A Virginia elementary school photographer was reportedly dismissed after allegedly making inappropriate comments to students, including asking one boy, “Can I eat your soul?” The incident occurred at Chittum Elementary School in Chesapeake, where the photographer was hired by Lifetouch, a family and school photography service owned by Shutterfly.
Bridget Outlaw, the principal of Chittum Elementary, informed parents via email that the photographer had been escorted off the campus for making “inappropriate comments” to the children. The photographer’s identity has not been disclosed, but the school’s swift response to the situation has been appreciated by concerned parents.
Parent Rachel Fjeld, whose son was one of the students involved, shared her concern in an interview. Fjeld recounted how her son had been sitting for his school picture when the photographer allegedly asked him unsettling questions such as, “Can I steal your identity?” and “Can I eat your soul?”
Fjeld was deeply disturbed by the encounter, stating, “You can say all the things you want to say about good vs. evil, God vs. the devil, or demons or whatever, but at the end of the day what was said was not funny, and it wasn’t OK. It was a child in an uncomfortable situation.”
Fjeld’s son, clearly upset by the photographer’s comments, reportedly responded with a nervous, “No.” The photographer continued with, “Well, then what can I eat?” The boy, in his confusion, answered, “You can have noodles,” to which the photographer replied, “Demons don’t eat noodles.”
The incident was quickly reported to the school’s administration, who acted swiftly. Fjeld praised the school for their immediate response: “The principal, who is amazing, handled it. They were very quick. They immediately escorted her off the premises, they called us.”
In an email to parents, Principal Outlaw commended the students for reporting the incident and reassured the community that “this individual was escorted off school property.” A spokesperson for Shutterfly later confirmed that the photographer was no longer employed by Lifetouch and that an internal investigation is underway.