Lynn Renee Photography Blog | First Day of School
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First Day of School

This student take an organized pen case to the next level. It looks great on the first day of school but what would really be cool is finding it on the 100th day of school.

19 Sep First Day of School

Posted at 19:00h in Photography, School by
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Welcome to My First Day of School

Last spring I started to notice a new voice popping up on my Instagram feed featuring photography of students in various Chicago Public Schools called CPS Lives.  I was immediately fascinated by the idea that there was an organization putting artists and photographers into schools to tell the stories of what life in a Chicago Public School looks like.  I knew that I had to be a part of this program for the 2019-2020 school year.

The first day of school certainly feels easier when your principal is waiting for you with a smile.
Dr. Valentine stands by the front door greeting a group of Kindergarteners about to embark on their first day of school.

Over the last year I’ve been working hard on growing my network of photographers, reconnecting with my colleagues I worked with when I was a producer, and meeting new photographers so I could pass along work and share ideas.  In the spring I made it to the Chicago Women in Photography brunch and found a few artists there who were already participating in CPS Lives.  Lucky enough they were happy to point me in the right direction so I could add my voice to such an important project.

First day of school photos are more important than ever now that we share them all on social media.
On the first day of school parents could be seen all over the hallways, outside the front door, and in the cafeteria taking the iconic first day of school photo.

After reaching out to CPS Lives on Instagram and Facebook, I finally got to the right contact and after about fifteen or so emails we set up a meeting to have coffee and discuss my participation in this project. I was nearly jumping out of my seat.  There is a small stipend for participating artists, basically enough to pay my rent for one month, but I’m not doing it for the money.  Watching family after family flee the city of Chicago terrified of what a public education looks like, and then watching my own family, a complete CPS success story, I know how important these stories are to tell.

They are quite a pair, a transgender para educator and the boy who was told he'd be disabled for life. Together they are going to be quite the dynamic duo.
On the first day of school my second grader is all smiles, and so is his para educator, K, who gets Aleck through his mobility issues so he can have a successful year.

I work on many projects where I walk into different schools all over the Chicagoland area, often with a vigorous schedule and a shot list about a mile long, capturing visions for my clients and their marketing materials.  I move fast working hard not to miss a single thing, usually with two camera bodies strapped to my own and kneepad strapped to my legs.  But here I want to do something different, I want to be purposeful with the images I take, I want them to be the moments that make me sparkle, I want to try and be quiet and watch for each one. This is my take on a personal project with accountability; there are critiques I need to attend, deadlines I need to meet, the work must be shown within the community and a massive amount of paperwork.

Like picking up a lonely penny, there is something that feels lucky about giving your kid a kiss goodbye on their first day of school, setting them up for a terrific year ahead.
After giving his son some words of wisdom this father kisses him goodbye, wishing him luck not just on the first day of school but on the entire year ahead of him.

I’m grateful to CPS Lives for giving me this opportunity and I’m thrilled to be stationed at Edison Regional Gifted Center, a 2018 Blue Ribbon award-winning school.  In my house we call it CPS’s best kept secret, but our son Aleck calls it home.  I hope you’ll join me here and on Instagram as this story unfolds all year long.

Many students bring in supplies for themselves and the entire class on their first day of school.
Looks like a lot of supplies for one kid, am I right? Well, like many CPS schools at ERGC the supply list includes supplies for the entire classroom. Just another way that public schools make their dollars go farther.