Fine Art Portraits
minneapolis School Photographer
Sometimes pensive, sometimes joyful, sometimes fun-always authentic.
Timeless and classic portraits that allow the personality of children to shine! These photos are different than what you may be used to. I work hard to provide an elevated process, elevated experience, and elevated product. No forced smiles, no stiff awkward posing, and no distracting props or backgrounds. I interact with each child to elicit genuine expressions and capture their unique mannerisms. The results are different with every child.
Fine art school portraits - what are they?
Emotive & real
Timeless & authentic
Natural & fun
Let those personalities shine!
The above gallery can give you a quick overview of my style, clean/natural editing, and consistency across multiple children. Below, click on any of the individual featured galleries to see actual galleries delivered for several children.
check out some featured galleries!
Natural & fun
now viewing:
Timeless & authentic
now viewing:
Emotive & real
now viewing:
The Process
Within 3 weeks of picture day, I’ll send out an email to all parents with a link to their child’s private, watermarked gallery.
Families will have 7 days to place their orders. Digitals will be available for immediate download. Prints/artwork will be delivered to the school to be sent home with children. All parent questions will come right to me for prompt response.
Within 2 weeks of of gallery closing, I will cut your school a check for 10% of my profits!
Galleries are live!
I’ll arrive to your school at the agreed upon time and get my equipment set up.
I’ve found it works best to have a staff member that the kiddos are familiar with bring the children to me 2-3 at a time.
I’ll spend a few minutes with each child, snapping away and utilizing my full bag of tricks to get all those delightful expressions! I spend a little extra time with timid or frightened children to ensure they feel comfortable and have a positive experience.
Let’s shoot!
I’ll schedule a brief visit to your school so we can determine the best location for me to set up on photo day.
You’ll send me a school roster with student first/last name and parent email addresses in CSV or Excel formal.
You’ll send out an email to parents notifying them of the upcoming school picture date and introducing me. I’ll provide you a private landing page link on my website that is personalized to your school to include in the email. It will give parents ALL the info they need!
That’s it-I take over all communication with families from here!
Preparation
You’re ready to move forward-let’s do this thing!
Once you’re ready, we’ll officially schedule your school’s photo day. I’ll send over my short contract. It’s easy peasy-you can review/sign with just a few clicks.
Your school’s picture day is now secured on my calendar!
Make it official
Let’s keep this whole thing easy, yeah? You have enough on your plate!
Fill out the short contact form on my website and send it on over. I make it a priority to get back to you in one business day.
We’ll schedule a brief phone call to spend a few moments getting to know your school and your needs.
I’ll walk you through my process, which is purposely streamlined to be as simple as possible. I’ll answer any questions or concerns.
Say hello
Director at
Judson Preschool
Anne Krocak
She made the little ones feel comfortable and the parents LOVED the pictures! She is organized and totally on top of the details. We will absolutely be working with Kate again and again.”
“Kate was amazing to work with - she pulled out so many tricks that resulted in a genuine smile from each and every one of our preschoolers.
Director at Temple Israel Early Childhood Center
Sharon
Her photographs are beautiful and our parents have been delighted. Do you hate having to organize order forms and parent communication and photo delivery? Don't even worry about it! Kate handles it all. Have you had photographers that tickle children to get them to smile? NOT KATE. She has been fantastic with consent and working with the children to bring out their natural smiles.
“Kate handles our early childhood center's photography and is an absolute gem to work with.
Sínead
The children were at ease and it shows -the pictures are beautiful!
Kate listened to our concerns -making sure that all skin tones and family structures were portrayed as beautifully as possible. We wouldn't hesitate to have Kate back.
“Kate was genuine, caring, professional and prompt through the whole process.
Director at Augsburg Park Montessori School
Frequently Asked Questions
Click here to learn more about me and feel free to take a peek around my site! I have three of my own school aged children, so I'm quite accustomed to the chaos, big feelings, and most of all joy that comes from working with small children!
My goal is to provide a personal touch to schools and parents that rivals that of the big name school photo companies. Schools and parents will be working directly with me from planning school photo day, to taking the photos, to ordering and delivery of digitals and prints.
There is NO charge to the school or to the parents to have school photos taken. There is NO obligation to purchase. After receiving a link to their child's private, watermarked gallery, parents will have options to purchase high resolution digital downloads, prints, and composites of the whole class. Several value priced packages are also available. Prices are competitive. Click the button below to see current pricing-please note pricing is subject to change.
