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Welcome to the Halloween edition of the SeniorInspire Newsletter! 🎃 This week’s issue is packed with treats (and maybe one or two tricks). First up, we’re tackling an important topic: tips for male photographers working with senior girls — and yes, while we're mostly focusing on the men, a lot of these apply to women photographers as well. If you photograph teens, this is a must-read. We're also continuing our deep dive into pricing, shifting the focus to something that often gets skipped: how much you actually need to make. It’s not just about charging more — it’s about charging smarter.
In Why I Love This Image, I'm featuring a whimsical, Halloween-ready shot from Stacee de la Bastide, and our Mentor of the Week is none other than Kate DeCoste, bringing both talent and insight to the spotlight.
And finally don’t miss our Tune of the Week, where we lean fully into the spooky season — but you’ll have to read to the end to find out what it is. I hope you all get the candy you're after… just not the Snickers. Those are mine. Let’s get spooky.👻 |
This Week’s Question:
Being a male photographer working with high school girls in 2025 can be challenging. What are some tips on how to handle this? |
Let’s be honest — this is a tricky topic, but one worth talking about.
If you’re a male photographer who photographs high school seniors, especially senior girls, you’re probably already aware of the tightrope you walk every time you pick up a camera. The social climate has changed, and the old “just be yourself” advice doesn’t quite cut it anymore. You have to be yourself and be intentional, transparent, and above reproach in everything you do. That doesn’t mean you need to tiptoe around your work — it just means you need to lead with professionalism at EVERY step. Here’s how:
🧭 1. Lead with professionalism — ALWAYS.
From the first message to the final delivery, every interaction should reflect professionalism. Be friendly, not familiar. Confident, not casual.
Your tone, language, and body language should all say, this is a professional service.
Treat every senior like you’re photographing your own daughter, niece, or a family friend — not like a “model.”
👩👩👧 2. Try not to shoot alone.
Best thing you can do? Get yourself a female assistant AND ask a parent to come along. You can frame it with Mom as a fun experience to share with her daughter — and as a best practice for comfort and transparency, not paranoia. Parents will appreciate it, and it shows you take your role seriously. But if you’re in a situation where a parent can’t attend, having that female assistant there gives you some buffer. Still, remember Rule #1 — ALWAYS lead with professionalism.
Now, if you don’t have an assistant and the parent insists it’s not an issue (and you're 100% comfortable) keep things light but professional. No touching your client to adjust poses. Ask them to straighten their own clothes when they need to. No fixing hair. Stick to posing instructions, very light banter and dad jokes — and if you’re not sure if something is even remotely off color, just don’t joke at all.
📸 3. Be clear about intent and boundaries.
Explain poses verbally and demonstrate them on yourself whenever possible. Avoid touching your subject to adjust poses — instead, show what you mean. Even better, teach your assistant the poses, and have her demonstrate.
If you do need to fix something small, like a loose hair or strap, ask permission first: “Would it be okay if I fix that, or do you want me to show you instead?” It’s simple, it’s professional, and it reinforces respect.
And when complimenting clients, focus on the image, not the person. Instead of, "you are gorgeous" try “that pose looks awesome.” or “The lighting here is perfect for you.”
💬 4. Keep communication transparent and professional.
Avoid late-night DMs or anything that feels personal or private. Group texts and emails that include a parent are the gold standard.
📱 5. Cold messaging on Instagram — it’s okay, but keep it by the book.
It’s 2025, and Instagram is one of the places seniors live — so yes, it’s fine to reach out to them there. But stick strictly to business and always direct them to your online inquiry form, where you can collect their parents’ contact information. The sooner you can include them in the conversation, the better. If you’re cold-contacting potential seniors, remember a few golden rules: Don’t try to be cute or funny. And the only acceptable emoticon is a simple 🙂.
Don’t pressure them or tell them they “look stunning” or “would be amazing in front of your camera.” Ick.
Keep it simple, direct, and professional — something like, “Hey Amanda, I’m a local senior photographer! If you’d like info about sessions, you can reach me through this form [link].” You can even mention you worked with someone they might know or tell them you're currently running a deal. Just keep it simple. And if you’re not sure whether something might be misconstrued, just don’t say it. Period. |
👕 6. Use good judgment with poses and wardrobe. Senior style changes fast — and not always in ways that align with what you’re comfortable shooting.
