Partner spotlight

Brandon Sumner, President of Sumner Photography, wrote this month's "Picture Perfect Partnership" article. Sumner Photography is a California-based school photography company dedicated to capturing and preserving memories for educational communities. Through partnerships with platforms like Treering, Sumner Photography supports schools in creating exceptional yearbooks that serve as historical records and creative expressions of their unique identities.

In the world of school photography, few moments feel as good as seeing your partner schools get recognized on a national level. Recently, three schools that Sumner Photography works with, Coronado Middle School, Reilly Elementary, and Ladera Ranch Elementary, became finalists in a nationwide yearbook cover contest. This achievement shows not only their creative vision but also what happens when photographers and yearbook teams work well together.

How the Partnership Started

When I first partnered with Treering ten years ago, I was drawn to their excellent customer care. This fits perfectly with Sumner Photography's commitment to serving West Coast schools. What started as a shared goal to preserve memories has grown bigger than I first imagined.

School photography and yearbooks share the same basic mission: capturing and preserving memories for a lifetime. But our collaboration has grown beyond just taking pictures. Today, we're actively helping yearbook teams with their creative process, knowing that all the logistics and details involved in making a yearbook can overwhelm the very people trying to create those lasting memories.

The more we can make these processes easier—or remove roadblocks entirely—the more time yearbook teams have to focus on what really matters: telling stories, being creative, and making memories. This idea has become the heart of our partnership with Treering and the schools we serve.

Three Great Covers, Three Great Stories

Each of the three finalist covers from our partner schools tells a different story about their community and creative approach:

Coronado Middle School had a fantastic color scheme that immediately captures the unique vibe of their coastal community. Having spent time in Coronado, I can tell you, this city has a special feel. Their yearbook cover captures that perfectly. The design choices show not just good taste but a real understanding of their school's identity and place in the community.

Reilly Elementary showed amazing attention to detail in their "Dive Into Learning" theme. Every element, from the biggest design pieces to the smallest details, works together beautifully to bring their concept to life. This kind of thoughtful design is what makes the difference between good yearbooks and truly memorable ones.

Ladera Ranch Elementary impressed me with student-created artwork that shows the incredible talent within their school community. The expressive eyes in their lion mascot design—created by student artist Fiona—show the real creativity that comes out when young people get the platform and tools to express themselves.

What This Means for the Future

These three covers represent something bigger than individual school wins; they show the range of creative possibilities available in yearbook design today. What gets me most excited about yearbooks' future is how they're evolving beyond simple documentation into true creative outlets.

Yearbooks do two things: they store memories and give people a platform for artistic expression. The finalists' covers from our partner schools show how art and design can bring up feelings that readers connect with the memories captured in photos. This emotional connection turns a yearbook from a simple record into something people treasure.

The Treering platform plays a huge role in this creative evolution by making sophisticated design tools available to yearbook teams without extensive publishing backgrounds. 

Something You Can Hold

In our increasingly digital world, there's something special about holding a yearbook or photograph in your hands. This physical interaction requires intention—you have to choose to engage with it, to turn the pages, to pause and remember. This hands-on experience creates a different connection than scrolling through digital images.

I'm excited to see how yearbook teams and students continue to capture our ever-digitizing world in physical form. The challenge and opportunity are in translating the richness of digital experiences into formats that can be held, shared, and treasured for decades to come.

Looking Ahead

The success of Coronado Middle, Reilly Elementary, and Ladera Ranch Elementary in this national competition shows the incredible potential that comes when photographers, yearbook teams, and technology platforms work together smoothly. At Sumner Photography, we're committed to supporting the creative process while handling the technical stuff that can distract from the artistic vision.

These three finalist covers are just the beginning. As we continue to partner with schools and support their creative work through our collaboration with Treering, I look forward to seeing how the next generation of yearbook creators will push the boundaries of what's possible in preserving and presenting their school memories.

The combination of photography, design, and storytelling in yearbooks creates unique opportunities to capture not just what happened, but how it felt. That's a mission worth pursuing with passion and excellence.

Our guest expert is David Burns, President of Color Portraits - a longtime Treering school photography partner servicing Illinois and Wisconsin. He's been framing perfect team shots since back when "post-game snacks" meant a chocolate bar with nougat and parents weren't yet reading ingredient labels.

After 20+ years and thousands of school photo sessions across the Midwest, I've seen it all—from squinting soccer teams in harsh sunlight to last-minute makeup photo scrambles for absent students. At Color Portraits, we've mastered the art and science of school photography, turning potential chaos into seamless operations that produce stunning results. These battle-tested strategies will transform your yearbook from good to unforgettable—without the headaches, delays, or disappointed parents. 

Efficient Scheduling Strategies

For group photo days, we recommend scheduling one group every five minutes. This allows photographers to:

• Set up each group while the next one arrives
• Arrange students in height order for quick positioning
• Maintain a smooth flow throughout the day

For larger groups (school plays, entire grade levels), allow 10 minutes to prevent scheduling backups.

