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Welcome to this week's edition of SeniorInspire the Newsletter!

This week we're talking about one of my favorite subjects: senior photography itself. If you're wondering if senior photographer is the right path for you, we're looking at some of the best parts of the business, along with the key things you need to nail down early if you want to start smart and avoid learning every lesson the hard way.

We're also discussing a topic every photographer eventually faces: dud clients. When a session doesn't go well or a client seems impossible to please, is it something you did, or is it simply a cost of doing business? The answer might make you feel a little better about that one client you're still thinking about three years later.

In Why I Love This Image, we're featuring a beautiful portrait from Renee Burton of Renee B Photography, and our Photographer of the Week is Kelli Taylor of Purple Tree Photography, a longtime favorite whose work never disappoints.

And speaking of Photographer of the Week, we'd love to feature more members of the SeniorInspire community. If you'd like to be considered for a future spotlight, you can submit your work at www.seniorinspire.com/POTW.

Alright, let's dig in.

—Nick

Thinking About Becoming a Senior Photographer? Here's Why It's Great (and What You Need to Get Right)

Every year I hear from photographers who are thinking about breaking into senior photography.

Some are wedding photographers looking for a change of pace. Some photograph families and want to add seniors to their business. Others are brand new to photography and simply love the idea of working with high school students.

If you're considering becoming a senior photographer, let me start with the good news... I genuinely think it's one of the most rewarding specialties in photography.

Over the years I've photographed well over a thousand seniors, and while there were certainly challenges along the way, there were also a lot of things I absolutely loved about the business.

Here are a few of them...

🎉 1. You Get to Work With Young People During a Major Milestone

Senior year is a big deal. For many students, it's the bridge between childhood and adulthood. They're making decisions about college, careers, relationships, and what comes next in life. As photographers, we get a front-row seat to that journey.

The photos are important, but so is the experience. Many seniors arrive nervous or unsure of themselves and leave feeling confident and excited. Having even a small positive impact during that season of life is incredibly rewarding.

✨ 2. Every New Senior Brings New Creative Energy

One of the things I didn't expect when I first started photographing seniors was how much energy they bring to the process.

Some seniors show up with ideas, hobbies, interests, and enthusiasm that immediately get your creative wheels turning. Others simply have a personality that makes the entire session fun.

No matter how many seniors you photograph, there's always somebody who makes you see things a little differently.

That spark of creativity is one of the reasons many photographers fall in love with this niche.

📸 3. No Two Sessions Are Exactly Alike

Even after hundreds of sessions, senior photography rarely feels repetitive. Different personalities. Different locations. Different interests. Different styles.

One day you're photographing a football player. The next day it's a dancer. Then a musician. Then a future veterinarian.

The variety keeps things fresh.

🤝 4. The Relationships Can Last for Years

Many photographers start with a senior session and end up photographing siblings, families, engagements, and even weddings later on.

A senior session often becomes the beginning of a long relationship rather than a one-time transaction.

That's one of the things that makes this business special.

😊 5. Watching Confidence Grow Never Gets Old

This may be my favorite part. You'll meet seniors who are convinced they aren't photogenic. They'll tell you they hate having their picture taken.

Then an hour later they're laughing, relaxed, and absolutely owning the session. Watching that transformation never gets old.

So What Do You Need to Nail Down Early?

Contrary to what many photographers believe, mastery of photography is not at the top of the list.

You absolutely need to be competent and committed to improving your craft. But honestly, mastery may never come. Even after years of shooting, most photographers still feel like they're learning.

That's normal.

What matters is that you're continually getting better.

Here are a few things I'd focus on early...

💰 1. Understand Pricing

You don't need the perfect pricing structure on day one. In fact, most photographers refine their pricing over several years.

What you do need is a basic understanding of how pricing works. You should understand your costs, your taxes, your income goals, and how those things influence the amount you need to charge.

If you're looking for help in this area, I happen to know a pretty good resource called Start Smart: The Senior Photography Business Guide I Wish I'd Had. This book is full of the business concepts I learned over a 20 year career in photography and honestly things would have gone a lot smoother if I had this book in the beginning. (Yes, that's a shameless plug.)

🗣️ 2. Learn How to Talk to People

This is one of the most underrated skills in photography.

Lighting improves. Editing improves. Posing improves.

But photographers who know how to connect with people often grow faster than photographers with slightly stronger technical skills.

People hire photographers they trust.

📋 3. Create a Consistent Client Experience

Your clients should know exactly what happens next.

• What should they wear?
• When should they arrive?
• How does ordering work?
• When will they receive their images?

Consistency builds trust and trust builds referrals.

📢 4. Learn Basic Marketing

Notice I said basic marketing. Not advanced funnels. Not complicated advertising campaigns.

Learn how referrals work. Learn how social media works. Learn how email marketing works.

The best photographer in town doesn't automatically become the busiest photographer in town.