If a pose or outfit feels even slightly off, trust your gut, but don't make a big deal about it. For example, don't say, "I would never photograph a senior wearing that." Mom is going to hear it as, "you should be ashamed letting your daughter dress like that." What the daughter hears will be even worse.
Instead, keep it professional and shoot in ways that make you comfortable. You can still make creative, beautiful images without leaning into anything that could come across as suggestive.
You’re the professional. Set the tone.
🤝 7. Let your reputation do the talking.
Your best marketing tool is the reputation you build over time.
If you consistently model professionalism and transparency, parents notice — and they talk. Encourage moms to share their experiences. Word-of-mouth credibility in this area is priceless.
🧠 8. Understand the times we’re in.
The world has changed — and that’s okay.
Things that might have seemed harmless 20 years ago could raise eyebrows today. Don’t fight that reality. Adapt to it.
Let your clear boundaries be part of your brand. When parents see that your business runs with structure and integrity, they’ll trust you with their kids — and they’ll refer you to everyone they know.
❤️ 9. Keep your focus where it belongs.
Senior photography is about confidence, celebration, and personality.
When your focus is on making seniors feel proud of who they are, not just how they look, your work naturally communicates respect.
That’s what parents see. That’s what seniors feel. And that’s what keeps your business thriving.
🎤 Final Thought
Being a male photographer in this space isn’t something to fear — it’s something to navigate with awareness and respect.
Professionalism doesn’t limit you; it frees you to do your best work without second-guessing how it’s perceived.
If you lead with integrity and transparency, parents will trust you, clients will love you, and your business will stand out for all the right reasons. Bottom line: Be professional, be kind, and always, always keep your camera — and your conduct — above reproach. |
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 image from Stacee de la Bastide was featured on our Instagram page several Halloweens ago and it still makes me laugh.
Now I’m a sucker for whimsical images, and this photo is whimsical with a capital W — maybe even a capital WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?!
It’s weird. It’s wonderful. And it’s absolutely perfect for Halloween.
I’ll be honest — I have no idea if those are actually seniors under those pastel sheets. Could be seniors, could be truck drivers, could even be two trick-or-treaters who got lost on the way to a Stranger Things audition. But I trust Stacee, and if she says they’re seniors, I’m all in. The candy-colored costumes are a brilliant contrast against the muted park landscape. The lavender and mint palettes are unexpected — not your typical ghostly whites — which just adds to the playful, offbeat vibe. And the hats and shades? C’mon. That’s a whole story in itself. You just know these two ghosts aren’t here to haunt anyone. They’re just chilling on a park bench, probably talking about pumpkin spice lattes and ghosting their exes — literally. OK, no this isn’t the most technically polished image we’ve ever featured. But it might be the most fun. And it’s 100% in the spirit of the season. This image proves that senior photography doesn’t always have to be serious to be impactful — sometimes, a little weirdness goes a long way. So bravo, Stacee. This one made me smile… and then double-check my backyard for pastel ghosts.
So yeah, that’s why I love this image. |
💰 Your Income Goal: Because Hope Isn’t a Business Strategy 💰 |
Last week, we talked about understanding your costs — the unglamorous but essential part of pricing your photography business.
Now it’s time for Step 2: Define your income goal. And no, “I just want to make more than last year” doesn’t count. That’s not a goal. That’s a hope.
🎯 Let’s Get Specific
Before you can price your work, you need to know what you actually want to take home — after expenses, taxes, and the endless parade of coffee runs that keep you functional.
Start by asking yourself three questions:
1️⃣ How much money do I really want to make this year?
2️⃣ How many sessions do I want to shoot to make that happen?
3️⃣ How much of my life do I want left over afterward?
Because here’s the truth: your pricing shouldn’t just support your business — it should support your lifestyle. If you only want to shoot 40 sessions a year and take summers off, your pricing has to reflect that. If you’re aiming for 100 sessions, you’ll need a different approach (and probably a second coffee pot).
🧮 Here’s the Easy Math
Let’s say you want to earn $80,000 a year after expenses and you plan to shoot 60 sessions. $80,000 ÷ 60 = $1,333 per session. That means every single session needs to generate about $1,333 in profit — not sales — profit AFTER covering your fixed and variable costs.
