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Welcome to this post-Christmas edition of SeniorInspire the Newsletter.

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas — or whatever holiday you celebrate — filled with good food, strong drinks if you're of age, and only minor family drama. 🎁🎄

And if you're still surviving on cookies and hot cocoa, no judgment… as long as you’re not using water instead of milk. We’re festive, not monsters. ☕️

We’re keeping things short and sweet today, since I’m currently out of town at an undisclosed location for the holidays. I’ll be back sometime around mid-January, but in the meantime, watch for a couple more abbreviated issues over the next two Sundays to keep your brain at least half in photography mode.

Quick reminder: when I return, we’ll be kicking off our annual Photographers I’d Like to Follow contest — better known as PILF. If all goes as planned, contest details will drop on January 15th, so start digging through your 2025 favorites now. Bonus points for the killer shots other contests foolishly overlooked. 👀🔥

In this week’s mini-issue, we’ve got a fun little piece about the rotten things I would’ve loved to say to problem clients — if it had been my last day in business. Plus, an image I absolutely love from Amy Clement, and of course, my Tune of the Week to close things out.

Let’s get into it!

—Nick

This Week’s Question:
 With the holidays, I thought I’d come up with a fun question this week and ask something I’ve long asked myself… If it were my last day in business, what are some things I'd finally say to my clients?

I’m retired now, but when I was still shooting, there were definitely days when a client would get under my skin and I’d think to myself, If only today were my last day in business, I would completely unload on this goof.

Of course, the end of a photography career doesn’t really work that way. You don’t get to plan your “last client.”

They just show up one day — randomly nice… or randomly not. But usually randomly nice, especially if they know you're retiring.

So for fun — and purely as a mental exercise — here are some things I would have loved to have said if I could have brought all my least favorite clients together for one glorious final day.

📦 The Mom who halfway through an ordering session said, “Your prices are higher than I remember.”

What I wanted to say: “They haven’t changed since I showed them to you at our first meeting. And again before your daughter's shoot. And again when I confirmed this meeting three days ago.”

What I actually said: “Let’s walk through everything again and make sure I explain it clearly.”

🍫 The seniors who say, “You made me look fat.”

What I wanted to say: “No… Come on now... You weigh 90 pounds. You don't look even a little bit heavy.”

What I actually said: “I’d be happy to help you choose images and crops that feel the most flattering.”

📸 The seniors who say, “I want my photos to look like candids.”

What I wanted to say: “You and everyone else, but I’m not following you around Target for nine hours waiting for something ‘photo worthy’ to happen.”

What I actually said: “We’ll focus on natural movement and relaxed posing so everything feels authentic.” Which is photographer for I will still absolutely be directing you.

🕯️ The Grandma who said, “Your cinnamon-scented candle is giving me a headache.”

What I wanted to say: “You already complained about my prices and bought your one 5×7. Maybe go wait in the car?”

What I actually said: “I’m so sorry — let me turn off my Scentsy for you.”

🦟 The Senior who insisted on shooting in a nature preserve, but doesn’t want to step into the tall grass because… bugs.

What I wanted to say: “Then why are we here? This is literally all grass.”

What I actually said: “No worries — we’ll just stay right here on the trail and make it work.”

💸 The mom who said, “I just threw up in my mouth a little" when I showed her my pricelist (true story).

What I wanted to say: “There’s the door. Please go throw up in your car.”

What I actually said: “Every photographer structures their business differently. My pricing reflects the experience and service I provide.” And then she left anyway because, apparently, her kid wasn’t worth it.

👗 The senior who brings her entire closet for a 2-outfit session.

What I wanted to say: “I know I joked about bringing your whole closet, but what exactly are we supposed to do with this T-shirt from a 5K you ran in 7th grade?”

What I actually said: “Let’s narrow this down to the outfits that photograph best.” And then I quietly slid half the pile back into the car.

🎄 The Real Takeaway

 Alright, here’s the thing — I guess none of this actually makes someone a bad client. It just makes them human. And if you’ve been doing this long enough, you’ve heard almost all of these at least once… probably all in the same week.

The point isn’t about being mean — I never would have actually told Grandma to take a hike. It’s about acknowledging the thoughts we all have, laughing about them, and then continuing to do our jobs with professionalism and patience.

