cheese’ on Picture Day (1980s)

A young man with short hair smiles while wearing a gray suit, white shirt, and dark tie, posed in front of a blue studio background, as in a school portrait.
No1YouKnow42 / Reddit.com

5. Everything Matching — Down to the Earrings (1980s)

A young girl with curly brown hair tied to the side smiles in a school photo. She wears a red jacket over a yellow shirt and large, colorful geometric earrings. The background is a typical gray school portrait backdrop.
VictoryTour1984 / Reddit.com

6. Patchwork Cowboy Shirt and a Bandana … What an Icon (1970s)

A young child with long dark hair smiles at the camera, wearing a colorful patterned shirt and a red bandana around their neck, against a plain light background.
UserDeleted / Reddit.com

7. The Grooviest Kindergartener (1975)

A smiling young child with short brown hair sits on a wooden stool, wearing a white suit with a dark blue shirt and white shoes, in front of a brown studio backdrop.
holynorth / Reddit.com

8. The Epitome of Class (1928)

A vintage black-and-white portrait of a young woman with short, wavy dark hair. She is wearing a necklace and a garment adorned with a decorative flower, gazing softly at the camera with a slight smile.
Subsidiary / Reddit.com

9. The Pompadour Hairstyle (1947)

A young woman with short, wavy hair sits on a chair, legs crossed. She wears a light cardigan with a ruffled front, a collared blouse, a striped skirt, socks, and dark shoes. The image is black and white.
Gabbie-Lawless / Reddit.com

10. No Shortage of Volume in Her Hair (1980s)

A young woman with voluminous, teased curly hair wears a black-and-white plaid shirt. She stands against a gray studio backdrop, resembling a school portrait from the 1980s or 1990s.
VictoryTour1984 / Reddit.com

11. Bringing a Power Rangers Morpher to School on Picture Day is an Iconic Move (1996)

A young boy with light skin and brown hair rests his arms on a wooden railing, looking slightly off camera. He wears a red and blue shirt and holds a toy car. The background has soft, neutral colors.
tattoosbyjerad / Reddit.com

12. The Most ’70s Suit 

A young person with shoulder-length blond hair wears a patterned plaid jacket, cream shirt, and wide burgundy tie, posing for a formal portrait against a softly blurred studio background.
fleetfoxinsox / Reddit.com

13. Holy Hairspray (1988)

A young woman smiling at the camera, wearing gold hoop earrings and a white top, with voluminous, teased, spiky dark hair styled in an 80s fashion against a plain background.
allthatur / Reddit.com

14. When School Pictures Had Props (1985)

A smiling young boy wearing a black t-shirt with the word "PHYSICAL" and blue jeans poses with one arm resting on a metal ladder against a blue studio backdrop.
UserDeleted / Reddit.com

15. The Side Ponytail and Watercolor Background Takes Me Back (1997)

A young girl with long blond hair in a side ponytail and a green hair bow smiles at the camera. She wears a white shirt with a cat and pumpkin design, and sits in front of a blue studio background.
MotorwoatMyMoobs / Reddit.com

Looking for similar content?

A black and white yearbook spread features "Seniors Who's Who" with superlatives like "School Spirit" and "Class Clowns" on the left, and a photo of the "Cutest Couple" riding a tandem bike on the right.
thekateone / brittanygeister via Reddit.com