A well-known company that provides school photos for many Kentucky districts is seeing canceled picture days after widespread online claims tied the vendor to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Lifetouch, a major school photography company that takes pictures of millions of students each year, has become the focus of online allegations linking it to Leon Black, a billionaire investor who met with Epstein and was mentioned more than 8,000 times in newly released Epstein-related documents from the U.S. Department of Justice this month.
An Associated Press report stated that Lifetouch was connected to Apollo Global Management, an investment firm owned by Black that purchased Lifetouch’s parent company, Shutterfly, in 2019. Black stepped down as Apollo’s CEO in 2021, though he was leading the firm when the sale took place.
Following those reports, the Kentucky Education Development Corporation (KEDC), a cooperative that helps school districts secure service contracts such as picture day vendors, paused its Lifetouch agreements.
The Associated Press also reported that several districts across the country canceled spring picture days after online claims linked Lifetouch to Apollo.
“Out of an abundance of caution and in alignment with our commitment to student wellbeing, KEDC has suspended any current or future use of Lifetouch services until a thorough review and deeper investigation into the matter has been completed,” KEDC officials said Tuesday.
Apollo’s acquisition of Shutterfly closed one month after Epstein died by suicide in jail while awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing and trafficking dozens of girls. According to the Associated Press, news organizations reviewing at least 1.7 million records found no evidence that Epstein or anyone connected to him accessed Lifetouch photos.
Lifetouch Group CEO Ken Murphy said Friday that the allegations were “completely false” and assured school districts that no student photos had been shared with third parties.
“Lifetouch is not named in the Epstein files,” Murphy said. “The documents contain no allegations that Lifetouch itself was involved in, or that student photos were used in, any illicit activities.”
On Tuesday morning, a Lifetouch spokesperson repeated to the Herald-Leader that claims linking the company to Epstein are “completely false.”
“No Lifetouch executives have ever had any relationship or contact with Epstein and we have never shared student images with any third party, including Apollo,” the statement said. “Apollo and its funds also have no role in Lifetouch’s daily operations and have no access to student images.
“In fact, Apollo funds did not acquire Shutterfly, Lifetouch’s parent company, until September 2019 — two months after Epstein was put in jail and a month after Epstein’s death.”
How many Kentucky school districts use Lifetouch?
Later Tuesday, Jim Caldwell, a spokesperson for KEDC, told the Herald-Leader that 17 districts within the cooperative used Lifetouch in the past year. However, he noted vendors report on an honor system, making it unclear how many districts statewide currently use Lifetouch.
“Our children are the heart of everything we do,” KEDC CEO Nancy Hutchinson said. “Their safety and wellbeing rise above every partnership, every contract, and every operational decision. We will always act with care, transparency, and urgency when it comes to protecting the students entrusted to our schools.”
KEDC stated that its cooperative and participating districts will avoid using Lifetouch services “for now while officials take a closer look at the situation.”
Any picture days scheduled under KEDC contracts may be paused or modified. Districts can choose alternative vendors or continue with Lifetouch outside of the KEDC agreement. Families do not need to take action unless their school contacts them, according to KEDC.
The cooperative emphasized that the move is “precautionary” and “it does not automatically mean wrongdoing has been confirmed.”
The Herald-Leader has contacted Fayette County Public Schools officials for comment.
Canceled picture days
Laurel County Schools, which had worked with Lifetouch, canceled its spring picture day Tuesday after what officials described as careful consideration.
“We believe the best path forward to reassure parents that their child’s school is a safe and continuous learning environment is to cancel the spring pictures scheduled at the elementary schools,” the district said.
Before the cancellation, parents in Laurel County launched a petition to replace Lifetouch with a local photographer.
“When questions arise surrounding corporate leadership or national controversy, even if indirectly connected, that trust is eroded,” the petition states. More than 125 people had signed it as of Monday night.
Harrison County Public Schools also announced it has suspended Lifetouch services “pending review.” The district said it is aware of “recent concerns” and will examine the information.
“In an abundance of caution, the Harrison County Public School District has suspended any current or future use of Lifetouch services until a thorough review and deeper investigation into the matter has been completed,” Superintendent Harry E. Burchett said.
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