School photo photographers contract with schools to photograph children inside and outside of school throughout the year. One of the reasons there are fewer photographers is said to be the spread of digital cameras and smartphones with cameras.
A particularly large factor is the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. There has been discussion within the industry for over 10 years, but no progress has been made. The strong demand for preserving image of children “survives through differentiation,” says Kazutaka Kojima, who runs a company producing school photos.