Turlock Parents Raise Concerns Over School Photo Company Lifetouch

Viral claims about Lifetouch's corporate ownership ties to Jeffrey Epstein files spark scrutiny from parents

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Parents in Turlock, California are questioning the school photography company Lifetouch after viral claims surfaced about the company's corporate ownership structure being linked to the Jeffrey Epstein files released by the U.S. Department of Justice. While Lifetouch itself is not named in the Epstein documents, the company is owned by Shutterfly, which is owned by funds managed by Apollo Global Management, whose former CEO Leon Black had financial dealings with Epstein. The Turlock Unified School District has met with Lifetouch representatives to review the company's data privacy and security protocols, but some parents are calling for more transparency about how student photos are stored and protected.

Why it matters

The concerns raised by Turlock parents highlight growing scrutiny over the privacy and security of student data, especially when it involves companies with any tangential connections to high-profile scandals. School photography is a ubiquitous part of the educational experience, and parents want assurances that their children's personal information is being safeguarded.

The details

Viral videos circulating online have claimed that Lifetouch, the national school photography company used by the Turlock Unified School District, is connected to the recently released Jeffrey Epstein files from the U.S. Department of Justice. The claim stems from Lifetouch's corporate ownership structure - Lifetouch is owned by Shutterfly, which is owned by funds managed by Apollo Global Management, whose former CEO Leon Black previously had financial dealings with Epstein. However, Lifetouch itself is not named in the Epstein documents.

  • On February 27, 2026, spring photo day was underway at several schools in the Turlock Unified School District.

The players

Turlock Unified School District

The school district in Turlock, California where the concerns over Lifetouch have been raised by parents.

Lifetouch

A national school photography company that contracts with school districts across the country, including Turlock Unified, to provide student photo services.

Shutterfly

The parent company that owns Lifetouch, which is itself owned by funds managed by Apollo Global Management.

Leon Black

The former CEO of Apollo Global Management, which owns the funds that own Shutterfly and Lifetouch, who had previous financial dealings with Jeffrey Epstein.

Jason Freitas

A father of five students in the Turlock Unified School District who is calling for more transparency from the district and Lifetouch about data privacy and security.

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What they’re saying

“Today, TUSD met with Lifetouch representatives to discuss recent allegations and to review the company's data privacy, safety and security protocols in detail.”

— Turlock Unified School District (cbsnews.com)

“You're going to have a lot of parents out there that's not voice-activated and won't speak up on such matters. I hope all the voices together, we can achieve something, and that's the safety of the children.”

— Jason Freitas, Parent (cbsnews.com)

“Lifetouch follows all federal, state and local privacy laws and that no student photos "were used in any illicit activities.”

— Lifetouch (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Turlock Unified School District said discussions with Lifetouch are ongoing as it continues evaluating its partnership with the company.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the growing concerns parents have over the privacy and security of their children's personal information, especially when it involves companies with any tangential connections to high-profile scandals. School districts must be proactive in ensuring robust data protection protocols are in place with their photography vendors to maintain trust with the community.