- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Round Rock Today
By the People, for the People
Lifetouch Assures Parents Photos Aren't Shared After Epstein Ties Emerge
School photography company CEO says images only used for school records or parent purchases.
Published on Feb. 14, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Lifetouch, the largest school photography company in the U.S., has sought to reassure parents after a recent cache of documents tied an investor in its parent company, Apollo Global Management, to Jeffrey Epstein. Lifetouch's CEO said the company does not provide student images to third parties and only shares them for school records or parent purchases. The company itself is not named in the Epstein files, and there are no allegations of student photos being used in illicit activities.
Why it matters
The revelations about Epstein's connections have raised concerns among parents about the handling of student photos, especially given Lifetouch's dominant position in the school photography market. The company's response aims to address these worries and maintain trust with schools and families.
The details
Lifetouch's CEO, Ken Murphy, stated that neither Apollo nor its funds are involved in the day-to-day operations of Lifetouch, and that no one employed by Apollo has ever had access to student images. Shutterfly, Lifetouch's parent company, was acquired by affiliates of Apollo in 2019. Some school districts, including those in East Texas, have announced plans to review their scheduled school picture day sessions, while several Central Texas districts said they aren't making changes.
- The DOJ recently released a cache of documents that resurfaced links between former Apollo CEO Leon Black and Jeffrey Epstein.
- Black left Apollo in 2021 over his connection to Epstein.
- Epstein died by suicide in 2019 after being charged with sex trafficking of minors.
The players
Lifetouch
The largest school photography company in the United States.
Ken Murphy
The CEO of Lifetouch.
Apollo Global Management
A private equity firm that is an investor in Shutterfly, Lifetouch's parent company.
Leon Black
The former CEO of Apollo Global Management who left the firm in 2021 over his connection to Jeffrey Epstein.
Jeffrey Epstein
The financier who died by suicide in 2019 after being charged with sex trafficking of minors.
What they’re saying
“Neither Apollo nor its funds are involved in the day-to-day operations of Lifetouch and therefore no one employed by Apollo has ever had access to any student images.”
— Ken Murphy, CEO, Lifetouch (statesman.com)
What’s next
Some school districts have announced plans to review their scheduled school picture day sessions in light of the Epstein revelations.
The takeaway
This case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability when it comes to the handling of sensitive student data, especially by large companies that serve the education sector. Lifetouch's response aims to reassure parents, but ongoing scrutiny and review by school districts will be crucial to maintaining trust.
