San Diego School Photographer
Providing a local, secure, and personalized school photo experience
for your school.
As a San Diego family photographer
since 2018, I've designed a
low-stress experience,
easy for both schools and parents.
Keep scrolling to see what this can look like for your school.
I'm Michelle
Modern, artistic school portraits
easy on schools and loved by parents
I help schools create a picture day that runs smoothly from start to finish, while providing portraits that delight parents.
In Their Words
"We recently had the pleasure of working with Michelle for our preschool's photo day, the experience was exceptional from start to finish.
We fully intend to work with Michelle again and would confidently recommend her to other schools seeking a professional, organized, and compassionate photographer."
Director, Tierrasanta Lutheran Preschool
- Melissa Vargas
What IS Boutique School Photography?
What Services do I offer?
Why hire me for your school portraits?
Boutique school photography is a modern, artistic, personalized alternative to traditional school photography. Instead of bright flashes and forced smiles, I create simple, honest portraits that capture a child's true personality.
I am a completely online operation. Families are linked safe, individually password-protected online ordering galleries.
As local San Diego-based business, I can work with each school to provide a custom, boutique service that will fit your unique needs.
- Better service: Unlike the corporate big box companies, I take on only a few, select San Diego schools every year. This allows me to provide superior, personalized service and much better images.
- A no-hassle approach: I handle all communication, ordering, and logistics directly with families.
- No cost to your school: There is no upfront payment or obligation. I handle all orders directly with families.
- Competitive pricing: My pricing is competive with the corporate photography companies.
- Full service: I provide schools with all high resolution digital files for use in yearbooks, marketing, school IDs, or however they are needed. I can also create class and school composites.
- Staff receive complimentary digital photos
- Year-round availability: Schedule at the time of year that works best for your school.
what this looks like for your school
Frequently Asked Questions
I am currrently booking for fall of 2026 and spring of 2027, though schools may schedule a photo day anytime of the year!
WHAT IS THE COST TO THE SCHOOL?
How much time will the photos take?
What will the school need to do on photo day?
How will parents view and receive the photos?
When are the sessions offered?
What is the cost to parents?
There is no cost to the school! All revenue is made though digital and print file orders placed by parents.
There is no up-font cost to parents. I offer prints, canvases, and digital files to parents at competitive pricing.
I spend approximately 1-2 minutes with each student, so the total time it will take to photograph your school will depend on the number of students and staff participating.
I take care of just about everything! Once we find a date for the photos, I will send the school an email to forward to parents, and I will handle most parent questions before and after photo day. I'll also send the school a flyer to print and hang.
I will work with the school to create a schedule for the day, and I will also ask to come in before photo day to find the best place to set up.
On photo day, I will bring my own assistant, or the school can provide a parent volunteer to assist with the children.
I provide all of the equipment. That's it!
About 3 weeks after the photo day, parents will receive an email with a link to their own private, protected gallery. Directly from that gallery, parents may order prints, canvases or digital files.
All prints are delivered to the school to distribute about 10 days after the order date deadline.
In Their Words
"That was so fun.
She was silly!"
A recent San Diego private preschooler
- Peyton, 3 years old
Contact me here
At Love Michelle Photography, I create authentic fine art portraits of children, easy on schools
and loved by parents.
Now booking for fall of 2026 & winter/spring of 2027