10 Aug 2025 A Strain’d (but never strained) relationship
By Stefanie Brazile
Strain Photography of Conway has captured the smiles of Conway Public Schools (CPS) students for nearly 50 years and makes a significant donation back to each school annually.
Jackie Strain-Mahar and Brandy Strain-Dayer witnessed their father’s passion for photography and learned the art form by practice and osmosis. When he retired, they continued his work — some would say it was their destiny. Today, they operate Strain Photography, carrying forward Gary Alan Strain’s dream to freeze time for families in beautiful, interesting and fun settings.
The pair welcomes clients into their busy studio downtown, meets them at places that are special to the person, and they also take photos of faculty and students at all Conway Public Schools.
“Dad was a teacher for 10 years before he and Mom started a full-time photography business,” Strain-Mahar said. “Because of his close relationship with school administrators, he started taking the school portraits, and our mom, Nancy, was a huge part of the success of the business.”
Until digital photography emerged, Nancy completed all the darkroom work for Strain Photography. Darkrooms were invented in the early 19th century to process film and make prints. They are not as crucial because of digital and instant photography, but the skillset was essential for decades. The sisters credit their mom as being their number one cheerleader to this day.
It is commonly part of a school photographer’s contract to give a percentage of their total sales to the school after they deliver all the orders. The more that parents love the photos, the more they purchase, which increases the donation. Strain Photography has been successful in pleasing parents for nearly 50 years, and they donated $42,053 to CPS schools for the 2024-25 school year.
“The principals are always so excited when we show up with the checks!” Strain-Mahar said. “One even looked at the check and was like, ‘Are you sure this is right?’ They were so thankful to get that money to help with extra projects and fun things for the kids!”
The Strain family has played a meaningful role in Faulkner County for decades, and they are local VIPs. “School picture day is such an exciting day for kids,” Strain-Dayer said. “For many kids, it’s the only time they are professionally photographed. We like to have fun with them. I love it when I’m at the grocery store and have a Strain logo shirt on and see kids in the store tell their adult, ‘That’s the school picture lady.’”
In addition to traditional yearbook photos, the sisters also visit the schools multiple times each year for faculty group photos, sports team photos, class group photos and spring portraits. They also capture the moment when the graduating class receives their diplomas.
Strain-Mahar and Strain-Dayer started the process again in July when they began photographing the class of 2026 for their formal yearbook portraits and cap and gown photos. As they carry forward the torch that their parents lit nearly 50 years ago, the Strain sisters are excited to be part of the lives of CPS students through photos and donations to their schools.
