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Photographer accused of “inappropriate comments” no longer with Lifetouch

CHESAPEAKE, Virginia – A contract photographer accused of making “inappropriate comments” toward a student at Chittum Elementary in Chesapeake while taking photos at school is no longer employed by the photo agency she worked for, according to Shutterfly.

Shutterfly owns Lifetouch, a nationwide photography service for families and schools.

Check out previous coverage: Photographer removed after making inappropriate comments toward students

Photographer removed after making inappropriate comments towards students

A spokesperson for Shutterfly confirmed to News 3 that the photographer involved in the incident at Chittum Elementary was there in her capacity as a Lifetouch photographer. However, the photographer is no longer employed by Lifetouch, Shutterfly says.

The company made the following statement about its employee screening process:

“At Lifetouch, the safety of every student we photograph is our top priority. We have numerous policies and procedures in place to ensure that safety, including training and background checks on all of our photographers. We take any allegations against a photographer very seriously and conduct a thorough internal investigation. In the meantime, the employee in question has been relieved of all photography duties.”

News 3 spoke to Rachel Fjeld, the mother of a student at Chittum Elementary School, about the incident. Fjeld told us her son was posing for his school photo when the assigned photographer asked him, “Can I steal your identity?” and “Can I eat your soul?”

The photographer was escorted from school grounds for making “inappropriate comments” toward students, principal Bridget Outlaw said in an email to parents.

Watch: Chesapeake parent speaks out after photographer escorted out of school

Chesapeake parents speak out after photographer escorted out of school

Fjeld said the experience was worrying.

“You can say all you want about good versus evil, God versus devil or demons or whatever, but at the end of the day, what was said was not funny and it was not OK. It was a child in an uncomfortable situation,” Fjeld said. “I know people try to say, 'Oh, she's just kidding. It was just funny.' But it's not funny. That's not funny. And that doesn't calm a child down, it just scares them.”

However, she praised the school's response to the ordeal.

“It went to the principal, who I must say is great. The school took care of it – we are very grateful for that. They reacted very quickly and immediately escorted her off the premises and called us,” said Fjeld.

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