Tempest Photography

Tempest Photography: school photography in the United Kingdom

Tempest Photography presents itself as the most popular school photography company in the United Kingdom, according to its own description. Its activity focuses on portrait and group photography, with specialisation in babies, early years, schools, graduations, work teams and the military.

Specialisation and commissions

The company works with schools and other groups. Commissions include individual portraits and group photographs. Among the audiences it serves are babies, early years children, schools, graduation ceremonies, work teams and military personnel.

Orders and access to photographs

The ordering website allows families to locate pupils' images using a reference number or a QR code. To complete the purchase, an email address must be entered, which the company uses to send updates about the order. The child's name is also requested, and this information is only used if delivery to the school is selected.

Photographs are first sent to the lab, where colours are corrected and they are uploaded for viewing. This process usually takes around 7-10 days, although it may be quicker. The company states that it is possible to place an order without waiting for the digital preview.

Photography styles and finishes

Tempest photographers usually take two styles of portrait: one traditional, taken at a straight angle and showing more of the body, and one contemporary, captured at an angle and with a tighter crop that usually cuts off part of the head or hair. The proofs received by schools show the pupils' positioning within the frame and cannot be altered.

The backdrops for each session are selected by the school itself from the available range. The colour that appears in the prints matches that of the proof and cannot be changed.

Retouching services and downloads

When flash reflections appear on a pupil's glasses, the Tempest team attempts to correct them digitally; according to the company, the result is satisfactory in the vast majority of cases. To request this service, the contact form must be completed.

Image downloads are managed through a specific site. If the preview was available at the time of ordering, the download link is obtained by entering the 10-digit reference. If the preview could not be viewed, the company states that the download may take up to 7 days to become available.

Customer service and order management

The direct orders team handles issues related to photographs. To change a delivery address, the orders team must be contacted; if the delivery-to-school option has been selected, the address cannot be changed. If the 10-digit reference number has been lost, the school can provide it, as on the day of the session it receives a CD from the photographer with all the images and their references. For data protection and child protection reasons, the company does not store any photograph under the child's name.

If you forget to tick the mounts box when placing your order, the company sends a set of mounts to your home address after you complete an online form.

Contact

The company handles telephone enquiries on 01736 751555, with a specific option for the direct orders team, and also through a contact form on its website.