For Parents | Made the Grade

Hello Parents!

At Made the Grade Photography, our aim is to have kids be kids in front of the lens. We do our absolute best to make picture day a fun experience for your kids - and we think it shows! When you look back at a Made the Grade portrait, you won't just remember what your son or daughter looked like, you’ll remember what they were like.

Questions about your picture day or issues with your order? Your school might not have the answer... but we do! We have some frequently asked questions below but if you have a question not listed, be sure to reach out.

Picture Day Tips

What to Wear

Avoid clothing with slogans, wording, logos and large patterns. These elements can take attention away from your child and make your photos seem busy. Instead, choose solid colours and aim for long sleeves over short. Sometimes our shots are 3/4 length, so don't forget to consider the entire outfit.

Those Smiles!

Many parents practice smiles with their children before photo day. Our experience has shown that this often leads to forced and unnatural smiles. Instead, remind your son or daughter how fun picture day is! Our photographers are tons of fun and do a great job of getting children to smile naturally.

Glasses/Accessories

Jewelry and accessories are perfectly fine and can sometimes really help to make a photo special. If your child normally wears glasses, they should be included in their photo. Our photographers are experts at avoiding glare in glasses and will take any appropriate steps to make sure your child's photo looks amazing.

Rest is Best

Children photograph best when their happy and rested. One of the best ways you can possibly prepare your child for photo day is making sure they get a good night's sleep leading up to picture day.

Do I need to register for picture day?

Registration is NOT mandatory, though it is highly recommended. Registering for picture day gives us the opportunity to notify you the moment your photos are online and viewable. We'll also remind you ahead of time that picture day is coming up so that you don't forget, before any active coupons might expire, and before your ordering window closes so that you don't miss the opportunity to place your order. Simply scan the QR code on the takehome flyers or picture day posters and fill out the short form.
When I try to register it says the registration window is closed. What can I do?

A few days from your picture day we have to close registration in order to prepare everything on our end. If you've missed the registration window but still wish to register, shoot us an email and we can register you on our end no problem. In your email, please be sure to include your first and last name, your child's first and last name and which school they attend.
How many images will I get to choose from?

It's always our aim to provide parents with a nice selection of images (typically 3-5), but it really does depend on a few different factors. Sometimes a child might not be feeling picture day and only net us 1 or 2 images to show, other times we might get 6 or 7.
What if my child misses the picture day or I'm not happy with the images?

We're sorry if your photos didn't turn out as you'd hoped. We always do our best to rock the photos but there's lots of moving pieces and sometimes we drop the ball. We'll have a bit more time on retake day and we'll give it our absolute best shot. To schedule a retake, click the "Retake Request" button at the top of the page and fill out the form. We'll put your kiddo on the list and let you know what day your school's retake day is scheduled for.
When will the images be available for viewing?

Our aim is to have the images online and viewable within three days from picture day. If you try to access your images before the gallery is online, you'll have an opportunity to enter in your email address so that we can notify you as soon as your pictures are up!
Can I crop my images?

For sure. You will find this option within the ordering process. If you crop the image, an enlargement of the selected area is created. Look for the stars which indicate whether the photo's resolution is sufficient for the enlargement.
I didn't get an envelope - how do I order?

We don't do envelope order forms or take cash orders. All orders are placed through our online shop which can be accessed with your QR code access form. Simply go to www.madethegrade.gotphoto.com and enter your code, then click on "Open Album." Alternatively, you can use your phone to scan your QR code to go straight to your gallery.
What do I do if I've lost or never received my photo access form?

Sometimes photo access forms don't make it home - sometimes students throw them out by accident or lose them among the pages in their textbooks. No worries at all. Just click the button at the top of the page that says, "Access Code Request" and we'll get things moving for you without delay.
Is it possible to place a single order for multiple children?

Yes! Click on "Did you get another access code?" and enter your additional code (up to five) before hitting "Open your album". This way you will have access to all available photos. Our lesser packages will only allow you to order from a single code, while our "Family" and "Premium" packages - as well as digital download packages - will allow you to combine your orders with multiple access codes.
I printed my photos at a local print center and they don't look right. What's going on?

Local consumer level print labs typically don't match the quality of our fulfillment lab or print center. This is actually what motivated us to start offering personal printing through our own personal print lab - The Print Hub. You can either order prints directly through our online shop for school orders, or send us your own personal digital files through our print center for high quality prints direct to your home.