FINE ART SCHOOL PHOTOS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

Redefining What School Portraits Can Be

You know the school photo. Marbled blue background, a stranger saying "say cheese" for the fourth time, and a kid whose smile has gone tight and strange by the time the shutter fires. Every parent has that picture in a drawer somewhere.

I do it differently. Plain backdrop, beautiful light, and as long as it takes for a child to stop performing. I never force a smile. What ends up in the gallery is the kid who actually walked in, and every image comes in both color and black and white.

I photograph preschools, Montessori and small private schools, and homeschool pods across Central Texas, and I take on a limited number each year.

Comparison of two portrait photographs of a young boy, one in black and white on the left and one in color on the right, both with a gray background, showing him smiling in a denim shirt with embroidered details.

Two young kids share a warm hug and smile at the camera, black and white photograph.

Black and white portrait of a young boy with natural curly hair, wearing a white collared shirt and a tie, standing against a plain background.

HOW I WORK WITH SCHOOLS

10% COMES BACK TO YOUR SCHOOL

Ten percent of every digital package sold comes back to the school directly. Not a credit toward next year, nothing to invoice for, just a check once ordering closes. Prints aren't included, since I pay lab costs on those.

Your school also receives one digital file per child at no charge, whichever image you choose, for the yearbook or wherever else you need it. And if 75% or more of your families buy the full digital package, I'll send you every student's high resolution files to use however you like.

If your school would rather have staff headshots than the 10% check, I'm happy to trade. Details are in the FAQs below.

I ONLY TAKE A HANDFUL OF SCHOOLS

This is deliberate. Photographing every child individually, rather than moving a line through at four seconds each, takes time I can only give if I'm not booked wall to wall every September. It means you get me for the whole day and every family gets the same attention.

I DON’T FORCE SMILES, EVER!

No "say cheese," no chin down and turn slightly, no counting to three at a child who's already decided against it. I'd rather wait a beat and get a real face than rush and get a rictus. Some of my favorite frames are the ones where a kid forgot they were being photographed.

NOTHING FOR YOUR SCHOOL TO BUY, AND NO PACKET IN A BACKPACK FOR PARENTS

There's no sitting fee and no order form going home in a folder. Every family gets a private online gallery with 5 to 10 images of their child, and they choose what they want, if anything. Digital files arrive automatically by email. Prints can be ordered through me, or families get a print release and can use any lab they like.

SIBLINGS, TOGETHER

If siblings attend the same school, I photograph them together as well as individually, at no extra charge.

WORKING WITH CHILDREN WHO NEED MORE TIME

I'd rather be told in advance than figure it out on the day. If a child doesn't want to be touched, needs the room quieter, does better with a familiar adult in their line of sight, or simply needs a longer runway before they'll look up, tell me and I'll build the day around it.

This is one of the reasons I keep the schedule loose. A child who needs fifteen minutes gets fifteen minutes, and nobody behind them gets rushed for it. If you have students on IEPs or with sensory sensitivities, talk to me about what's worked for them before and we'll plan from there.

HOMESCHOOL PODS

Homeschool families usually don't get school pictures at all, which seems like a shame. I photograph pods the same way I photograph schools: I come to you, I bring everything, and each child gets their own gallery. The minimum is 10 children, and pods often combine with another group to reach it.

THE THINGS SCHOOL DIRECTORS ASK ME FIRST

Background check. I'm happy to complete whatever your school requires. Background check, fingerprinting, reference calls, whatever your process is. Just send it over and I'll get it done before picture day.

Liability insurance. I carry $1 million in liability coverage and can provide a certificate of insurance naming your school. Email me and I'll send it.

Photo permissions. My default is that school photos stay private. I don't post them on social media, ever. If I'd like to use an image on my website or in marketing, I contact that child's parent directly and ask for written permission first. No school photo of a child goes public without a parent saying yes in writing.

Black and white portrait of a young boy with curly hair, smiling, wearing a button-up shirt with floral embroidery.

Portrait of a young boy with curly hair, smiling, wearing a denim shirt with embroidery on the collar and pocket, against a gray background.

A black and white portrait of a young girl smiling, with long hair and a hair clip, wearing a light-colored blouse with lace details.

Portrait of a young girl with long brown hair and a hair clip, smiling while looking at the camera, wearing a white top, against a plain gray background.

Black and white portrait of a young boy with curly hair, smiling, wearing a button-up shirt with embroidery details, against a plain background.

