School picture day is usually simple - line up, smile, and capture a memory for the family album.
But in several states across the country, that routine tradition has been paused.
At least seven East Texas school districts - along with schools in Kentucky, Michigan, Arizona, and other states - have canceled, suspended, or are reviewing contracts with Lifetouch Photography after online claims linked the company's corporate ownership to newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents.
The situation has sparked concern among parents, prompted precautionary decisions from school leaders, and raised broader questions about transparency and trust.
What Sparked the Concern?
The issue began circulating widely after the U.S. Department of Justice released millions of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Leon Black, the former CEO of Apollo Global Management, appears thousands of times in the documents. Apollo funds acquired Lifetouch's parent company, Shutterfly, in September 2019 - one month after Epstein's death.
Black's attorney has denied wrongdoing, stating that he sought Epstein's advice on estate planning and tax matters and had no knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities.
Importantly, Lifetouch is not named in the Epstein files. No evidence has emerged indicating that student photographs were accessed, misused, or connected in any way to illicit activity.
Still, once the corporate ownership link began circulating on social media, parental concerns quickly followed.
Districts Respond "Out of an Abundance of Caution"
In East Texas, districts including:
-
Malakoff ISD
-
Athens ISD
-
Cross Roads ISD
-
Van ISD
-
Winnsboro ISD
-
Edgewood ISD
-
Kemp ISD
have either canceled spring picture days or announced reviews of their Lifetouch agreements.
Malakoff ISD stated that after hearing feedback from parents, the district chose to handle school photos in-house for the remainder of the year while evaluating future options.
In Kentucky, the Kentucky Educational Development Corporation suspended Lifetouch services pending a deeper investigation. Laurel County and Harrison County Schools also paused or canceled scheduled photo sessions.
Dearborn Public Schools in Michigan announced it would halt Lifetouch picture days temporarily while reviewing privacy concerns.
Across districts, leaders have emphasized that the decisions are precautionary.
"No student data breaches have been reported," several districts clarified in statements to families.
What Lifetouch Is Saying
Lifetouch has strongly denied any wrongdoing or operational connection to Epstein.
Group CEO Ken Murphy said in a public statement:
-
Lifetouch is not named in the Epstein files
-
No Lifetouch executives have had contact with Epstein
-
Apollo funds do not manage Lifetouch's daily operations
-
No Apollo board members or investors have access to student images
-
No student photos have ever been shared with third parties
The company also highlighted that Apollo's acquisition of Shutterfly closed after Epstein had already been jailed and died.
"No Lifetouch executives have ever had any relationship or contact with Epstein and we have never shared student images with any third party," the company stated.
News organizations reviewing the DOJ documents have found no evidence that Epstein or anyone associated with him accessed Lifetouch student photographs.
Why Parents Remain Concerned
Even without evidence of wrongdoing, many parents say the issue is about reassurance and transparency.
When families order school pictures, information such as a child's name, grade, teacher, and school affiliation is included for identification and ordering purposes.
Some parents have voiced concern about how that data is stored and who ultimately controls corporate oversight.
An online petition calling for federal officials to end public school contracts with Lifetouch has gathered more than 4,400 signatures.
In some communities, local photographers have offered to replace Lifetouch services, keeping business within the community while easing concerns.
The Broader Ripple Effect
The cancellations illustrate how quickly online claims can reshape decisions - even when those claims are disputed.
The Associated Press described the picture-day disruptions as another ripple effect stemming from the Epstein document release.
For school leaders, the decision often comes down to perception and peace of mind.
As one district put it, "We want our students, families, and staff to feel safe about the vendors we use."
A Matter of Trust
At its heart, this story is less about a photography company and more about trust.
School districts are entrusted with protecting children - not only physically, but digitally and reputationally as well. When questions arise, even indirectly, leaders are choosing caution.
No confirmed misuse of student photos has been reported. No formal allegations have been made against Lifetouch related to student images.
Yet in communities across the country, picture day has become a conversation about accountability, transparency, and parental confidence.
In moments like this, institutions are reminded that trust is not assumed - it is maintained.
And for many districts, pressing pause is seen as the safest way to protect that trust while seeking clarity.