Because as tempting as it is to fantasize about "the things I'd say on my last day in business,” the truth is most of us would still show up, smile, and do right by our clients. We’d calmly explain the pricing again. We’d reassure them about candids.

We’d even blow out the candle for the grandma with a headache.

Happy holidays — and if you found yourself nodding along to any of this, just know… you’re not alone. 😌

Have a burning question you want answered in a future column? Head over to www.seniorinspire.com/asknick. I’ll be there manning the phones and waiting for your questions...

Each week, I’m spotlighting one standout image from the thousands of senior photos we’ve featured over the years — in the magazine, on Instagram, and beyond. Whether it’s the light, the vibe, or just that unexplainable something, these are the images that made me stop and say, “Wow.” 

There’s an art to creating a simple portrait that still feels bold and unforgettable — and this image by Amy Clement of Ohio is a masterclass in exactly that.

This image was originally featured on our Instagram page in January, 2002 and right out of the gate, the color harmony grabs you by the collar. The deep burgundy fabric wrapping around the senior creates the perfect backdrop, allowing her icy blue eyes to absolutely sing.

It’s not just color contrast at work — it’s color strategy. The rich jewel tones of the wrap don’t overpower the subject; they elevate her. In fact, they frame her so precisely and intentionally that you can’t help but zero in on her face. It's an image that tells your eyes exactly where to go.

The fabric itself deserves a little extra praise. It’s not thrown over her shoulders haphazardly. This is a portrait where every fold, every ripple of velvet (or satin? whatever it is — it’s fabulous) was carefully placed to surround and spotlight the senior.

It’s a cocoon of color, with our subject emerging from the center like royalty. You can tell there was thought behind the setup, but it still feels effortless. That balance between styled and natural is tough to nail — and Amy nails it here.

Then there's the senior herself. The expression is poised but not overly posed. She’s strong, self-assured, and slightly mysterious. Her eyes are intense — not in a way that feels forced, but in a way that invites you to wonder what she’s thinking.

Her makeup is flawless and brings just the right amount of polish to the portrait, while the soft wave in her blonde hair adds a touch of elegance without competing with the drama of the fabric.

And let’s not forget how clean the background is. There’s nothing else in the frame. No distractions. No stray strands of hair or awkward hand placement to pull you out of the moment. This image is the photographic equivalent of a well-composed piece of music — every element has its place, and nothing is playing out of tune.

Finally, a quick shoutout to the lighting. While it’s subtle, it does exactly what it needs to do — softly illuminating the senior’s face to ensure her eyes are the star of the show, while allowing the deeper shadows in the folds of the fabric to give the photo depth and drama.

This is the kind of image that looks incredible as a small Instagram post… and even better as a giant wall portrait. It’s bold, it’s elegant, it’s impeccably styled — and it's a perfect reminder that you don’t always need an elaborate set or a complicated concept to create something truly striking.

Sometimes, all it takes is rich color, great styling, expert lighting, and a confident subject framed in the right way.

So yeah, that’s why I love this image.

Are you teaching a workshop on the horizon, I’d love to help you spread the word. NO CHARGE - No strings.

Just send me the details and a graphic, and I’ll get it in front of a bunch of senior photographers who might want in.

SeniorInspire the Newsletter goes out to about 2,500 senior photographers across the country, and nearly half of them actually open it (the rest are slackers who probably don't go to workshops either).

Anyway, just reply to this email with the details and a graphic, and I’ll get it in front of a bunch of senior photographers who might just want in.

Simple as that.

If you made it this far and have any opinions or ideas I'd love to hear it. Good, bad, whatever. Just hit reply or send me an email and let me know what you think. I love the feedback!

You’re still here? That’s inner circle-level commitment. And I appreciate it more than you know.

This week’s Tune of the Week is my all-time favorite Christmas song: “Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues. It’s been on my turntable all week — gritty, gorgeous, a little craven, and somehow still magical. Just like the holidays.

Whether this year brought you Broadway dreams or just a few quiet wins, I hope you take a minute to look back with gratitude… and forward with a little fire.

Wishing you a safe, joyful, and perfectly you kind of New Year.

🎧 Fairytale of New York – The Pogues

See you in 2026!

Nick
SeniorInspire

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