A young boy with curly brown hair and a bright smile, wearing a denim shirt with embroidered flowers and a hot air balloon on the shoulder, against a plain gray background.

A young girl with long hair laughing with her eyes closed, wearing a light-colored top with lace details.

A young girl with long brown hair, closed eyes, and a big open-mouthed smile, wearing a white top with lace details and a decorative hair clip.

Black and white portrait of a young boy with curly hair, wearing a collared shirt with embroidered flower details, smiling at camera.

A young boy with wavy brown hair and light skin, smiling at the camera, wearing a light blue denim shirt with embroidered flowers and a hot air balloon on the collar, and a gray background.

Two young kids embracing and smiling at the camera in a black and white portrait.

Two young kids hugging and smiling at the camera against a gray background.

Black and white portrait of a young boy smiling, with curly hair, wearing a denim shirt with embroidered flowers on the collar and a letter 'A' on the pocket.

A young boy with light brown, wavy hair smiling, wearing a denim shirt with floral embroidery on the collar and pocket against a gray background.

Two young kids hugging and smiling at the camera, black and white photograph.

Black and white photo of two young kids with long hair, smiling and looking at the camera, against a plain background.

Two young kids with brown hair and light skin, smiling and standing close together against a gray background.

Two young kids hugging and smiling, one with curly hair and the other with straight hair, in black and white.

Two young kids hugging and smiling, one with curly hair and the other with straight hair and a hairpin, against a gray background.

Black and white portrait of a young girl with long hair wearing a dress with a floral collar, smiling at the camera.

Portrait of a young girl with long red hair, smiling, wearing a blue dress with floral embroidery, against a dark gray background.

Black and white portrait of a smiling young woman with long hair, resting her chin on her hands.

A young girl with long, light brown hair and blue eyes, smiling with her teeth showing, resting her chin on her hands, wearing a blue shirt against a neutral gray background.

A young girl with long hair, wearing a dress with puffed sleeves and a patterned collar, making a playful face with her tongue out and eyes looking upwards, in a black and white studio portrait.

A young girl with long brown hair making a silly face, sticking out her tongue and looking to the side. She is wearing a blue dress with floral embroidery around the collar and sleeves, against a plain gray background.

Black and white portrait of a smiling young girl with short hair, wearing earrings and a crocheted top, against a plain background.

A young girl smiling happily with short brown hair, wearing a sleeveless crocheted top with colorful flower patterns and small flower earrings, against a plain gray background.

Black and white portrait of a young girl smiling, wearing a sleeveless crochet top with floral patterns, earrings, and shoulder-length hair.

A young girl with short brown hair smiling and looking at the camera, wearing a colorful crocheted top and flower-shaped earrings, against a gray background.

A black-and-white portrait of a young boy with short dark hair, smiling softly, wearing a button-up shirt, against a plain background.

Close-up portrait of a young boy with brown hair, wearing a light blue collared shirt, smiling slightly against a plain grey background.

A black and white photograph of a young boy smiling, showing missing teeth, wearing a button-up shirt.

A young boy with brown hair and brown eyes, smiling with missing front teeth, wearing a light blue button-down shirt against a gray background.

Black and white portrait of a young boy with short dark hair, smiling widely, wearing a collared shirt.

A young boy with dark brown hair smiling and showing missing front teeth, wearing a light blue collared shirt, standing against a plain gray background.

Black and white photo of a young girl embracing a young boy, both smiling softly at the camera.

A young girl and boy hugging each other and smiling, with a neutral gray background.

A young girl with short brown hair and earrings, and a young boy with dark hair and a light blue shirt, hugging and smiling at the camera against a gray background.

A black-and-white photo of a young girl and boy smiling and touching faces, close together, against a plain background.

FAQs

Is There a Sitting Fee?

No. The sitting and the online gallery are free. Families choose whether to order digitals, prints or canvases, or not to order at all. I do need a minimum of 10 children to bring picture day to your school or pod.

How long does picture day take?

It varies more than you'd think, and it depends on your school as much as on me.

For a smaller school without students who need extra support, figure 3 to 5 minutes per child. A child with special needs might take 15 to 30 minutes, and I'd rather give them that time than rush them through and get a photo nobody's happy with. Across everything, I'm usually on site somewhere between 4 and 8 hours, plus 45 minutes to set up before the first student walks in.

The other variable is preparation. Groups where teachers know the order and have the next child ready move much faster than groups sorting it out as we go. I send a prep list once we set a date, and following it makes a real difference to how the day runs.

If you tell me your enrollment and roughly how many students might need extra time, I can give you a much better estimate than any of this.

