Calgary Photographer | Fine Art School Portraits

Taking the time to take better school photos while providing students and families with a comfortable and positive experience. Love your school photos!

What are fine art school portraits?

Fine art school portraits is a modern and innovative take on traditional school photos. Students are photographed against a classic, solid coloured background. The resulting images are classic, timeless and modern.

Our portraits are student-centred and student-led. We focus on each child’s unique personality. We don’t force students to smile, use props or pose awkwardly; We encourage children to be themselves. The results are authentic, natural and candid expressions. From this, families get a gallery filled with a variety of beautiful, artistic images presented in both colour and black and white.

Why choose fine art school portraits?

School portraits are a wonderful way to remember a specific stage in your child’s life. This moment in time should be captured beautifully, with children’s personality being the central focus. Fine art school portraits are timeless, artistic images that complement modern design and look stunning on the wall.

About the boutique experience

I work with preschools, day cares, private and public schools. My goal is to provide a boutique experience to the schools that have chosen me to photograph their students because I care about giving families an outstanding experience with images they will love. I provide each school with a custom experience and provide personal and professional service. Because I only take on a few select schools, I can take the time to provide both superior customer service and artistic images. This means providing families with high quality images that they will love to display and giving them many to choose from.

This ordering process is simple, smooth and done completely online; there are no paper forms involved. A few weeks after photo day, each student will receive a password-protected online ordering gallery via email. We strive for each student to receive a minimum of three different images, presented in both colour and black and white. Students also receive a complimentary class photo. Families have the option to choose the pose they want to purchase in the form of prints, canvases and/or digital images.

I am so happy to be able to partner with schools to be able to offer families this added-value service with better options than the standard industry norms.

What kind of services do you offer?

We offer the same services as large companies while providing personal and professional customer service. We provide all equipment, personnel and instruction to ensure a smooth and successful photo day. We provide schools with materials to distribute to help families prepare for photos, place orders and directly address any questions or concerns from families. We provide a quick turnaround of two to three weeks so families can enjoy the images while the experience is fresh in their minds.

On photo day, interruption to the classroom schedule is kept to a minimum.

In addition to taking student photos, we also photograph faculty and staff.

After ordering has been completed, a complete set of digital files to use for yearbooks, websites, school advertising, school IDs or however the school wishes to use the images, at no extra charge. School photos can also be made to be compatible for use with Power School.

I strive to make school photos a positive and enjoyable experience for my schools and their families.

What happens after photo day?

Families will have access to a private password protected gallery, which will be delivered via email two to three weeks after photo day. Families will have approximately two weeks to order. Digital orders are available for immediate download, delivered directly to the families by email. Products will arrive approximately three to four weeks after the order deadline. Orders will be personally delivered to the school.

All orders and payments are processed online. No printed forms are required or handling of money. My amazing online system takes care of everything!

How much do portraits cost?

Our rates are competitive with other school photographers. Nothing is due up front and there are never charges to the school. On photo day, we will take portraits of all of the students, and families are not obligated to purchase anything. We offer a variety of collections and à la carte items that families may order directly from their online gallery.

We are happy to be able to provide this high-end boutique experience while providing solid value for families.

In addition to my services, we donate up to 10% of profits back to the schools.

Where do you take the pictures?

Photos can be taken with natural light or with studio lighting, depending on space available at your school. We will work with schools to determine the best location for the photo shoot.

What do you need from the school?

Prior to photo day, we will come to determine the best location for photo day. We will also require classroom rosters, class schedules, a list of special instructions or any sensitive information you think pertinent. Also, if your school uses a mass email system, we would love to take advantage of that once or twice during this process to remind and encourage participation in the program. On photo day, we may require a parent volunteer to help usher students to and from class.

When can I schedule school portraits?

We work with individual schools to schedule photo shoots any time during the academic year. Fine art school portraits make beautiful gifts to celebrate events and holidays such as Christmas, Mother’s Day, graduation, etc. We can work with you to book your photo day to get your portraits completed in time for these occasions.

What ages do you photograph?

We have experience working with students of all ages!

How many students can you accommodate?

We can accommodate schools of any size and we have experience working with students of all ages. If a school is larger, photos may be done over a few days and/or an assistant may be brought in.

Do you have any other backgrounds available?

For solid backgrounds, a choice of black, medium grey, light grey, chestnut and blue is available. Depending on the season and location, having the photos done outdoors may also be an option. We can decide together the best option for your school.

Do you have insurance?

Yes. We have specific insurance for my photography business. Proof of insurance is available upon request.

Do you have a recent police check?

Yes. All our staff maintain a current police. We are happy to provide a copy upon request.

How do I get this in my school?

Whether you are a parent or school administrator and want this program at your school, you can reach us via email: info@bestdayseverphotography.com. We would love to talk to you more about fine art school photography and answer any questions you may have.

**Please note: All information, incentive and pricing are based on schools of 80+ students.