Like most schools in the nation, Waco ISD currently partners with Lifetouch for student photography. However, Lifetouch is owned by Shutterfly, which was purchased in 2019 by private-equity firm Apollo Global Management — co-founded and led for many years by Leon Black.

Leon Black has been widely reported to have paid Jeffrey Epstein tens of millions of dollars over many years. In 2023, Black paid a $62.5 million settlement to the U.S. Virgin Islands related to claims connected to Epstein’s trafficking operation, allowing him to avoid further litigation and investigation. 

For several years the company responsible for photographing our schoolchildren (and storing their photos) has operated under the ownership of a firm led by someone with documented financial ties to Epstein. For many parents, that raises serious ethical concerns and erodes trust.

Schools should partner only with vendors that reflect the highest standards of safety, transparency, and public confidence—especially when those vendors are given access to children and their images.

We are calling on Waco ISD to:
-Review and reconsider its contract with Lifetouch
-Seek alternative photography vendors (preferably local)
-Communicate transparently with families about vendor vetting and student data protections

This is about protecting trust and ensuring that the companies working with our children reflect the values our community expects.

If you believe Waco ISD should choose a different photography vendor, please sign and share.