Rock Hill Local Schools has announced the termination of its partnership with Lifetouch, a company that provides student photography services in the district. This decision, communicated to parents on March 2, 2026, follows mounting concerns regarding the company’s connections to controversial figures and recent media scrutiny.
The district’s statement emphasized that while there have been no immediate operational issues within the schools, the decision was made in the best interest of students, families, and the broader community. The school board is currently exploring alternative providers for student photography.
Lifetouch, which is headquartered in Minnesota and operates facilities in Ohio, has faced significant backlash across various school districts nationwide. This has been largely fueled by the release of files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. Although Lifetouch and its services are not directly implicated in these files, the company’s parent firm, Apollo Global Management, has drawn attention due to its former CEO, Leon Black.
Black’s connections to Epstein have raised serious concerns. According to the files, Black had meetings with Epstein from 2010 to 2017, which occurred after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. Black departed from Apollo amid scrutiny over these ties but has not faced any criminal charges. Apollo acquired Shutterfly, Lifetouch’s parent company, in 2019.
In response to the growing controversy, Lifetouch issued a statement clarifying that Black had no access to their photographs. The company firmly stated, “No Lifetouch executives have ever had any relationship or contact with Epstein, and we have never shared student images with any third party, including Apollo.” Furthermore, Lifetouch emphasized that Apollo has no involvement in the daily operations of the company.
The fallout from the Epstein files has prompted several school districts, including Greenup Local Schools in Kentucky, to sever ties with Lifetouch. Greenup Local Schools announced on March 3, 2026, that they would not conduct spring photos this year and would trial a new service provider for graduation photos.
In a contrasting move, the Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC) had previously decided to drop Lifetouch but later reinstated the partnership after conducting an investigation. KEDC stated that their inquiry revealed the historical associations with Epstein were linked to past investment relationships that are no longer relevant to current operations.
As Rock Hill Local Schools reviews its options, the implications of this decision reflect broader concerns about ethical partnerships in the education sector. The decision to seek alternatives highlights the importance of community trust and the need for transparency in vendor relationships.
