A whole-school group photographed on tiered staging, every face clear

The Whole School Photograph

Once a year, the entire school gathers in one place: every student and every member of staff, arranged and lit so that each face is clear. It is the most demanding photograph we take, and one of the most treasured. Here is how we make it, and what your school receives.

A photographer setting up tiered staging for a large group

How It Is Made

We plan the position, timing and light with you well in advance, then bring the staging and the team to set several hundred people quickly and calmly. The final image is assembled and retouched to our own standard, with nothing left to chance.

  • A site visit and a plan agreed beforehand
  • Tiered staging brought and built by our team
  • Most schools are photographed and back to lessons within the hour
Award Winning Staging
A large framed school photograph on a wall

Sizes & Finishes

The photograph is printed large, so that it can be read. We offer a range of sizes and finishes, from a framed print for the entrance hall to smaller copies for families, all produced to archival standard.

  • Large framed prints for display
  • Family-sized copies to order online
  • Archival papers and mounts throughout
Building Options
A run of framed school photographs along a corridor

Keeping the Record

Each year's photograph joins the last. Many schools display a run of them along a corridor, and alumni return years later to find themselves. We keep a copy of every image we take for you, indefinitely.

  • A continuing annual series
  • Digital copies retained for the school
  • Reprints available years later

We can also digitise and restore older school photographs you already hold.

Your Own Archive

Every School Is Different

No two schools are the same shape, and no two sites present the same challenge. If yours is unusual, tell us. Our team has photographed schools on hillsides, in cathedrals and on sports fields, and will make yours work.

Speak to our team

Frequently Asked Questions

How much of the day does it take?

Less than you would expect. With a plan agreed in advance, most schools are gathered, photographed and back to lessons within the hour.

What if the weather is poor?

We agree a covered fallback position when we visit. If the day itself is impossible we will return, at no extra cost, to take the photograph properly.

Can families buy a copy?

Yes. Alongside the large framed print for the school, families order their own copies online in a range of sizes.

How far ahead should we book?

The autumn and early summer terms are busiest. A term's notice is ideal, though we will always try to help at shorter notice.

A school building photographed on a bright morning

Arrange Your Whole-School Photograph

Tell us a little about your school and when you would like the photograph taken, and a member of our team will be in touch to plan it with you.