About Class Picks
Welcome to Class Picks!
With 38 years of experience in the classroom as Director of Music and Head of ICT, and a career-long passion for visual media, I bring a unique blend of creativity, technical precision, natural rapport with children and appreciation of sensitive data control to photography and videography.
For schools, I provide a full service, from publicity material and event photography to a boutique, personal Class, Sports Team and portrait service rooted in honesty, excellence and a deep understanding of how to bring the best expressions out of children. I ensure that our focus remains squarely on quality over quantity, delivering a premium, unique and creative product, with an attention to detail which is not available from the mass-market school photography companies. And at a more attractive price point.
While the educational roots run deep, my creative range and technical expertise extend far beyond the classroom.
Our Full Range
1. Live Events, Theatre, and Concerts
Capturing the raw energy of a live performance requires anticipation, timing and an understanding of the challenges of photography in a low light setting, as well as a light footprint. I specialize in capturing highlight moments from:
- Concerts, theatre productions, and musicals
- School and regional sports days (including high-action coverage at venues like the Thames Valley Athletics Centre)
- Milestone celebrations, special occasions, and private parties
2. Creative Team & Class Photography, Nursery Portraits, and Publicity Commissions
When it comes to team and class photography, I bring a creative, imaginative approach that goes far beyond the traditional template. By making clever use of whatever architectural features, outdoor spaces, or indoor settings are available, and using professional compositing techniques such as dropping a stadium backdrop behind a sports team, I transform standard group shots into striking, high-impact imagery.
This same dedication to natural, engaging results shines through in nursery portrait sessions, where patience and a relaxed approach help young children respond with warm, authentic smiles. This versatility extends seamlessly into school commissions, where we deliver polished, professional assets tailored specifically for website and marketing materials.
3. Portraits and Portable Studio Lighting
Great portraits happen when you feel comfortable. As a portrait photographer, I love collaborating closely with clients to bring a specific vision to life. Working with natural light or bringing along a portable studio, set up wherever there is room for a few lights and a backdrop, we can achieve clean, high-end studio-quality looks anywhere. A particular favourite is creating a background for actors in costume about to go on stage, in keeping with the theme of the production.
4. Commercial and Product Photography
Businesses need imagery that stands out and tells their story accurately. I love to problem-solve for clients in order to bring out the best features of their business offering, such as tackling the unique challenge of photographing fine, glossy black pianos for a nearby piano warehouse.
5. Pet Photography and Dog Agility
Animals have unique personalities that demand patience and quick reflexes to capture. With a lifetime in the company of a broad range of pets, from tarantulas to dogs, I bring that understanding into my work with animals. Whether you want a striking portrait of your beloved pet, dynamic fast-paced action shots from dog agility events and competitions, or a natural session out in the local woodland, I specialise in capturing pets at their absolute best. Partnering with Ali Rowan Artworks we can also bring photographs of your pet to life in beautiful soft pastels!
Why Choose Class Picks?
- The Educational Advantage: Decades of working within schools mean complete fluency with safeguarding, data privacy, and the rhythms of academic life. I move through a school setting with a “respectful distance,” capturing professional results with minimal disruption while engaging pupils with warmth and humor.
- Complete Compliance: Fully backed by an Enhanced DBS check, Public Liability Insurance, and ICO registration for robust UK GDPR compliance and secure handling of school data. We operate a strict “Zero-Export” policy for school records and we password-protect all individual portrait galleries, on a globally recognized gallery platform. We provide a pre-prepared, UK GDPR-compliant Data Processing Agreement (DPA) for every school partnership, clearly defining our role as a Data Processor and our commitment to the secure handling of pupil and staff data.
- Multimedia Capability: From high-resolution stills and promotional video production to standalone or package drone videography (with professional regulatory compliance), we capture your story from every angle.
Whether you are an educational institution looking for stress-free class, sports team or portrait photos and dynamic performance coverage, a business in need of crisp product assets, an individual seeking a tailored portrait session, or a young person wanting to celebrate their 21st birthday, Class Picks delivers professional, reliable, and creative results tailored precisely to your needs.
Based in Hazlemere, we serve schools, families, and businesses within a 20-mile radius of High Wycombe.
Chris and Ali Rowan + Archie