Jefferson County Schools is aware of increased social media discussions regarding Lifetouch Photography and its alleged historical connections to Jeffrey Epstein.  At present, only these County Schools have contracts with Lifetouch: Maury Middle School and Piedmont Elementary School.

With these claims circulating widely online, you may have questions even if your school does not currently use Lifetouch services. The safety of your child has and will always be the top priority of Jefferson County Schools.

The following is what we know currently.  We will certainly keep you updated as more information becomes available.

· Previous Ownership: Lifetouch was formerly owned by Apollo Global Management. The firm’s former CEO, Leon Black, had personal business dealings with Jeffrey Epstein.  However, in 2018 the company was sold to Shutterfly.  Lifetouch has not had any affiliation with Apollo Global since 2018.

· Photo Security: There is no evidence indicating that student photos or personal data have been compromised or shared beyond their intended educational and parental purposes.

· Data Privacy Protections: Our contract with Lifetouch includes strict data and privacy provisions. Student images are used solely for yearbooks, student identification cards, and official school records.

A link to Lifetouch’s public statement is included here for your reference.

While local alternatives to Lifetouch are not as prevalent as they were a few years back, some of our schools are considering using smaller, regional companies that may provide a similar level of service to Lifetouch. 

If any parent or guardian has any additional concerns, please reach out to your child’s principal or the central office.

Current picture vendors are: SimplePix, Strawbridge, Lifetouch,  and Creative Images.