An artistic take on A cherished tradition
personality
-infused photographs
Say goodbye to generic, boring prints and hello to
gallery-worthy,
photography
parents will proudly display for years to come.
portfolio
Reach Out Now
Now Booking Fall 2025 / Spring 2026
Transforming picture day for schools and giving parents gallery-worthy photographs they’ll treasure forever
Presenting
Unscripted Portraits:
Have questions?
I’ve got answers
Is this a fit for my child’s school? What ages do you work with? →
What are Unscripted Portraits? How does it work? →
How does the school benefit? →
What is the cost? →
How many images will parents receive? Are print copies included? →
Are there picture retakes? →
What should kids wear? →
How many children can you accommodate? →
What does the school need to provide? →
What are Unscripted Portraits? How does it work?
Unscripted Portraits offers a distinctive photography experience for schools, capturing children as their authentic selves without props or awkward poses. I’ll coordinate picture days at your school, create a quiet and comfortable space, and photograph students over several days. After Picture Day, parents can view and purchase their child’s photos from an online gallery. Plus, I donate 10% of the proceeds back to participating schools!
My core values include:
Nurturing the Whole Student: I celebrate each child's unique identity, recognizing the importance of social and emotional growth alongside academic achievement.
Representation Matters: My portraits help students see themselves reflected in their community, enhancing confidence and self-esteem through genuine photography.
Creating a Safe Environment: I foster creativity and self-exploration, encouraging students to connect with their identities and appreciate the diversity of their peers.
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Is this a fit for my child’s school? What ages do you work with?
My services are designed for early childhood centers and schools that embrace holistic student development. I work with PreK-9 students and foster environments that prioritize inclusivity, emotional growth, and authentic representation!
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What is the cost?
There’s no upfront cost for schools or parents. Every child will be photographed, and parents can view and purchase their child’s photos from an accessible online gallery after Picture Day.
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How does the school benefit?
I give back to the communities I serve by donating 10% of my proceeds to participating schools, supporting their programs and initiatives!
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How many children can you accommodate?
I can accommodate schools of various sizes. Please reach out to discuss your specific needs. My goal is continuous growth in serving education communities!
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What should kids wear?
I encourage children to express their individuality through their clothing! While solid colors are ideal, I suggest avoiding graphics, neon colors, and white shirts. If a child has a favorite shirt, hat, or piece of jewelry, they are welcome to wear it.
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What does the school need to provide?
To ensure a smooth experience, schools should:
Provide a Suitable Area: Arrange a quiet space for photographing students, such as a library or empty classroom. A gym can also work well.
Designate a Point Person: Appoint someone to communicate key information to parents and assist with coordination.
Recruit Volunteer Assistants: It’s helpful to have one to three volunteers, especially for pre-K students. Volunteers from the community help to maintain trust and ensure a comfortable environment for the children.
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How many images will parents receive? Are print copies included?
Parents will receive a private online album with 2-5 images in both color and black & white. There may be additional images if a child’s session is particularly outstanding. Print copies are not included; parents can choose to purchase and print their photos as desired.
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Are there picture retakes?
Since every student receives a variety of images in their gallery, I do not offer retakes. For schools with over 100 students, I include a makeup day. The school will need to provide a list of students who missed the original picture day, as well as assist in scheduling this makeup session.
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READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP?
I offer a variety of collections and a-la-carte packages. Different schools have different needs, so I’m always willing to customize my services to create a more personalized portrait day experience.
If you are a school representative or a parent interested in bringing me to your school, please reach out through my contact form below, or you can email me directly at website email address.
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“Michelle’s enthusiasm is contagious; our kids had SO much fun working with her. Her advice of letting them pick what they wanted to wear was spot on as they were comfortable and natural. Michelle really captured their unique personalities in the most magical way — we’ll be recommending her to every parent we know.”
Sara
“Michelle is magic! Pure magic! We are SO grateful for the photographs she created of our child. What a gift. We can’t thank her enough.”
Miranda
“OH MY GOODNESS! We love our son’s photos SO MUCH! He’s a sweet, sensitive, handsome kid and she captured him! We are filled with gratitude.”
Brandy
“The kids’ school pictures are AWESOME! They are by far the best pictures ever taken of my kids! I’m in love.”
Kate
“Let me just say how much we LOVE our girls’ photos. They are definitely the best school photos we have ever gotten and we are so lucky to have them. Michelle is a genius.”
David
The number one thing I hear from parents?
I believe picture day doesn’t have to be a stressful event that schools dread ticking off their must-do list, only for parents to be left with mediocre images that collect dust in a yearbook, instead of being hung up on a wall and celebrated for years to come.
I’m here to reinvent the traditional school portrait experience and create artful compositions that reflect the unique personalities of each child. Gone are the stiff cookie-cutter poses and uninspired forced smiles — instead, I focus on capturing unscripted individuality, authentic expression, and the light that shines from within.
“You saw my child the way the way i see them”
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I understand
the importance of parents having exquisite, enduring photographs of their children.
As a Mother,
kind words
kind words
“Michelle has a knack for capturing children authentically and takes photos that our families want to hang in their homes. She doesn't take the standard issue school picture, it's a beautiful portrait of your child that highlights their personality. She can capture joy.
As a school director, using Michelle has been an easy ‘win’ for me. Parents LOVE the photos, which save them the hassle of arranging separate photo sessions. Her prices are very affordable, and she gives parents the freedom to choose what they want to buy after seeing the pictures. Additionally, she generously donates 10% of all purchases back to our school.
As a full-inclusion school, we've been particularly impressed with Michelle's ability to capture the essence of children with special needs. She also takes sibling photos when she's at the school, a service our parents adore, knowing how challenging family photography can be. Michelle's deep respect for children is evident in her work. She creates an environment of trust where children’s authentic personalities shine, making photo day a delightful experience for everyone involved.”
