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

Hard to believe, but this is Issue #99. Which means the next one is the big one. 🎉

I'm going to take next week off to enjoy a little time at the beach, recharge the batteries, and pretend I'm not thinking about content for at least 17 minutes. So there won’t be an issue next Sunday.

But… keep an eye out for Issue #100 on Sunday, May 31st. I’m hoping to put together some special stuff for it, maybe a few surprises, maybe a little nostalgia, definitely some sarcasm. So don’t miss it.

Now, before I start getting all weepy about the newsletter somehow reaching triple digits, let’s get into this week’s issue.

—Nick

Choosing Goals That Move Your Life Forward 🎯

One of the strange things about photography is how easy it is to accidentally adopt goals you never even wanted.

At some point, many photographers start chasing things simply because everyone else seems to be chasing them too. A studio. More followers. Bigger sales. A team. More sessions. More everything.

Sometimes we stop and ask ourselves if those goals actually fit the kind of life we want.

Sometimes we don’t.

I know because I’ve done it myself.

When I decided I wanted to become a full-time senior photographer, I became obsessed with one goal: photographing 100 seniors in a season.

Why 100? Honestly, I’m not even sure. It was just the magic number everyone talked about at the time. If you were serious about senior photography, that was supposedly the benchmark. So naturally, it became my goal too.

About four or five years into photographing seniors, I finally hit it.

And at the end of that season, I realized something important. I was overwhelmed.

Instead of relaxing with my family by the pool during the summer, I spent my days editing and marketing, then spent nearly every weekday evening photographing another senior session. I was constantly working. Constantly behind. Constantly exhausted.

And that’s when it hit me: Maybe 100 seniors wasn’t actually my goal after all. Maybe it was just a goal I borrowed from the industry.

💡 Not Every Goal Is Worth Chasing

 One of the biggest mistakes photographers make is assuming a goal is automatically good just because it sounds ambitious. It’s not.

Some goals create freedom. Others quietly create stress, debt, pressure, and burnout.

A bigger business is not always a better business. Sometimes a photographer with:

• 40 profitable seniors
• weekends off
• low stress
• and time with family

…has built something far healthier than the photographer shooting 100 sessions while surviving entirely on caffeine and panic.

📱 The Danger of Borrowed Goals

Social media makes this even harder now because photographers are constantly absorbing other people’s goals without realizing it. You see:

• photographers opening studios
• photographers posting luxury shoots
• photographers announcing record sales
• photographers saying they’re “fully booked”

And suddenly your brain starts whispering: “Maybe I should be doing that too.”

But a borrowed goal can send you running hard in the wrong direction.

Just because someone else wants a studio team and 80 sessions doesn’t mean that’s the right life for you.

✍️ Meaningful Goals Usually Get Specific

The best goals tend to be practical and connected to real life.

Instead of: “I want to be successful.”

Maybe the better goal is: “I want a business that allows me to work four days a week and still pay myself well.”

Instead of: “I want more followers.”

Maybe it’s: "I want 15 more inquiries from local seniors.”

The more specific your goals become, the easier it is to make smart decisions that actually support them.

🌱 Your Goals Should Improve Your Life

This is the part photographers sometimes forget

.

The whole point of building a business is to improve your life, not consume it.

Some goals look impressive from the outside while quietly making your life miserable. And the tricky part is, social media usually only shows the impressive part.

The best goals improve:

• your finances
• your peace of mind
• your flexibility
• your relationships
• your overall happiness

Those goals may not always look flashy online, but they matter.

The Bottom Line

There’s nothing wrong with ambition. Growth can be a wonderful thing.

But before chasing a goal, it’s worth asking one simple question: If I achieve this, will my life actually improve?

Because the best goals don’t just build a bigger business. They build a better life.

If you're looking for some help with your numbers and trying to figure out what your own 'enough' is, grab your copy of Start Smart: The Senior Photography Business Guide I Wish I'd Had on Amazon today!

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 Kia Bondurant, and it was the cover image of last year’s Influencers issue of SeniorInspire the Magazine... you know, the square one.

This image just screams summer in the best possible way. It feels light, fun, carefree, and completely full of personality.

The color palette is a huge part of why this works so well. The soft blue water paired with the pink and white float creates such a clean, cheerful look. Everything feels bright and happy without becoming overly saturated or distracting.

I also love the camera angle Kia chose here. By simplifying the background down to mostly water, the senior becomes the undeniable focus of the image. There’s nothing competing for attention, which gives the portrait a polished, almost editorial feel.

And the senior absolutely delivers. Her expression is perfect. Warm, natural, and genuinely joyful. You believe this moment. It doesn’t feel stiff or overly posed. It feels like someone enjoying a perfect summer afternoon.

The styling deserves a lot of credit too. The playful hairstyle adds so much charm while keeping the attention on her face. Her makeup is soft and fresh, fitting the summery vibe perfectly.

Even the pose inside the float works beautifully. The turn of her shoulders and the glance back toward the camera create flattering lines and a nice sense of movement.

At the end of the day, this image succeeds because it’s simple, fun, and beautifully executed. Sometimes you don’t need an elaborate concept. You just need great color, clean composition, and a senior whose personality shines through.

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

This Week’s Question:
I think I need to create a website for my business, but a lot of my non-photographer friends are telling me I don’t need one in 2026. Do I? And if I do, what are some pitfalls I should avoid?

