Bookworm Portraits is unlike other school photography company. First and foremost, Bookworm was born of a need to provide affordable photography to preschool parents in the Kalamazoo area. As it grew and developed, providing more than just the standard impersonal headshot became another focus. Unlike larger more well-known school portrait businesses, I am a qualified, experienced photographer with more than 15 years of experience. I am also a mom to two school age kids who has experienced the quick, impersonal picture sessions each fall. I am patient with each student and never rushes the kids through the process. If a student is struggling, I offer to let them watch other friends or ask them to come back later when we can take the process at their speed. I do my best to capture each student’s personality and am not satisfied with a simple hesitant grin but search for the sparkle in the students’ eye. If parents are not happy and want retakes, I try to contact them to better understand what to look for in their child to ensure retakes are more successful.
How many portraits do our parents get in their proof gallery?
Parents are provided a minimum of 3 portraits of their student, a traditional school headshot with gray backdrop, a horizontal body shot on a seasonal setting, and vertical shot on a seasonal setting. Additionally, Bookworm Portraits captures more than just one student; do you have siblings throughout your school? Let’s capture a sibling shot that everyone loves!
How do parents access their proof gallery and place orders?
Parents are given a website link to a private gallery along with a password. Once the photos are ready, parents can log in to see their students’ portraits. From there they can order standard print packages, individual print images, printable digital images, and so much more!
How and when are the portraits delivered to our families?
Each portrait day comes with a bulk order date. This date, given once all the photos are available to parents, is typically 2 weeks after delivery of digital proofs. Bulk orders give parents the opportunity to have their photos delivered directly to the school at no extra cost. Packages and orders are delivered to the school within 2 weeks after the closing bulk order date.
Once the bulk order date has passed, packages can still be ordered up to 1-year after portrait day but are delivered directly to students’ homes and shipping fees apply.
Do you offer group portraits?
Yes! I offer free 5×7 group portraits of each class free of charge. I also offer class composites. These are a school favorite because it is each student’s headshot. If a student is not present on portrait day, they are still added into a composite once they do get their portrait taken. Additionally, composites can be customized to each schools branding or theme of the year. Composites are not free however and do cost $1 each. This is paid separately by the school and not the parents.
How and when should I book with Bookworm Portraits?
Email or call me as soon as possible to get on the fall schedule. There is no cost to booking with Bookworm Portraits but there is an agreement the school will sign. For spring portrait dates, you can book at the same time as fall portraits or you can wait and contact me in the fall to get on the spring calendar. Either way the sooner you book, the sooner your preferred portrait date can be yours!
What time of day do you schedule portraits and are we limited to one day?
I try to work within your school schedule and not take over your day however I have found success in scheduling first thing in the morning before kids get message with snacks, playing outside or the art activity of the day. You are also not limited to one day of portraits! In the state of Michigan, preschools and daycares are required to have nap time or quiet time in the afternoon which drastically effects being able to schedule a single full day of portraits like they do at the elementary and high school levels. I do my best to work around your routine but often try to have portrait days start around 9am and end by noon depending on the side of the school/daycare.