Middle School/Junior High Considerations

Middle schools typically schedule sports pictures three times yearly (fall, winter, spring). We recommend:

• Scheduling after school to accommodate parent-volunteer coaches and uniform changes
• Taking pictures during each sport's season for proper uniform distribution
• Capturing individual photos as athletes arrive in uniform, followed by group shots when coaches arrive

Composition Tips for Various Group Sizes

Create rectangular rather than square compositions to properly fill the frame. For optimal results:

• Utilize stairs, risers, or bleachers to ensure every face is visible
• Incorporate props for club photos to add character and personalization
• Consider photographing sports teams in their natural environment (soccer teams by goals, track teams on the track)

Lighting Techniques: Indoor vs. Outdoor

Indoor Photography:

• Provides consistent controlled lighting
• Allows for fixed flash distance and stable exposure settings

Outdoor Photography:

• Cloudy days offer less light variation but muted skies
• Sunny days provide vibrant backgrounds but create shadows and squinting
• Position groups with the sun behind them and use flash to reduce shadows
• Avoid direct sunlight into the lens

Student Identification Strategies

Send digital images to coaches or club sponsors for proper student identification. Maintain basic row formations to facilitate easy identification.

Balancing Posed and Action Photography

Our standard sports shoots focus on group and individual photos outside of game days. For action shots:

• Collect images from parents or yearbook staff taken during actual games
• Create collage pages featuring action shots from different grade levels
• Position these collages before or after formal group photos

Handling Makeup Sessions

When students miss the original photo day:

• Leave space in the original formation to add missing students via Photoshop
• This approach looks more natural than retaking group photos
• Retakes often create new absences, compounding the problem

File Organization Recommendations

Create an intuitive organization system:

• Establish separate folders for each team and club
• Request proper labeling (team grade level or club name) when parents submit photos
• Always back up all images to cloud storage or external devices

Accommodating Photo Restrictions

For students with privacy concerns:

• Ask parents if listing the child as "Not Pictured" is acceptable
• Omit names completely when parents request
• Prioritize parental decisions regarding their child's privacy

Timeline Planning for Yearbook Deadlines

Plan your photography schedule strategically:

• Capture club photos early in the school year when groups form
• Take sports team photos during their respective seasons when uniforms are available
• Complete all team photography by February at the latest
• This timeline provides yearbook editors ample preparation time

This comprehensive approach ensures your school's sports and club photography will be efficient, professional, and ready for yearbook publication.

Editor's Note: Welcome to the inaugural profile in our special "Picture Perfect Partnerships" feature series. We'll spotlight the remarkable photographers who partner with us to create lasting memories for schools nationwide. Our first profile celebrates Van Gogh School Photographers, a family business that has captured student smiles in the Chicagoland area for over 75 years. We talked to President Jack Zucco (pictured above with son Michael) about his family’s legacy.

How did your family's school photography business begin, and what inspired your father's initial entry into this specialized field?

Van Gogh School Photographers was founded in 1947 by my father. He believed every student deserved a well-crafted, lasting memory of their school years. With a passion for photography and a commitment to excellent service, he set out to build a business that not only took pictures but also preserved cherished moments for families and schools alike.

What were the most significant challenges your family faced when establishing the business in 1947, and how did they overcome them?

Resources were limited, technology was far less advanced, and building a customer base from scratch was no small feat. My father had to earn the trust of schools one by one, going door-to-door to demonstrate the value of professional school photography. He overcame these hurdles by staying true to his core principles—offering reliable service, consistent quality, and a personal touch that set Van Gogh apart.

How has the business been passed down through the generations, and what traditions or values have remained consistent?

Each generation has brought new ideas and innovations, but the fundamental values—quality, professionalism, and a customer-first approach—have remained constant. Barrington, IL has been our headquarters for almost 50 years.

What significant changes or pivotal moments shaped your family business's evolution across three generations?

There have been several defining moments in our history. The transition from film to digital photography was a major shift, requiring new equipment, training, and processes. Another pivotal moment was expanding our services beyond just portraits to include yearbooks. Our 12-year partnership with Treering has been one of the most significant milestones, allowing schools to create personalized, on-demand yearbooks that give students and families a more meaningful way to preserve memories.

How have you personally contributed to or innovated within the family legacy since joining the business?

Since joining the business, I've focused on modernizing our operations, refining our photography process, and improving efficiency without sacrificing quality. I've also played a key role in expanding our yearbook services through our partnership with Treering.

Can you share a particularly meaningful school photography project that spans multiple generations of your family's work?

One of the most meaningful aspects has been capturing school portraits for multiple generations within the same families. There have been instances where we photographed a student and years later took their children's and even their grandchildren's school portraits. Seeing those families return to us decade after decade is incredibly rewarding.

How has your family maintained relationships with schools across generations, and what's been key to that longevity?

Our relationships with schools are built on trust, reliability, and a commitment to exceeding expectations. We don't just see ourselves as photographers—we are partners in helping schools create lasting memories. Personalized service, a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and our ability to adapt to schools' changing needs have been key factors in maintaining long-term partnerships.

What photography techniques or business practices have remained unchanged since your father's era?

While technology has evolved dramatically, core photography principles have remained unchanged. Proper lighting, professional posing, and attention to detail were as important in my father's time as today. The emphasis on customer service, reliability, and delivering a quality product has been constant throughout the decades. My father always believed in making sure every student left picture day feeling good about their experience—that philosophy still drives us today.