BAY AREA LOCAL, WOMEN-OWNED
BETTER School PORTRAITS With an Artful, Authentic TWIST
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to elevate school photography by delivering exceptional imagery through modern, efficient workflows - guided by our kid-first philosophy that keeps students at the heart of everything we do.
Exceptional Customer Service
Customer service is at the heart of everything we do. From scheduling your next photo day to final delivery, we’re committed to providing a smooth, responsive, and supportive experience for both schools and families.
Easy as 1, 2, 3…
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We’ll work with your schedule to create a custom timeline for your school.
You’ll get ready-to-go promo materials—digital and print
Families receive friendly reminder emails directly from us
Have questions? Our team is here to help, with bilingual (English/Spanish) support via email, phone, and text
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Friendly, energetic picture day team focused on creating a positive, student-centered atmosphere.
Organized and efficient workflow to minimize classroom disruption.
Photographers that LOVE what they do!
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Online galleries delivered within 2 weeks.
Optional retouching, digital files, and fine art prints available.
Orders ship to homes. Optional: Ship-to-school for added savings.
Help with ordering, delivery status, and retakes
Bilingual (English/Spanish) support via email, phone, and text
Kid-First Philosophy
What sets Sandbox apart is our kid-first philosophy. Every part of our process—from staff training to picture day pacing—is designed with students’ well-being, comfort, and safety in mind. Our photographers and assistants are all professionals who genuinely enjoy working with children, and we maintain a high standard of warmth, patience, and professionalism on every campus.
Yearbooks
Ready to make yearbooking easier? We’ve partnered with Treering to streamline everything from portraits to yearbook pages. You’ll get the photography and design tools to handle all of your yearbook needs in less time—and we’ll even load all the school photos directly into your yearbook design! Best of all, there’s no upfront cost to your school.
Frequently Asked QUESTIONS
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We primarily serve schools throughout the SF East Bay Area, however, some of our partner schools are located outside this region. If you're unsure whether we can come to your school, please contact us—we’re happy to discuss how we can make Picture Day a success at your location.
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We tailor our start time to fit your school’s schedule—typically beginning as soon as school starts or when most students are present. To ensure a smooth experience, our team arrives one hour before the scheduled start time to set up. We recommend starting early so everything is wrapped up before lunchtime.
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All Sandbox photographers are seasoned professionals who are also experts in the Sandbox Method. This means they’ve been thoroughly trained in our unique approach—combining technical skill with a kid-first philosophy to capture authentic, beautiful images in a fun and stress-free environment.
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Nope! We do spend a little more time with each student than some old-school photo companies- but it’s time well spent, and we always wrap by lunch time. Our photographers are experts at making students feel at ease and bringing out natural, joyful expressions in just over a minute per student. Even with multiple poses, our process is highly efficient—thanks to streamlined systems and a well-coordinated team. The result is a smooth Picture Day with minimal disruption to the school schedule and authentic, high-quality images that families will love.
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Absolutely! Our photographers are trained to work with all students in a patient, respectful, and supportive way. We regularly partner with schools that serve students with special needs, and we're committed to creating a comfortable experience for every child. If there are specific needs or accommodations required, please let us know in advance so we can plan appropriately.
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Yes! Staff members with children attending the school are eligible for a discount on photo packages. We provide a special staff discount code directly to the school for easy access.
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Absolutely. Once the photos are ready, we’ll deliver a PSPA-formatted folder that includes one image per student and staff member. These files are ready to use in your internal systems (such as Aeries) and for yearbook production.
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We want every family to love their photos. If a parent is unhappy for any reason, we’ll work with them directly to make it right. We offer retake options and are always happy to explore solutions to ensure they're satisfied with the final result.