People have to know you exist.

⏳ 5. Be Patient and Stay in the Game

This may be the most important one.

Many photographers quit right before things start working. Building a successful senior photography business takes time. It takes repetition. It takes relationships. It takes consistency.

The photographers who succeed aren't always the most talented. They're often the ones who stick around long enough to get good.

The Bottom Line

Senior photography has given me friendships, creative challenges, countless memories, and a career I never would have predicted when I first picked up a camera.

If you're thinking about getting started, focus on steady improvement, learn the business side, and be patient with yourself.

You don't need to have everything figured out today. You just need to keep moving forward.

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After countless requests, Max Lee is finally hosting another workshop.

This July 28th, join Max for an exclusive 2-day photography masterclass in Phoenix, Arizona. Designed for photographers who want to create, not just listen. This intensive experience focuses on hands-on shooting in the desert, urban environments, and studio settings.

You'll learn how to master natural light, reflectors, off-camera flash, harsh midday sun, and dramatic sunrise conditions while building an incredible portfolio along the way.

Only 4 spots remain.

A 75-mile radius restriction applies around San Antonio, TX and Eau Claire, WI.

Interested? Contact Max directly for details and availability.

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 Why I Love This Image comes from Renee Burton of Renee B Photography in Central Illinois.

This image appeared in the 2023 square Influencers issue of SeniorInspire the Magazine, and it’s one of those photographs that grabs your attention immediately and refuses to let go.

The first thing that jumps out at me is the color harmony. Renee places a vibrant red outfit against the cool blue tones of the weathered wood floor, and the contrast is absolutely delicious. Red and blue have always played well together, but here the balance feels especially intentional. The boldness of the dress gives the image energy, while the cool wood tones keep everything grounded and sophisticated.

Then there’s the pose.

This is not your typical senior portrait pose, and that’s exactly why it works. The senior is stretched out along the boards, creating strong leading lines that pull your eye directly toward her face. The placement of her right arm is particularly clever. By partially blocking one eye, Renee creates a sense of mystery while simultaneously drawing all of our attention to the one eye we can see.

And what an eye it is.

The harmony between that striking blue eye and the cool blue tones of the wood is one of my favorite details in the entire image. The eye almost seems to glow against the surrounding colors, becoming the undeniable focal point of the photograph. It’s a perfect example of how color can be used to guide a viewer’s attention without them ever realizing it.

The senior deserves plenty of credit here as well. Her expression is exactly what this image needs. It’s confident without being aggressive, soft without being timid. There’s a quiet intensity to it that fits the mood perfectly. Combined with flawless makeup and beautifully styled hair, she looks completely at home in front of the camera.

Speaking of hair, I love how it spills across the bottom of the frame. Those loose curls create texture and movement while softening the harder lines of the wooden boards. It adds another layer of visual interest without distracting from the face.

The composition is also incredibly strong. The lines of the boards act like arrows pointing toward the subject, while the centered placement of her eye creates balance and impact. Every element feels deliberate.

Most importantly, this image proves that you don’t need elaborate locations, dramatic props, or complicated concepts to create something memorable. Sometimes a strong pose, beautiful color relationships, thoughtful composition, and a senior who understands the assignment are all you need.

Renee put all of those pieces together beautifully here, and the result is an image that is simple, elegant, and impossible to forget.

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

This Week’s Question:

Every photographer talks about difficult clients, but nobody talks about the client who simply doesn't seem to like you.

I recently photographed a senior who looked bored from the moment she got out of the car. She barely smiled, barely talked, and seemed completely uninterested in being there. Her family later placed one of the smallest orders I've ever had.

Be honest. How do you know whether you got a dud client... or whether you're the problem?

First, let's get this out of the way. If you've been photographing seniors for more than a few weeks, you've probably already discovered an unfortunate truth: not every senior wants senior pictures.

I know. Shocking.

Sometimes Mom has been dreaming about this session since her child was born. The senior, meanwhile, would rather be playing video games, hanging out with friends, or undergoing minor dental surgery.

Believe me, if you do this long enough, you're going to run into some dud clients.

I don't mean bad kids. I don't mean rude kids. I simply mean kids who don't want to be photographed and aren't particularly interested in helping you create amazing images.

And here's the important part: unless this is happening with a large majority of your sessions, it's not you.

New photographers have a tendency to take every session personally. If the senior is excited, they think they're a great photographer. If the senior is quiet, they think they're a terrible photographer. If the family places a large order, they're the next Annie Liebovitz. If the family places a small order, they're ready to update their résumé.

The reality is that some sessions are easier than others.

Some seniors show up ready to laugh, pose, and collaborate. Others show up because Mom told them to get in the car. You can be the exact same photographer on both days and get wildly different results.

In fact, sometimes parents don't realize how little their child wanted senior pictures until they're sitting in the ordering room looking at the images. They see the forced smiles. They see the lack of enthusiasm. They realize that maybe this wasn't quite the magical experience they imagined.

