Schools Cancel Picture Days After Epstein-Tie Rumors
Districts canceled Lifetouch photo days after online posts linked the company to Leon Black, whose name appears 8,200 times in DOJ-released Epstein records and whose firm bought Lifetouch's parent in 2019.
Overview
Schools across the country canceled Lifetouch picture days after social media posts tied the company to Leon Black, who is named in the released Epstein files.
The disruption followed the release of at least 1.7 million records from the Epstein investigation and Apollos $2.7 billion purchase of Lifetouchs parent company that closed in September 2019.
Lifetouch and Apollo denied that Black or Apollo investors ever had access to student images, and several districts said they are conducting reviews or investigations into the claims.
The 2019 deal cost $2.7 billion and Blacks name appears about 8,200 times in the released documents, and parents in Texas, Arizona, New Jersey and California raised concerns, officials and parents said.
Some districts said they will keep photos in-house for the rest of this year and are evaluating options for the 2026-2027 school year, while others have opened transparent reviews, district statements said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this coverage neutrally: they lay out the timeline linking Lifetouch to Apollo and Leon Black, include company denials and a board review finding no evidence, cite parents’ concerns, and note investigators’ records showed no proof. The article favors factual chronology and balanced sourcing over evaluative language.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Leon Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, had close ties to Jeffrey Epstein and is described by Business Insider as one of Epstein's "most powerful associates."[1] Black paid Epstein $158 million over the years for tax-related financial advice and resigned as CEO of Apollo in 2021 following these revelations.[1] Additionally, Black's name appears approximately 8,200 times in the released Epstein investigation documents.[2] However, no criminal charges have been filed against Black, and he has denied any wrongdoing.
No. Lifetouch explicitly stated that "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."[1] Apollo also clarified that it has no role in Lifetouch's daily operations and has no access to student images.[1] These denials were issued after the rumors prompted school districts to cancel picture days.
Lifetouch was acquired by Shutterfly in 2018.[1] In 2019, Apollo Global Management, co-founded by Leon Black, purchased Shutterfly for $2.7 billion in a deal that closed in September 2019—notably one month after Epstein's death.[1] This corporate ownership chain led social media users to connect the dots between the school photography company and Epstein through Black's documented association with him.
Multiple school districts across the United States canceled or modified Lifetouch picture days, including schools in Texas, Arizona, New Jersey, and California.[1][2] Specifically, the Malakoff school district in Texas canceled student picture day after parents expressed concerns, and several other Texas schools and districts also canceled or changed their plans.[1] A charter school in Arizona similarly altered its picture day schedule.[1]
Some districts have decided to keep photos in-house for the remainder of the school year and are evaluating alternative photography options for the 2026-2027 school year.[1] Other districts have opened transparent reviews and investigations into the claims to reassure parents about the safety of student images and Lifetouch's data practices.
History
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