Back-to-School Portrait Day Is Coming to the Apothecary

There is a version of the school picture that most of us have quietly accepted. A folding backdrop in the gym, a line of kids waiting their turn, ninety seconds under fluorescent lights, and an envelope that comes home a month later. It documents the year. It rarely does much more than that.

On Saturday, September 12, we are trying something else. Photographer Chance Varner is setting up inside the Bloomfield Lavender Apothecary in LaGrange from 10am to 2pm, and every child who comes through will sit for a real portrait. Classic, painterly lighting. A schoolhouse-inspired set built with dried lavender from the farm. Five unhurried minutes with someone who actually knows how to make a kid laugh.

My kids sat for these first

Chance came out this summer and photographed George, Annie, and Augie so we could see what the day would look like before we asked anyone else to trust it. I was expecting a nice snapshot. What came back were portraits I have been pulling up on my phone to show people, which is not a thing I have ever done with a school picture.

That is when we decided to open it up. If you homeschool and your children have never had a picture day, this one is yours. If your kids do sit for one at school and you have found yourself wishing it looked like more, this is that too.

How the day works

Book a time, or simply walk in. Chance has five-minute slots running from 10am to 2pm with a few breaks built in. Reserving ahead means you walk straight in at your time. If your Saturday will not cooperate with a schedule, walk-ins are welcome the entire window and Chance will work you in between appointments. He has been clear with us that nobody who wants a photo is going to be turned away.

Five minutes really is enough. It sounds short. It is not. Chance can photograph one child comfortably in that window, and he can fit two children into a single slot without cutting anything short.

Bringing more than one child? Reserve a slot for each one so everybody gets their own individual portraits. Sibling shots and buddy shots happen right there in the same session, so there is nothing extra to book for those.

What to wear

The set is warm and earthy, so fall colors photograph beautifully against it. Rust, olive, mustard, cream, deep brown, and denim all sit well with the lavender and the aged backdrop. If you can, skip bright neons and busy graphic prints. Solid colors give you the most timeless result, and they are the ones that still look right hanging on a wall five years from now.

The photographer behind it

Chance Varner is an award-winning portrait photographer, teacher, and coach who has been working professionally since 2014. He grew up in Shipshewana, and he is around children constantly, both in the classroom and behind the camera. His work has carried him from schools across northern Indiana to programs and events in Indianapolis, Detroit, and Dayton.

What has not changed in any of it is the part that matters most on a day like this one. He takes the time to make the person in front of the camera feel comfortable, confident, and cared for. You can see it in the pictures of my three, and my youngest is not exactly known for sitting still.

What the portraits cost

Portraits start at $4.99, and nothing is due when you book. After the event, your finished photographs go into a secure online gallery, and you decide what you want from there. There is no package to commit to in advance and no pressure on the day.

Packages. The Overture is $24.99 and includes 8 wallets plus two 4x6 prints. The Showstopper is $34.99 and adds a 5x7. The Finale is $74.99 and includes 16 wallets, two 4x6 prints, two 5x7 prints, and an 8x10.

Digital files. A version sized for sharing online is $4.99, and a full resolution file you can print from is $19.99.

Individual prints. Available on their own from wallets at $10.99 for a set of four up to a 24x36 at $149.99, with everything in between. Matted and framed options are available for the 8x10, 11x14, and 16x24 sizes.

Something for the kids while you wait

Picture day goes better when the children have somewhere to be. We are setting up simple activities in the shop so little ones stay busy before and after their turn, including a lavender sachet to make, a sensory station, and a story corner. Come early, browse the apothecary, and let them play a while. We will share the full activity details closer to the date.

Reserve your spot

Saturday, September 12, from 10am to 2pm, at the Bloomfield Lavender Apothecary, 107 W Spring St in LaGrange. Slots are limited to what fits into four hours, so if you want a specific time it is worth claiming it now.

Reserve a time slot with Chance

You can find the full event details, sample portraits, and complete pricing on our Back-to-School Portrait Day page. To see more of Chance's work, visit Chance Varner Photography.

We would love to see you there.