And so, they place a small order.

But not every small order is a reflection of your talent. Sometimes it's simply a reflection of the level of excitement the client brought to the process.

But here's something else you'll learn if you stay in this business long enough.

Over time, you'll see every possible combination. You'll have clients who barely speak to you all day and then spend a fortune. And you'll have clients who make you feel like a member of the family and then order three prints and a set of wallets.

I remember one session where everything seemed perfect. The senior was fantastic. The whole family came along. Everyone laughed. Mom got emotional a couple of times. The senior was engaged and cooperative. We were all having such a good time that by the end of the session I was halfway ready to adopt the entire family.

Then they came in for their ordering appointment...

They raved about the experience. They loved the images. They told me how much fun they had. And as they continued complimenting everything, I started mentally spending the money. I was pretty sure I was about ten minutes away from calling my BMW dealer.

Then they placed the minimum order. That was it.

No dramatic upsell. No giant wall portrait collection. No family heirloom album.

Just the minimum order.

And you know what? They were thrilled. They had the memories they wanted. They were happy with the few favorite photographs they purchased. And they walked out happy. It was enough for them.

That's when I learned an important lesson: not every client measures value the same way photographers do.

Sometimes we assume a great experience should automatically lead to a huge sale. Sometimes we assume a quiet session is headed toward disaster. The truth is, clients are wonderfully unpredictable. Which is why you should be very careful about creating stories in your head.

The bored senior doesn't automatically mean you failed. The small order doesn't automatically mean they hated the photos. The big order doesn't automatically mean you're the greatest photographer in town. And the amazing session doesn't guarantee a giant sale.

The longer you're in business, the more you'll realize that many of the assumptions we make immediately after a session are sometimes completely wrong.

Now, that doesn't mean you shouldn't learn from every session. Maybe there was something you could have done differently. Maybe your conversation skills could improve. Maybe your posing could improve.

But don't confuse "I can improve" with "I am the problem." Those are two very different things.

One of the biggest lessons you'll learn in this business is that every session does not deserve equal space in your head.

Celebrate the great ones. Learn from the rough ones. Then move on.

Because if you spend the next three days replaying every awkward moment from one bad session, you'll drag that baggage into the next one. And the next senior deserves the best version of you, not the photographer who's still trying to solve last week's mystery.

The trick is remembering that one disappointing afternoon doesn't define your ability as a photographer any more than one amazing session makes you a legend.

Put it behind you. The next senior is already on your calendar. And odds are they're a lot more excited to be there.

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...

This week’s Photographer of the Week is Kelli Taylor of Purple Tree Photography in Northville, Michigan.

Kelli has been one of those photographers whose work I always look forward to seeing. Over the years, she has consistently created images that are thoughtful, polished, and centered around the senior rather than whatever trend happens to be popular at the moment.

I’m excited to feature Kelli this week. Take a look at the images we’re sharing and get to know her a little better in the bio below.

Hey there! I'm Kelli Taylor from Purple Tree Photography.

I've always been creative, and although I took photography in college, my degree is actually in Art Direction. I worked in advertising as an Art Director for 10 years. Back in 2005, I became friends with my wedding photographer and showed her some of my photos for a critique. That led me on a journey that has gotten me here, marking almost 20 years after I started my LLC!

I specialize in high school seniors, headshots, and branding portraits and am located in Northville, Michigan. I have a small home studio, but most of my senior picture sessions take place on location. I'm fortunate enough to have so many great public locations within a 30-minute drive, from Ann Arbor to Detroit and in between.

I love photographing high school seniors. It's a fun time of life, and senior pictures are a special opportunity. I focus heavily on customer service, making sure my client is comfortable and prepared for their session. I try not to follow trends, rather sticking to images and a style that will be timeless and focus on the senior's personality. I encourage them to make all the choices for their session, including location, style, and props, so that who they are comes through in the images.

Hey! Want to be considered for our Photographer of the Week feature?

Head to www.seniorinspire.com/potw and submit your work.

Remember, you don’t have to be the loudest. You don’t have to have the biggest following. You just have to be doing good work and willing to share it.

Thanks for reading all the way to the end. I appreciate you spending part of your week with me.

If you're just breaking into the photography business, here's a little encouragement: every successful photographer you admire started with a camera, a dream, and a business plan that was probably held together with duct tape and optimism.

And while we're on the subject, don't let a dud client convince you you're doing something wrong. Sometimes the session is amazing and the order is terrible. Sometimes the session is a train wreck and the order is fantastic. The longer you're in business, the more you realize that trying to predict client behavior is about as reliable as predicting the weather three months from now.

Keep learning. Keep improving. Keep showing up.

And remember, one dud client does not make a dud photographer.

See you next week. 📸

Nick
SeniorInspire

One last thing before we go... 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!

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