07/14/2026
📸 10 Photos to Take This Summer Before They Leave for College 🎓
The days are long, but the years are so, so short. If you have a teenager heading off to college or their next big adventure this fall, this summer probably feels a little bittersweet. You're bursting with pride, but you’re also trying to freeze time.
Before the packing boxes take over the living room and you load up the car, make sure you capture these core memories. Trust me, these are the ordinary, beautiful moments you will want to look back on.
Here is your ultimate summer photo bucket list:
1. The VIP Shots: Individual photos of your child with the most important people in their world—mom, dad, siblings, and grandparents.
2. The Whole Crew: A complete family photo. Yes, even if you have to bribe them, and yes, you need to get in front of the camera, too!
3. The Furry Best Friend: Them with the family pet(s). Those sweet goodbyes are always some of the hardest.
4. The Core Circle: Photos with their friends. Snag a mix of classic posed group shots and those messy, laughing candids.
5. Pure Joy: A photo of them just laughing. Keep your camera ready during dinner or a movie night to catch that genuine smile.
6. A Real Hug: Not a polite side-hug! Capture a true, tight, lingering embrace.
7. The "Beautiful Messes": The little things that might drive you crazy right now, but you’ll honestly miss. Capture the endless shoe pile by the door, the forgotten water bottles, the socks left on the living room floor, or the pile of damp towels.
8. The Quiet Ordinary: The mundane daily routines. Snag a quick photo of them making morning coffee, cooking breakfast, or just relaxing and scrolling on their phone.
9. The Sanctuary: Their bedroom, exactly as they left it. Messy bed, posters on the wall, and all.
10. The Big Launch: The classic photo in front of the packed car and the house right before you drive away.
✨ Freeze These Moments Forever
These are the pieces of daily life that form the backdrop of their childhood. While you're busy soaking up every last second of this chapter, don't forget to document it. You'll be so glad you did.
👉 Are you preparing to send a kiddo off to college this year? Which photo on this list means the most to you? Let me know in the comments below!