What do you need from the school on picture day?

Two things.

A room. One space with enough room for me and my lighting, with access to a three-prong outlet. It doesn't need to be large or have good windows, since I bring my own light. A spare classroom, a music room or a corner of a multipurpose room all work.

A staff member to manage the flow. Someone to bring each grade down and keep the next child ready. This is the single biggest factor in how fast the day goes. When it's handled well, kids come in one after another and we stay on schedule. When it isn't, everyone waits.

I'll send a prep list once we set a date, covering what to communicate to parents, how to sequence the grades, and a few small things that make a real difference.

What does each family receive?

Each child gets a private online gallery with 5 to 10 images, presented in both color and black and white. Families pick what they want. Digital files are delivered automatically by email, and prints can be ordered through me or printed anywhere they like using the print release that comes with their files.

Does the school get anything from sales?

Yes. Ten percent of every digital package sold comes back to the school directly, paid once ordering closes. That's the package where a family downloads all of their child's high resolution images, and it's what most families choose. Prints and canvases aren't included, since I pay lab and production costs on those.

If your school would rather have staff headshots than the check, I'm happy to trade. That covers up to 15 staff, photographed the same day, one edited image each. It replaces the giveback rather than adding to it, and needs to be decided before picture day.

Do you photograph teachers and staff?

Not by default. Picture day is built around students, and the model works because families order galleries afterward, which doesn't apply to staff.

But if your school would rather have staff headshots than the 10% giveback, I'm glad to swap. Up to 15 staff members, photographed on the same day as your students, with one edited image delivered per person. Larger staffs are welcome at an additional fee, agreed before picture day. Staff are photographed during the same visit, so if the schedule runs long they go at the end of the day, and everyone needs to be there, since I can't come back for whoever missed it.

Are you background checked?

I'm happy to complete whatever your school requires. Background check, fingerprinting, reference calls, whatever your process is. Send it over and I'll get it done before picture day.

Are you insured?

Yes. I carry $1 million in liability coverage and can provide a certificate of insurance naming your school. Email me and I'll send it.

How do you handle photo permissions?

School photos stay private by default. I don't post them on social media, ever. If I'd like to use an image on my website or in marketing, I contact that child's parent directly and get written permission first. No school photo goes public without a parent saying yes in writing.

Can siblings be photographed together?

Yes, at no extra charge, as long as they attend the same school. Let the teachers know so they can coordinate bringing them down at the same time.

How do you work with children who need extra time or accommodations?

Tell me in advance and I'll build the day around it. If a child doesn't want to be touched, needs the room quieter, does better with a familiar adult nearby, or just needs longer before they'll look up, that's fine. A child who needs fifteen minutes gets fifteen minutes and nobody behind them gets rushed for it.

Do you photograph homeschool pods?

Yes. Pods are one of my favorite groups to work with, since homeschool families usually don't get school pictures at all. The 10 child minimum applies, and pods often team up with another group to reach it.

What if a child is absent?

I schedule one makeup day, usually a couple of weeks after the original shoot date. Children who miss both days will have to wait until the following year, so it's worth letting parents know the makeup date at the same time you announce picture day.

Do you provide class composites or yearbook files?

Composites aren't included, but I'm glad to make one for you. Just ask and we'll work out the cost.

Yearbook files are simpler. Your school receives one digital file per child at no charge, and you choose which image. If 75% or more of your families buy the full digital package, I'll send you every student's high resolution files to use however you need them.

How long until families receive their photos?

It depends on the size of your school. Smaller schools usually have galleries within a couple of weeks. Schools with 65 or more students take one to two months, since every image is edited by hand rather than run through a batch process.

We have been very fortunate to have Noëlle photograph group events at our Montessori school over the last couple of years.
Graduations, spring programs, community events….. all the photographs have been phenomenal and really capture those very special moments in life.

Noëlle Westcott Photography has also helped with individual portraits of our children and her unique artistic take on portraits have been very well received by our families at the school. She is wonderful with the children and makes it a fun experience for all of them.

— Montessori School in Austin

More Testimonials Here

Black and white photograph of a smiling young boy with short, tousled hair, wearing a dark shirt.

A young boy with dark hair and a big smile, wearing a blue shirt, standing against a plain gray background.

Black and white portrait of a smiling boy with dark, messy hair, wearing a dark shirt, against a plain background.

Smiling young boy with dark spiky hair and dark eyes, wearing a navy blue shirt against a gray background.

