Getting Ready for School Picture Day and a New Generation of Memories

August is here, which means that schools across the US are either kicking off or close to it. As the father of five children, the excitement – and nerves – in our house are palpable. We’re also officially one month away from National School Picture Day, and I am so excited to celebrate that with you! 

As we prepare to kick off our 90th fall photographing students across the country, we are reminiscing about how far Lifetouch – and school photos in general – have come. We started in one room schoolhouses in the Midwest, and today, we photograph schools of all sizes across all 50 states. Just like educators have continually done over the last 90 years, we’ve evolved with the emergence of the internet and advances in technology. I am proud to say that when it comes to the safety and privacy of your school’s students and data, Lifetouch has the most rigorous policies in the industry. 

And I can’t help but notice that in a world where digital connections have become the norm, the trend seems to be shifting back to authentic human connection – retailers are reporting a resurgence in print books, vinyl, CD, and DVD sales. Parents are postponing screentime and cell phones by bringing back the landline. Polaroid declared this year that “the best summer is analog.” 

Like Polaroid, Lifetouch has a storied place in history when it comes to sharing memories. We all remember the days of trading our school photos with our friends – short notes written on the back, picture collages displayed inside our lockers, our best friends pinned on our bulletin boards, taped to our mirrors, and saved in our scrapbooks. I’m looking forward to watching a new generation embrace the concept of “wallet” photos – we’re launching a new product later this year to take that to the next level! 

Lifetouch has been busy this summer gearing up to help schools across the country have successful, safe, and fun picture days. Here are some things you and your school community might notice this fall: 

• improvements to our online shopping experience – making it easier to log in, easier to view images, and easier to shop for multiple students at once
• a faster delivery time for both pictures and yearbooks 
• Lifetouch Portal updates to make it easier to upload your student data and connect to your SiS system 
• one shipment that includes all of the service products we send to your school

I am personally walking into this school year with gratitude – for the opportunity to be part of your school communities, for the opportunity to be part of Lifetouch’s 90th year, and for the opportunity to continue playing a role in providing families with once in a lifetime memories. 

– Ken Murphy, Lifetouch Group Executive Officer