If you can't see this newsletter properly, please click here

Happy New Year, friends! 🍾 Welcome to the latest edition of SeniorInspire the Newsletter.

Hope you had a fantastic holiday season, got some well-earned rest, and maybe even cleared some room on your memory cards and in your fridge. (Yes, it’s finally time to let go of the leftover egg nog.)

I'm still out of town, so we’re keeping it short and sweet this week with a mini-issue to kick off 2026.

Inside, we’re talking about some important things photographers should be doing in January — you know, besides staring at unopened client emails and pretending Q1 doesn’t count. Read it and then commit to making a plan.

And in Why I Love This Image, we’re featuring a stunning shot from Jennifer Abney that nails the kind of emotion and connection we’re all chasing.

Here’s to an incredible year ahead!

Let’s get into it...

This Week’s Question:
With the new year starting up, what are 10 things I should be doing in January to prepare for the coming year?

January is one of the most underrated months in a senior photographer’s calendar. You’re either using it to set yourself up for a smoother, more profitable year… or you’re scrolling Instagram and telling yourself you’ll “get serious” in February.

Here are ten things I’ve learned to prioritize every January that pay dividends all year long.

🗂️ Clean Up the Business Side

Start by organizing your files, contracts, invoices, and galleries. Change things that didn't work for you in 2025 and enhance things that did. If your backend is messy now, it will absolutely haunt you when things get busy. January is the calm before the storm — use it.

📅 Lock In Your Calendar Early

Block out vacations, personal time, and non-negotiables now. Then build your shooting schedule around your life, not the other way around. This is how burnout gets avoided before it starts.

💰 Review Last Year’s Numbers

Look at how many sessions you shot, your average sale, and your total profit. Don’t guess — actually calculate the numbers and compare them to previous years. You can’t improve what you refuse to measure.

📸 Refresh Your Website Portfolio

Pull out anything that no longer represents your current skill level. Add your best work from 2025. It’s better to show newer and fewer images than older and weaker ones. If an image makes you hesitate, it doesn’t belong.

🧠 Clarify Who You’re Marketing To

Are you still targeting Class of 2026? When will you shift your focus to the Class of 2027? Seniors, parents, or teams? January is the time to tighten your messaging so your content isn’t trying to speak to everyone — and landing with no one.

🧾 Update Pricing and Policies

If changes need to be made, make them before inquiries ramp up. Raising prices mid-season creates awkward conversations. Clean, confident pricing is easiest when you set it early.

📣 Plan Your First Big Push

Whether it’s model teams, early-bird incentives, or booking announcements, map out how you’re going to kick off the year. Momentum matters, and January is where it starts.

🧍‍♀️ Reach Out to Past Clients

A simple “Happy New Year” email or message goes a long way. So does offering them an incentive to refer you to their Class of 2027 friends. You’re not selling — you’re staying top of mind. Referrals often come from people who feel remembered.

🛠️ Audit Your Website and Links

Click every button. Fill out your own contact form. Make sure your booking process works without friction. If something feels confusing to you, it’s definitely confusing to clients.

🎯 Set One Clear, Measurable Goal

Not ten. One. Maybe it’s profit. Maybe it’s fewer sessions. Maybe it's total sales. Whatever it is, write it down and make sure every decision this year supports that goal.

🎤 Final Thought

January isn’t about hustling — it’s about aligning. When you take the time to get organized now, the rest of the year feels lighter, clearer, and far more intentional.

Future-you will be very glad you didn’t waste this month.

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.” 

This week’s featured image comes to us from Louisiana photographer Jennifer Abney, and if you’ve ever needed proof that bold choices pay off in senior photography, here it is.

This one hit our SeniorInspire Instagram page back in November 2022, and even then, it stood out like a blast of color in the middle of beige season.

Let’s start with the styling, because come on — a geometric, hypnotic blouse layered under burnt-orange overalls isn’t something most seniors would even think to try. But paired with those oversized amber sunglasses and a black hat, it all adds up to a look that’s edgy, fashion-forward, and totally her own.

It’s the kind of wardrobe choice that breaks all the traditional senior portrait rules — and that’s exactly why it works so well. You can practically hear this senior saying, “Yeah, I’m cool with being different. You got a problem with that?”

The setting adds another unexpected twist. Shooting in a grocery store isn’t something you see every day, and it’s not exactly a photographer’s dream location in terms of lighting. But Jennifer handles it like a pro.

The combination of ambient fluorescent light bouncing off the glass and the warm tones inside the freezer aisle creates a soft, retro vibe that feels both cinematic and intimate. Those streaks of reflection across the glass only add to the mood — subtle but deliberate, pulling you into the moment.

And let’s talk about expression. This senior’s look is pure attitude — not forced, not posed, just cool confidence dialed in to the max. That slight tilt of the head, the relaxed mouth, the dead-on gaze from behind the amber shades… it all screams personality. You know she’s not here to blend in. She’s here to be remembered.

Compositionally, Jennifer makes strong use of the background elements to guide your attention. The freezer doors blur out just enough to avoid distraction, but the strong horizontal lines lead you right back to the subject. It’s like your eye gets a guided tour straight to the star of the show.

And finally — yes — I’ve always had a soft spot for a good “shooting through glass” photo. There’s just something about the added layer that elevates an image. It adds mood. It adds reflection. It adds depth. When done right, it turns a portrait into a little slice of story. And this one? Nailed it.

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!

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year from all of us at SeniorInspire (ok, it's just me).

Whether you’ve already filled out your 2026 content calendar or are just trying to remember what day it is, I hope this year brings growth, great light, and maybe a little more time for yourself.

With it being the start of a new year, I'm switching things up for this week’s Tune of the Week. Instead of just one song, I’m sharing my Top 5 albums of 2025 — five records that lived on my turntable and were the soundtrack to the madness of the past year:

Straight Line Was a Lie – The Beths
A jangly, indie-pop breakup album with sharp hooks and a surprisingly heavy emotional core.
🎧 Listen

Moisturizer – Wet Leg
Still weird, still cheeky — this sophomore release proves Wet Leg’s not just a one-album wonder.
🎧 Listen

Last Missouri Exit – Case Oates
A haunting debut full of alt-country grit, road-trip heartbreak, and late-night storytelling.
🎧 Listen

Getting Killed – Geese
Chaotic and confident, this post-punk album hits like a nervous breakdown in the best way possible.
🎧 Listen

The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy – James McMurtry
Masterful songwriting meets quiet rage in this stark, poetic reflection on American disillusionment.
🎧 Listen

We’ll be back next Sunday with one more abbreviated issue before announcing this year’s Photographers I’d Like to Follow contest on January 15th.

It’s almost PILF season. Get your best work ready.

Nick
SeniorInspire

Unsubscribe me | Change my information