Forget the cheese

A NEW KIND OF PICTURE DAY IS HERE!

Fine art school portraits are a beautiful and refreshing alternative to traditional school photos. And we have FUN! Instead of asking each child to say "cheeeeeeese," I instead talk to them, ask them questions, sing, dance - even hit myself with musical instruments to make them laugh. In the 2-3 minutes I spend with each student, I'm able to see their true personalities, and get real, authentic smiles and expressions. I love my job!

Contact for More Info

Fine Art School Pictures are a WIN-WIN!

Timeless
Modern images that are works of art

Paperless
Complete online gallery viewing and ordering

No Obligation
Parents may view all images before ordering

School Fundraiser
10% of net proceeds go back to your school

fine art school portraits whidbey island.jpg

What they're saying

"Kara has taken our school and class portraits for the past two years, and we couldn’t be happier. She is professional, easy to work with, and creates a wonderful product. Our kids have a great time, and Kara is able to get authentic expressions and genuine smiles from even the shyest child."

Kari Sanders · Director, Der Kinderhuis Montessori

"Hands down the best school pictures I've ever seen! Kara truly captured the beautiful character of each student in my daughter’s class. I will cherish these pictures forever!"

Jessica H. · Parent

"Kara has an amazing gift of capturing the true personality of each of our students in our annual school photo sessions. She is truly a full service photographer from start to finish. Her professionalism is evident when you first meet with her. And she makes the process easy for directors and teachers on the administrative side."

Janelle Barton · Director, Mother’s Day Out at First Reformed Church

"Kara Chappell’s fun personality and photographic expertise truly captured my child’s personality and real smile in the amazing school photographs we received. I loved that the multiple photos were not the typical boring, stiff, forced smile “school photos” but truly quality photographs of my child that I love displaying. Actually the only drawback I had was that all the pictures were so good I had a hard time deciding (so I got them all)!"

Amanda E. · Parent

"Kara is attentive to detail in everything she does! One of the things we love about her is that she has a passion for children and capturing them as they truly are. Kara has provided our families with timeless treasures!"

Janelle Barton · Director, Mother’s Day Out at First Reformed Church

"The best part about working with Kara is she handles everything. Our school doesn’t have to collect money from each parent or deal with orders, which saves us time and energy. And our parents LOVE their pictures! We couldn’t be happier with Kara’s work, and hope to work with her for years to come!"

Kari Sanders · Director, Der Kinderhuis Montessori

Say Hello

frequently asked questions

What are Fine Art School Portraits?

Fine Art School Portraits are a custom, boutique experience for families attending the schools who have chosen to work with me. Unlike big, corporate photo chains, I provide a custom experience for a select number of school, including a personal approach and superior customer service. I provide timeless, artistic images that families are proud to hang on their walls, and I’m know for getting genuine “real” smiles and expressions from the children I work with.

How do you capture genuine smiles?

We have FUN! I never force a smile and aim to capture the essence of the children I photograph. No awkward poses or faces, just the child as he or she is. The results are artistic and authentic portraits that are far from the traditional cheesy photos we have become accustomed to. I provide a quality and fun experience for your children and am good at getting them to relax and be natural.

What time of the year do you shoot school portraits?

I work with each school to select the timing that works best for them. Fall portraits are typically taken in September or October, and spring portraits are typically taken in April.

What’s in it for the schools?

I free up time for the schools I work with, as I provide all marketing materials, and handle all viewing and order processing online - no forms or money orders to collect. I also handle all the customer service for each school, and am available for families who have any questions or concerns. School portraits are also a fundraiser for each school, as I donate 10% of all net sales back to schools with more than fifty students.

What products are available to purchase?

You will have a choice of four print packages (with one pose each), or a la carte prints if you like a variety of images from your child’s gallery. I also provide boutique product choices such as canvas gallery wraps and digital images for future printing and archiving.

How does viewing and ordering work?

No more collecting order forms or taking and returning packets to school. My operation is completely online, with online galleries, ordering, and money transactions through a secure PayPal portal. All customer service and communication is handled online by me as well, which leaves the schools I work with free to do other things.

Are the images expensive?

No, my prices are very competitive and no money is due up front. Each family is able to view all the edited images before ordering (typically 12 images per student), and can mix and match packages or ala carte prints or digital images, as long as a minimum order is met. I also provide boutique product choices such as canvas gallery wraps and digital images for future printing and archiving.

Do families have to order?

No one is required to purchase any prints or packages. I like to focus on a la carte ordering so parents can order a mixture of the specific prints and/or digital images that they wish. Participation is not required, but I typically have more than 80% of families order prints or digital images. I also include sibling shots in galleries as a bonus for families with multiple children attending the same school.