10% of profits are donated to the school!
Anytime school is in session! Let's talk and make a plan for the best time of year for YOUR school!
YES! I have so many tricks up my sleeve to make the process of photographing children quick and fun. That said, every child's temperament is different and I will not force a child to smile. My goal is for picture day to be a fun and non-traumatic experience. I see and appreciate the magic and beauty in every expression!
I ask that school administration send out an email to families notifying them of the scheduled school photo date and providing a link to a private landing page on my website that is personalized for your school. The landing page will include the school's photo date, a pricing sheet, examples of my work, my contact info, and FAQs for parents. I'll handle all communication with families from there!
I just need an indoor space that has enough room for my backdrop and small amount of lighting equipment. I'd suggest that the location be very close to the classrooms to keep the process efficient and minimize disruption. I ask that I visit the school prior to photo day so that school administration and myself can select the ideal location together.
I recognize that photo day is a disruption to the school's normal routine. My goal is to minimize disruption to the extent possible and work efficiently so children can get back to what they do best-playing and learning!
I've found that it works best for a school staff member that is familiar with the children to bring them to me in small groups of 2-3. This familiar face really makes a difference in easing children's anxiety about an unknown person/event. I'd suggest working through one class or group at a time. The rest of the class can proceed on with their usual schedule and each child will be away for just a few minutes having their picture taken.
The ordering and delivery process is made to be as hands off as possible for the school. Teachers and administrators have too much on their plate already-let's keep this easy for you!
Within 3 weeks of photo day, I will email parents a link to their child’s watermarked proofing gallery. There will be approximately 4-7 images of each child, both in color and black & white. Parents order directly from the online gallery. Prints will be delivered to the school to go home with children. Digitals will be available for immediate download.
Galleries will be live for 7 days.
All orders must be placed within the 7 day period.
In lieu of the traditional group photo, I offer class composites. Each class or group will have their own composite, an 8x10 print made up of an individual photo of each child and a photo of the teacher(s). Student and teacher names will be under each photo. Class composites will be included in each child's gallery. Families can choose to purchase individually or purchase a package that includes the class composite. Digital downloads of class composites are not provided.
Can siblings be photographed together? Can siblings that don’t attend the school be photographed as well?
Yes! With school permission, I love to offer a set number of sign up spots for parents to bring outside siblings to be photographed at drop off time. Attending siblings are photographed together during the school day.
Each child will have their own album and a separate album made up of images of siblings together. I provide a private discount code to parents that will have multiple galleries to help offset the expense.
A resounding yes. I take privacy, most especially when it comes to children, very seriously. Galleries are private and parents will receive a link only to their own child's password protected gallery. I do not use any photos of a child on my website, business social media accounts, or marketing materials unless I have received permission from a parent. My default is always not to share unless I get this permission.
Yes! Staff photos are taken for the Class Composites. I can also photograph any auxiliary staff. Schools will be able to download staff photos for no charge. Both web resolution and print resolution digital files will be provided. School will have rights to use staff photos as they wish-on their website, in print marketing, etc.
Yes, I offer one make up day for schools over 40 students. I schedule the make up day approximately one week from the main picture day. This time frame allows time for any kiddos that were out sick to recover and be back in school. It also allows me to release all galleries at once, within three weeks of the main picture day.
Yes, Kate Simpson Photography, LLC is a registered limited liability company with the state of Minnesota. I carry general liability and equipment insurance for my business.
Kayla
You are incredible. Thank you!!!!”
“KATE THESE ARE
AMAAAAZING!!!!!!
Laura
I’m so grateful that you choose to photograph kids and for your partnership with Academia Elze. Wonderful pictures. Thank you so much for this beautiful work!"
“These are amazing photos!!
I look at his huge smiling picture at least once an hour :-) We don’t see that huge smile very often and when we do it’s hard to stop the moment and ask for a picture."
“I am in awe of the smile you coaxed out of L****.
Thanks again for doing all of these! Can’t believe how awesome they turned out!"
“Oh my goodness Kate these are AMAZING, thank you so much!
Thank you! I have spoken to other parents from our school who are similarly impressed!"
“We are totally blown away by the gorgeous photos you took of S*****!
They really did bring me and my husband so much joy! You captured shots we have never been able to capture!"
“The pictures are GORGEOUS!
I’m excited to hear from you!
