Lifetouch Photography: What It Is and How to Choose

If you’re considering Lifetouch for school portraits or family photos, the right choice depends on what you want to keep and how you plan to use the images. Compare the package contents, print sizes and digital options before you order, and check the specific details offered for your school or session.

• over 80 years Lifetouch’s operating history
• 2018 Year Shutterfly purchased Lifetouch

What is Lifetouch photography?

Lifetouch is a school photography company that provides student portraits, special-event photography and yearbooks.

A photography program overview prepared for Olathe Public Schools #233 lists underclass photography, meaning portraits for students who are not in the graduating class. It describes this as part of the school Picture Day program.

The same overview covers candids and special events for athletics, clubs, academics and school events. These are event images rather than the formal portraits taken for Picture Day.

What Lifetouch provides schools

• Portraits: The overview lists underclass photography as a program.
• Event coverage: It includes candid photography for athletics, clubs, academics and school events.
• Yearbooks: Lifetouch also offers yearbook services to schools.

Shutterfly purchased Lifetouch in 2018. If you are comparing school photography providers, ask the school which services are included in its program and how it handles portraits, event coverage and yearbooks.

How do you distinguish Lifetouch from other photography topics?

Lifetouch is a school photography company, not a portrait style: it provides school portraits and photographs of school events. The name identifies a service provider, so compare it with another company by checking the exact provider name and the services offered.

• Nude photography: This is a separate genre. Its consent, intended audience and image-handling questions differ from those involved in school portraits; do not treat the two as interchangeable services.
• BPI Photography: This is a separate subject from Lifetouch. Check the provider’s exact name before comparing packages, services or school contracts.
• The Addams Family: Its photographic legacy belongs to entertainment and cultural discussion, not to Lifetouch’s school photography services.

For a practical comparison, start with the name on the school’s notice or photo order form. Then check whether the service covers portraits, school events or yearbooks; those are school-related offerings associated with Lifetouch.

What should schools check before choosing Lifetouch?

Before choosing Lifetouch, the school should match its photography services to its needs, confirm image-access and retention arrangements, and check that ordering, yearbook production and fundraising tools fit its workflow.

• Portraits and underclass photography: Decide which student portraits the school needs and how it will handle photo sessions for students who are not graduating.
• Yearbooks: Confirm who manages yearbook production and how Lifetouch’s process fits the school’s schedule and responsibilities.
• Candids and special events: Ask whether coverage of school activities and events is needed, alongside portraits.
• Fundraising: If the school uses an ad-creation portal, check how it fits the school’s fundraising process.

Privacy and image access

Lifetouch’s SmileSafe program is described in a safety and security overview prepared for Olathe Public Schools #233 on May 11, 2023. Treat that overview as a starting point, not a substitute for confirming current arrangements: ask the school and Lifetouch who can access student images, how privacy is handled, and how long images are retained.

Before signing, have the school walk through the ordering process and confirm who handles questions or changes. Check how yearbook production works in practice and whether the ad-creation portal is part of the school’s fundraising plan.

When does the usual school-photo advice not apply?

A school’s photo-vendor choice depends on its own needs and procurement process, so one controversy does not automatically explain a switch. A district may be reviewing its vendor for other reasons or following a decision made before public criticism emerged.

The Associated Press reported that some school districts dropped plans to use Lifetouch after social media posts linked the company to Apollo Global Management. Those posts are not, by themselves, confirmation of the claims they make or an explanation of every school’s decision.

What to check with your school

Lifetouch says it follows applicable federal, state and local data privacy laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which governs student education records. A general statement about compliance does not replace the privacy notice that applies to your school’s photo program.

• Current vendor decision: Ask the school whether it has selected Lifetouch, retained another vendor or is still reviewing options.
• Privacy notice: Request the school’s current notice and check what student information is collected, how it is used and who can access it.

Use the school’s current decision and privacy notice to assess its arrangement; do not treat social-media claims as verified facts.

What should families do with a school portrait?

Families should follow the school’s ordering instructions, ask how student images are accessed, and check the specific order terms before reusing a portrait.

• Portrait package and yearbook: Use the school’s ordering instructions to identify the correct portrait package and any yearbook options. Check the school’s notice if you are unsure which choices apply.
• Privacy: Ask the school who can access student images and how to raise a privacy concern. The school can explain the process for its portrait program.
• Senior portraits: Lifetouch suggests bringing a meaningful prop to a senior session, such as an instrument or sports equipment.
• Image rights: Check the terms for your specific order and the school notice before sharing or reusing a portrait. Do not assume every package grants the same reuse permissions.

Frequently asked questions