So if you add this profit per session to the fixed and variable costs per session we calculated in our last issue - That’s your target session average. Your bullseye. Your magic number.
⚠️ Don’t Just Copy Someone Else’s Goal
This part’s important.
Just because another photographer says they make six figures doesn’t mean you should chase that same number. Their lifestyle, overhead, and business model might be completely different from yours.
If your dream is a three-day workweek and plenty of free time to shoot for yourself — then build your pricing around that.
If your dream is to dominate your market, have a studio, a staff, and a dedicated snack bar — plan accordingly. Your goal = your rules.
🏁 Conclusion
Defining your income goal isn’t about greed — it’s about clarity.
When you know what you’re aiming for, pricing stops feeling like a guessing game and starts feeling like a strategy.
Because “charging what feels right” sounds good… until you realize feelings don’t pay taxes.
P.S. Be sure to come back next week when we’ll be diving deeper into the math equations you need to understand to price your work correctly. I can hear you all yawning already — but trust me, this is the kind of math that actually makes you money. |
Could these be your new favorite session shoes?
Moondeck is a new backless shoe built to go anywhere — and honestly, they might just be perfect for sessions by the lake where sometimes you just need to be able to slip your shoes off fast. The project’s already fully funded on Kickstarter, but there’s still time to grab a pair at early bird pricing. And while Kickstarter always comes with a little risk, they've already ordered their first production run and even got praise from legit shoemakers like Uggs.
Check them out here. And yes, if you pledge through my link, I get a free pair of colored insoles — influencer status unlocked.
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This week’s featured mentor is Kate DeCoste, a dynamic photographer, educator, and podcast host based in Wahoo, Nebraska. With a background in theater and a sharp eye for modern, playful imagery, Kate helps emerging photographers navigate the chaos of early business-building years with confidence, clarity, and a touch of sass. Whether you’re looking to price your work like a pro or finally figure out how to make social media less soul-sucking, Kate’s mentorship style is honest, empowering, and a whole lot of fun.
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What type of mentoring do you offer?
1:1 coaching and mentoring for photographers in their first 1–5 years of business. We cover portfolio reviews, pricing yourself like a pro, and making social media actually work for you. I also share tips and inspiration on my podcast, The One Behind the Lens, for photographers and creatives looking to level up their business and mindset.
Who is your ideal mentee?
Photographers ready to level up, stop second-guessing themselves, and run their business like a boss. Bonus points if you love learning, laughing, and getting a little sassy along the way.
Did you have any mentors starting out?
Absolutely! Sandy Puc got me started, then Renee Bowen and the Senior Ignite crew showed me the ropes in the senior portrait world. Advice that stuck: “Always photograph what you love — your passion shows in every shot.” True story. . |
How would you describe your own shooting style?
Modern and fun, with an edgy twist when it fits. I keep things playful and natural, but I’ll add a touch of drama when it makes sense — especially for high school seniors and dance sessions. What topics do you most enjoy mentoring on?
Social media that actually works (your personality is your superpower — don’t hide it, let people see the real you) and pricing like the boss you are! What’s one moment in your career that made you think, “Okay… I can really do this”?
I was photographing actors during downtime on a Berkshires play production (I was a stage manager in my former career) when one of them asked, “Why aren’t you doing this professionally?” I paused, thought about it, and realized… well, why not? That question changed everything. |
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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! |
Thanks for creeping all the way to the end of this week’s SeniorInspire the Newsletter. Whether you're knee-deep in editing, dodging client texts, or up to your eyeballs in candy and chaos, I appreciate you hanging in there.
This week’s Tune of the Week is Goo Goo Muck by The Cramps — a gloriously weird, totally Halloween-appropriate track that somehow works way better than it should. If it sounds familiar, it’s probably because Wednesday Addams brought it back from the grave with her now-iconic dance scene — and honestly, her vibe is kind of every senior photographer's dream: focused, fearless, and a little bit fed up. Running a business? Same energy. You’ve got to roam the streets, hunt for what works, and dig through the muck to find the stuff that actually moves the needle. Or something like that... It’s not always gonna be pretty — but don't let that stop you . 🎧 Goo Goo Muck – The Cramps |
Until next week... stay scrappy, stay spooky, and embrace the weird. Nick
SeniorInspire |
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