About Us - Stanley Baker Studios | Effortless School Photography

Our History

Founder of Stanley Baker Studios Ltd. - Stanley Baker working in the accounts dept. January 1967

Stanley Baker established a school photography business in 1964 with his business partner, George Wheatman.

They timed it well, just as colour school photography was becoming widely available. The business grew steadily over the next twenty years but in 1984 the partners went their separate ways.

Stanley Baker Studios Ltd was set up with only 6 employees and a small office in Colchester.

Today…

…we have team of around 30 people and two dogs on the payroll. (Maddie and Bailey get paid in dog biscuits!) Our office is an old school building circa 1880 but on the inside is a very modern photo lab. Here we produce the photographs taken by 14 photographers in 500 schools twice a year! Hectic at times but the holidays are good.

Our continued steady growth has been achieved by consistently delivering a reliable and professional service to schools and by taking much of the administration away from already busy school staff with our online shopping site www.photoordering.co.uk. All of our orders are placed online and delivered free of charge to customers homes, meaning no more orders passing through your school.

We are approved suppliers of school photography with Capita Sims and provide names data for all school administration systems. This data also enables us to quickly and efficiently identify pupils in the event of a parent enquiry. Our customer service is very important to us – and you!

Parents are free to choose digital downloads, photo packages, single print options, canvas prints and a wide range of frames as well as many gift ideas, all home delivered within 2-5 days. Our customer support team of Lisa, Carly, Diane and Karen take great care of all enquiries from the first booking of a school, through courtesy calls to check satisfaction levels, onto resolving parent enquiries. We know that happy customers stay with us!

Our Vision

You may see ‘Effortless School Photography’ mentioned once or twice on our website. That is because we truly believe in working towards the ideal photo day experience.

Behind the Camera…

Chris Hill - Photographer — **Chris Hill**

Michael Bird - Photographer — **Michael Bird**

Stewart Norton - Photographer — **Stewart Norton**

David Reeves - Photographer — **David Reeves**

Andy Hingston - Photographer — **Andy Hingston**

Nick Treviss - Photographer — **Nick Treviss**

Paul Dale

Emma Lane - Photographer — **Emma Lane**

Laura Hoadley - Photographer — **Laura Hoadley**

Steve Brand

The Office Team…

Andy Brown - Managing Director — **Andy Brown**
Managing Director

Micahel Hendry - Production Manager — **Michael Hendry**
Production Manager

Sarah Stertz - Packing Manager — **Sarah Stertz**
Packing Manager

Karen Baker - School Liaison Officer — **Karen Baker**
School Liaison Officer

Diane Oliver - Customer Support Assistant — **Daine Oliver**
Customer Support

Dan McPherson - Head of R&D and Design — **Dan McPherson**
Head of R&D and Design

Carly Kerridge - Customer Support Assistant — **Carly Kerridge**
Customer Support

Maddie - Biscuit Muncher — **Maddie**
Biscuit Muncher

What Our Customers Say…

“Great customer service”

Always receive great customer service and assistance from Karen at SBS.

Susannah Fornasiero

Witley Infant School

“Very quick, efficient and helpful”

Your admin team are always very quick, efficient and helpful when we send a query. Photographers who attend are very professional. No complaints from parents. Very easy for school as everything is processed directly between Stanley Baker and the parents.

Melissa Saffrey

St Laurence Junior Academy

“Customer service is excellent”

We have been using Stanley Baker for around 5 years now and have always been very impressed with the organisation and speed at which the photographers deal with the 600 children at our school. The new online download of photos to import in to SIMS is quick and easy. Customer service is excellent. I mainly deal with Karen Baker, who is always happy to help in any way. We were a brand new build and were looking for something to brighten up our bare walls and Stanley Baker photographers came to take photographs that we have displayed around the school. They are amazing photos and capture something that gives parents a feel for our school. They are often admired by parents and visitors. We would recommend Stanley Baker Studios to anyone.

Karen Ayris

Rabbsfarm Primary School

“Ordering service is simple for our parents”

Excellent service as usual, professional, kind and child friendly. The photographers cannot be faulted and the aftercare and service from the office team is amazing. The ordering service is simple for our parents and cost effective with lots of options. 10 out of 10!

Ann Reed

Hilldene Primary School

“I can’t imagine ever using a different company”

We have always been very pleased with the service you have delivered to us. Your photographers have always been pleasant and professional. They make the session run seamlessly and this year we needed them to take photos of the whole school which I thought would be a huge undertaking but again it went extremely smoothly. Your staff at head office are always so helpful and easy to deal with. The new way for parents to order using the bar code was amazing meaning less work for me which I truly appreciate. I can’t imagine ever using a different company.

Nicky Noble

Tolworth Girls' School & Sixth Form

“Highly professional”

The organisation of the day with your staff was very efficient. All the photographers were highly professional.

Kerry Boxall

Holcombe Grammar School

“First class photography company”

We have been using Stanley Baker Studios for our school photos for over 3 years. The photographers are always very professional, and the photos are to a very high standard. During the current climate, they have worked with us to ensure that guidelines are followed and hygiene protocols are in place. They have made the transition very smooth from photos being ordered and delivered through the school, to families ordering online and having photos delivered straight to their homes. I would definitely recommend them to any school looking for a first class photography company.

Michaela Garrick

St Mary Magdalene CE Primary School