Black and white portrait of a young girl with shoulder-length dark hair, smiling, wearing a sleeveless checkered top.

Young girl with shoulder-length brown hair and pink streaks, wearing a pink and white checkered sleeveless top, smiling against a gray background.

Black and white portrait of a smiling young girl with shoulder-length dark hair, resting her chin on her hand, wearing a sleeveless top with a bow.

A young girl with brown and pink hair smiling and resting her chin on her hand against a gray background.

A smiling young girl with long hair, wearing a textured top and a beaded necklace, in a black and white portrait.

A young girl with blonde hair and blue eyes smiling at the camera, wearing a beige blouse and a necklace with smiley face beads, against a dark gray background.

Black and white portrait of a young girl with long, wavy hair smiling, wearing a button-up shirt.

A young girl with long, wavy red hair wearing a white button-up shirt, smiling at the camera.

Black and white portrait of a smiling young girl with long hair, wearing a collared shirt.

A young girl with light skin, long brown hair, and big brown eyes, smiling and showing a missing front tooth, wearing a white button-up shirt.

Close-up of a young girl with curly brown hair, blue eyes, and a smiling expression, wearing a white top with ruffled sleeves.

Black and white photo of a smiling young girl with curly hair and a missing front tooth, wearing a short-sleeved top with ruffled shoulders.

Black and white photo of two young girls standing close together, smiling, with her arm around her sister. The girl on the left has straight hair and a slight smile, while the girl on the right has curly hair and is smiling widely.

Two young girls standing close together, one with straight brown hair wearing a white collared shirt, and the other with curly dark hair wearing a white t-shirt, smiling against a gray background.

Two young girls hugging each other and smiling at the camera, one with straight hair and the other with curly hair, in black and white.

Two young girls with brown and curly hair, hugging and smiling, one in a white shirt and the other in a white top, against a plain gray background.

Two young girls with light brown and dark curly hair, smiling and embracing each other, against a plain gray background.

Black and white photo of two young girls smiling, with one girl having straight hair and the other with curly hair, wearing casual clothing, standing close together against a plain background.

A young girl with short dark hair smiling at the camera, black and white photo, wearing a sleeveless top.

A young girl with short black hair smiling, wearing a pink sleeveless top, against a gray background.

Black and white portrait of a young girl with short hair, smiling with her hands under her chin, wearing a sleeveless top.

A young girl smiling with her chin resting on her fists, wearing a pink sleeveless top and looking at the camera.

A young girl with short black hair, smiling, wearing a pink sleeveless top, against a plain gray background.

Black and white portrait of a smiling young girl with short dark hair, wearing a sleeveless top, against a plain background.

Black and white portrait of a young girl with long hair, wearing a plaid shirt and a sparkling headband, smiling gently.

A young girl with long dark hair, wearing a plaid shirt and a sparkly headband, smiles at the camera against a plain gray background.

Black and white portrait of a young girl smiling with curly hair, wearing a cold-shoulder top.

A young girl with blonde hair, smiling broadly, wearing a tie-dye shirt with cut-out shoulders against a gray background.

Portrait of a smiling young girl with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a pink and white tie-dye top, against a gray background.

Black and white portrait of a young girl with wavy hair, smiling at the camera, wearing a sleeveless top.

Black and white portrait of a young boy with short hair, wearing a button-up shirt, looking at the camera with a slight smile.

A young boy with short brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a light gray collared shirt, smiling softly against a plain gray background.

Black and white photo of a young girl and boy hugging and smiling at the camera.

Two young children, a girl and a boy, hugging and smiling, against a plain gray background.

I'm based in North Austin and photograph schools and pods across Central Texas, including Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Leander, Pflugerville, Liberty Hill, Westlake, Lakeway, Bee Cave and Dripping Springs.

I take on a limited number of schools each year, which is deliberate. Three minutes per child only works if I'm not booked wall to wall every September, and it's the difference between photographing a child and processing one. If you're a director wondering whether your group is too small to bother asking, it probably isn't. The minimum is 10 children and some of my favorite days have been at the smaller end of that.

Black and white portrait of a young boy with curly hair, wearing a white shirt and a tie, standing against a plain background.

BRING ME TO YOUR SCHOOL

If you run a daycare, preschool, Montessori, small private school or homeschool pod and you'd like to talk about picture day, get in touch. Tell me roughly how many students you have, the dates you're considering, and anything I should know about your group.

The minimum is 10 children. If you're wondering whether yours is too small, it probably isn't.

GET IN TOUCH

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