Yes. You need one.

And the first pitfall you can run into is… NOT HAVING ONE.

Now, does that mean your website needs to be some giant masterpiece with custom animation, cinematic video backgrounds, and music softly playing while your homepage loads for twelve minutes?

No.

But you absolutely need a home base for your business.

Because here’s the reality. Social media is rented land. Instagram changes. Facebook changes. TikTok changes. Algorithms change. And at any moment, the platform you’ve spent years building on can decide to show your posts to approximately seven people and your cousin Garth.

Your website is the one place online you actually control.

More importantly, it makes you look like a real business.

When parents are deciding between photographers, they don’t just look at your photos. They look for signals that you’re established, organized, and trustworthy. A clean website still does that better than almost anything else.

Now, with that said, photographers make some pretty common mistakes with their websites.

📍 Mistake #1: Nobody Knows Where You’re Located

This one happens more than you'd think.

I land on a photographer’s website and spend the next five minutes playing detective trying to figure out where they actually shoot.

Put your location clearly on your homepage.

Not hidden in tiny text at the bottom. Not buried on an About page from 2019.

Right there where people can see it.

• Southeast Michigan Senior Photographer.
• Based in Dallas, Texas.
• Serving Northern Illinois.

Make it easy.

Because people should not need FBI-level investigative skills to determine if you live near them.

🛎️ Mistake #2: Making It Hard to Contact You

Your homepage should have an obvious button near the top that says something like:

• Request Information
• Book Your Session
• Contact Me

And it should actually be easy to find.

You’d be surprised how many photographers accidentally design websites that feel like escape rooms. If someone likes your work, don’t make them hunt for the next step.

💡 Your Website Should Answer Three Questions

At its core, your website really only needs to answer three things:

1. What do you offer?

Spell it out clearly. Senior photography? Model teams? Studio sessions? Outdoor sessions? Don’t assume people automatically know what you do.

2. How will it make my life better?

This is the one photographers skip. Parents are not buying “golden hour lighting.” Seniors are not booking you because your shadows are creamy. They’re buying confidence, memories, excitement, attention, and an experience that feels fun instead of awkward. Your website should communicate that.

3. How do I book you?

This should be incredibly clear and easy. If someone lands on your website and loves your work, they shouldn’t have to hunt around trying to figure out what to do next. Have a clear button near the top of your homepage that says something simple like "Book your session" or "Request Information".

And when they click your button, make the process straightforward. This is not the place to get overly creative with wording or complicated with forms that ask too many questions. All you need at this stage is a name, contact info and questions, if they have them. Don't ask for anything else. Your goal is to remove friction, not create it. The easier you make it for someone to take the next step, the more inquiries you’re going to get.

📸 One More Big Mistake

Don’t turn your website into a giant portfolio dump. Nobody needs to scroll through 400 photos to decide if they like your work.

Show your best images. Keep it clean. Give people enough to feel confident, then guide them toward contacting you.

Final Thought

Your website doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to clearly tell people:

• who you are
• what you offer
• where you’re located
• and how to take the next step

Because the goal of your website is not to impress other photographers. It’s to help real people book you.

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 Jessica Lass from Gillette, Wyoming.

I actually wasn’t familiar with Jessica’s work until she submitted for Photographer of the Week, but I’ve really enjoyed getting the chance to take a closer look. Her images have a ton of personality and warmth to them, and there’s an energy to her work that feels very genuine.

Take a look at the images we’re sharing this week and learn a little more about Jessica in the bio below.

Hi, Jessica Lass here. I am a natural light photographer in Gillette, WY, specializing in seniors, weddings, and families. While I started shooting as a child (remember collecting UPCs and sending in $1 for something off a cereal box? That was my first camera!), my story really began when we adopted our daughter from Russia.

As a stay-at-home mom with 4 boys, I needed a way to contribute to the overwhelming costs. I picked up my camera and shot sessions for donations for the next 2 years. In the process, I realized how much I had missed the process of creating and that I had a business if I wanted. For the last decade, I have slowly grown that business as the kids have gotten older.

My husband and I were high school sweethearts. We met in high school when we were only 17. We love Wyoming! Wide open spaces, soaring mountains, trout fishing, skies as far as the eye can see, and a little elbow space are totally my style. We’ve been together almost 3 decades and have 5 amazing kids that are now 24-16. Our life is total chaos, and we love it! A little crazy and energetic inspires me! I also teach art at a local private school. Corralling kids and keeping people engaged is what I do!

It's that craziness that allows me to connect and bring out the best in seniors. My style is definitely vibrant and colorful, but very organic. Movement and personality are far more important to me than putting someone in the perfect pose. With 5 young adults of my own and a desire to see how they think and what makes them THEM, I bring a unique perspective behind the camera that lets seniors relax and just have fun.

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 being here.

As you think about your goals this year, make sure they actually move your life forward and not just make you busier.

And while we’re at it, if your website still opens with a full-screen photo from 2020 and mysterious text like “capturing life's moments” but nothing explains what you actually do… maybe put that on the to-do list too.

Small improvements count. Better goals count. Clearer messaging counts.

And honestly, sometimes the next big breakthrough is just adding a “Contact Me” button people can actually find.

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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