Preschool & elementary
The littles
We photograph every child in a variety of poses, from a classic smile to a few with this year’s props. Parents get at least five images to choose from.
School portraits / San Diego
School photography with personality.
Elementary kids get a variety of poses and props. Middle and high schoolers choose anything from the traditional headshot to a few extras.
Break away from boring
Back in the film days, one headshot with open eyes was a win. Digital cameras changed that.
With on-location lighting, we can photograph each child several ways and still finish before recess. Families end up choosing between favorites instead of settling for the one shot.
Middle & high school
The big kids
Options range from the traditional headshot to a few extras. We spend about a minute with each student and can photograph around 100 in a day.
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01
Picture day
Professional lighting and our mobile studio, right at school. Littles get a variety of poses; big kids choose from the classic headshot and a few extras.
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02
Your private gallery
Within a week of the last photo day, you’ll get your own online gallery with at least five images to choose from.
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03
Order early, save 10%
Order in the first ten days for 10% off and free bulk shipping to school. Digitals arrive instantly; prints to your home take 1–2 weeks.
For schools
The care of a small studio. The systems of a big one.
We use the same software and backend workflow as the big-box companies, so a large school gets few errors and a fast turnaround. With four stations running, a school that skips the extra poses is done even sooner.
- 30 min
- to photograph an elementary class of 20–30
- 10:30
- we finish by then, before recess, while everyone still looks sharp
- ~100
- middle and high schoolers per day, about a minute each
- 1 wk
- from the last photo day to live galleries
What we offer
- Individual portraits, preschool through 12th grade
- Sibling portraits with online sign-up
- Class composites
- Student ID cards
- Sports teams
- Studio senior portraits
What we need from you
- Before: class lists in our spreadsheet template. We send it, plus a picture-day flyer with your schedule and dress expectations.
- On the day: an indoor spot for our 10×10 mobile studio: a rec room, fellowship hall, cafeteria, empty classroom, or foyer.
Since 2012
Our photographers
We’re Amy Gray and Melanie Monroe, formerly the Cothran sisters. We started photographing our own kids’ school in 2012 and haven’t missed a year since. We began outdoors in natural light and moved indoors to continuous lighting because it gives every child the same look. Liz Romeka, our primary associate, takes care of some of our largest contracts.
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Amy Gray
Amy Gray Photography -
Melanie Monroe
Melanie Monroe Photography -
Liz Romeka
Third Strand Photography
FAQ
Picture day questions
What is modern school photography?
Portraits from a small local studio, taken with professional lighting in our mobile studio at your school. Afterward, each family gets a private online gallery with at least five images, and can buy digitals, prints, or both.
Is this only for smaller schools?
No. We use the same software and backend workflow as the big-box companies, so we manage high volume with minimal errors and fast turnaround. We also produce student ID cards, class composites, and more.
Do you offer sibling portraits?
Yes. We set up a sign-up form for sibling registration. Parents usually bring the children in before class begins.
How can teachers protect instructional time on picture day?
An elementary class of 20–30 takes about half an hour. A few options:
- Have a staff member or parent volunteer bring 5–7 students at a time while you keep teaching.
- Split the class: half comes with a volunteer while you teach a 15-minute lesson, then switch.
- If the space allows, bring the whole class and teach there. Recitation, spelling, and reading work well.
What is the turnaround time?
Galleries are ready within one week of the last photo day. Families get 10% off and free bulk shipping to school during the first ten days. Digitals are delivered immediately; bulk shipments arrive 2–3 weeks after the early-order window closes; prints shipped home take 1–2 weeks.
How does photo day work?
For preschool and elementary, we photograph a few classrooms per day, about 60–80 students per morning, finishing by 10:30am, before recess. For middle and high school, we spend about a minute per student and can stay all day, photographing around 100 students. We ask that students not dress out for PE on picture day.
We run four stations at once, so a school that only wants the traditional headshot can be finished much faster.
Where are you located?
East County San Diego. We serve El Cajon, La Mesa, Spring Valley, Chula Vista, and nearby cities, and we’ve photographed schools as far north as Carlsbad.