Shutterfly: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

Shutterfly was incorporated in Delaware in 1999, with company records citing founders including Dan Baum, Eva Manolis, and, according to some sources, Christopher North. The company built its business around helping consumers create personalized photo books, prints, and gifts from their digital photographs, with a stated mission to help customers preserve and share life's memories. Shutterfly went public in September 2006, trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol SFLY, with corporate headquarters in Redwood City, California.

Shutterfly grew significantly through acquisitions over the following decade, including Tiny Prints, and later expanded further under private equity ownership after Apollo Global Management acquired the company in 2019, returning it to private status. As part of this consolidation, Shutterfly's portfolio came to include Snapfish, a photo sharing and printing service originally launched in 1999 by a separate group of founders, and Lifetouch, a professional school photography company with roots dating back to 1936 as National School Studios. Shutterfly also acquired Spoonflower, a custom fabric and design printing company.

Today, Shutterfly operates through three main business divisions: Shutterfly Consumer, Lifetouch, and Shutterfly Business Solutions, employing several thousand people and generating billions of dollars in annual revenue. Shutterfly's workforce spans manufacturing and production facility employees who print and assemble photo products, customer service representatives, software engineers supporting its e-commerce platforms, and Lifetouch photographers who work on-site at schools and events.

Company culture and employee programs: Shutterfly emphasizes helping customers celebrate and preserve personal memories as central to its brand mission across its family of products. The company has scaled its manufacturing operations significantly to support high-volume, personalized product printing during peak seasons such as the winter holidays. Benefits, scheduling, and advancement opportunities can vary by role and facility, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the photography products and e-commerce manufacturing industry, including Shutterfly, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks on job candidates, provided they comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

Shutterfly is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is standard for manufacturing and e-commerce employers, particularly for production roles and for Lifetouch photographers who may work directly with children at schools.

The hiring process for roles at Shutterfly typically includes an application, an interview with a hiring manager, and a background check prior to a final offer. Lifetouch photography roles that involve working at schools may include additional screening given contact with minors.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for a manufacturing or e-commerce role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though state laws may extend or restrict this timeframe, particularly for roles involving contact with minors through the Lifetouch division.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to the role, with additional scrutiny for positions involving contact with children in school photography settings. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

What if I disagree with something in my background check?

Under the FCRA, if you believe your background check report contains inaccurate information, you have the right to dispute it directly with the consumer reporting agency that prepared the report. The agency is generally required to investigate the dispute, typically within 30 days, and to correct or remove any information it cannot verify as accurate. If Checkr conducted the background check, dispute instructions are included in the notification sent to your Checkr candidate account.

Can I see a copy of my own background check report?

Yes. Under the FCRA, if a background check is used to make an adverse hiring decision, you are entitled to receive a copy of the report along with a summary of your rights under the law before the decision becomes final.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what Shutterfly may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to Shutterfly or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.