Frequently Asked Questions
Norsym School Photography offers a unique boutique photography experience that schools and families love! Read some of the frequently asked questions to learn more.
What is Boutique School Photography?
The boutique photography experience offers you the customized and personal experience, high quality imagery, and customer service of a small local studio. We bring a modern and artistic headshot approach, along with professional lighting, to the school, resulting in beautiful portraits of each child. Each family receives a private online gallery with 3-5 images to choose from, along with the option to purchase boutique products such as canvas gallery wraps.
On Picture Day, one of our highly trained photographer will be photographing each child, taking the time needed to bring out their true personality. We don’t force smiles and never ask them to say ‘cheese’!
We photograph no more than two schools a week, allowing us to give excellent customer service, when it comes time for galleries to go active and ordering questions to come in. Tiia personally answers all the calls and emails and can quickly reference the student gallery and images.
Can you photograph a big school?
Absolutely! We use the same software and similar backend workflow as the big box companies, allowing us to manage hundreds of students, without mixups and without a long turnaround time! We can also meet the needs of larger elementary schools, such as student IDs, PSPA exports for yearbooks, etc.
Do you photograph siblings?
Yes! Typically we ask the school to coordinate scheduling the older child at the younger sibling’s picture time. At that time, both children will be photographed individually and together. Parents of siblings will receive discounted ordering options. For larger schools, we recommend setting up a sibling picture day separate from the main picture day. Parents greatly appreciate the opportunity to have their kids photographed together!
What is the Turn Around Time?
Following Picture Day, the galleries are ready within 2 weeks. Parents will have a 7-10 day ordering window. Digital images are delivered withint 24 hours following ordering and prints are delivered in 1 week. Class composites take approximately 4-6weeks and will be shipped to the school.
Do you photograph groups and teachers?
Yes. We will photograph groups or we can design class composites. Staff members can also have their picture taken and we offer a complimentary digital download for them.
What Does it Cost?
There is no cost to the school. In fact, typically we donate 10% of profits, from orders placed within the ordering window, to the school or a charity that you support. For parents, there are many affordable options starting at $10 for a la carte prints and $24 for packages.
What do we need to provide on picture day?
We need a small space, preferably away from busy areas, that can accommodate a 8’x8’ setup. We also ask for a parent volunteer that knows the children or one staff member to bring students from the classroom to us. Typically having a familiar face walk them over works best with the younger ones. Parent volunteers will get a discount code to use on their order! If you don’t have extra hands, no problem, we bring a team that can take care of everything.
What Areas Do You Service?
We have been a part of the Chicago community for over ten years and continue to grow and add schools in Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Roscoe Village, the West Loop and the along the north shore. We are now planting roots in Boulder, Colorado and look forward to working with schools in Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette, Erie, Broomfield, Superior, and Longmont, Colorado!
