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

Before we get started, a quick heads-up — there are only 9 days left to submit your square images for this year’s SeniorInspire Influencer contest! Winners will be featured in the summer issue of SeniorInspire the Magazine, so if you’ve been procrastinating… consider this your not-so-gentle nudge.

This week’s newsletter has a little something for everyone: a beautifully styled image from Max Lee in our Why I Love This Image feature, a practical Ask Nick on ways to build your client list, and our summer survival guide with 5 things all photographers should carry in the heat.

Let’s quit wasting time and dive in!

This week I'm answering a question raised by Jennifer Barker in the SeniorInspire Facebook group...

For those that are involved with local high school sports teams and school clubs, have you bought ad space in their printed program or sponsored them in some way? I’d love to see some examples and hear any comments about what you have found to work best to get potential leads vs just raising awareness of your business.

Let me start by saying this: I love supporting schools, teams, and clubs — but when it comes to getting new business, spending money on a quarter-page ad in the football program is… not your best move.

Sure, it builds awareness. Sure, the band mom who’s flipping through the program during halftime might see your name. But will she remember it? Will she immediately think, “I’m going to book a senior session with this person I saw in font size 10 under the JV roster”?

Probably not.

So if you're looking to actually get clients, here are five better ideas that give you more bang for your time, energy, and (in some cases) money:

📱 Use a Teen Influencer Instead of a Print Ad
If you're new to the business, instead of sponsoring the chess team, find a senior who’s active on social media — ideally someone with a strong presence on Instagram or TikTok. Offer them a free shoot in exchange for hyping you up online. They don’t need 10k followers. They just need engaged friends who trust them. A few authentic posts from a real senior go way farther than a logo in a program.

🖼 Create a Mini Display for a Local Business
Find a hair salon, coffee shop, or boutique that caters to your target market and ask if you can set up a small display. One large print, a few 8x10s, and a stack of cards can turn heads. Better yet — include a QR code that links to a highlight reel of your senior work.

📣 Partner with a Local Stylist or Makeup Artist
Make it a win-win. Offer to photograph their work on seniors, and in return they tell every teen in town, “You have to book Jennifer for your senior photos.” People trust referrals — especially from the people helping them get camera-ready.

📷 Run a “Model for a Day” Giveaway
Create a little buzz. Post a contest where one lucky junior or senior wins a free mini session with a few digital images included. Promote it in local Facebook groups, through your email list, and (again) with the help of a student or two. Everyone who enters becomes a potential client — and you just created a reason to talk to them.

🏫 Offer Free Headshots for a Club or Team — With a Catch
Instead of paying for an ad, offer to shoot free headshots for the school’s theater cast or student council. You’ll get time with a bunch of seniors, and here’s the key — offer a small print credit or. session discount if they book a senior photo shoot with you. Suddenly, you're not just a name in the program — you’re the photographer they actually met and worked with.

At the end of the day, you can still support your local schools. But if you’re trying to build your senior business, skip the passive ad and go for active outreach. The photographers who win in this space aren’t the ones with the biggest checks — they’re the ones with the strongest connections.

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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...

Quick reminder that we'll be giving away a free SeniorInspire t-shirt in our Facebook group this Sunday.

If you've submitted entries for our mid-year Influencer contest, you're in the drawing.

If you haven't submitted yet, go here by Saturday to get in on this week's drawing!

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.”

Today we're looking at an image taken by Max Lee and featured in the 2023  Photographers I'd Like to Follow issue of SeniorInspire the Magazine.

Some images feel like they were taken in total silence — like the whole world paused for a split second just so the shutter could do its thing. That’s the vibe I get every time I look at this powerful winter portrait.

Set in a blanket of fresh snow, this image is minimalism done right. The stark, pristine white creates a sense of peaceful isolation, drawing your eye instantly to the subject — and what a subject. Standing tall in a bold red outfit, she doesn’t just contrast with the scene… she commands it.

That pop of red isn’t just eye candy. It’s a statement. Against the monochromatic snow, it becomes the visual anchor of the photo. It’s bold, elegant, and dramatic — without ever feeling forced.

Max used the environment to his advantage here, letting the color speak for itself while the rest of the image breathes.

Let’s talk about the pose. It’s strong, feminine, and perfectly sculpted to highlight the subject’s silhouette. Her body language introduces just the right amount of curve and movement, breaking up the stillness of the snow with a sense of presence and quiet confidence. The pose may be subtle, but the impact isn’t.

And that expression? Straight fire. The senior isn’t giving us a casual smile or a dreamy stare — she’s giving us attitude. There’s something in the set of her eyes that adds intensity to the entire image. It feels real. It feels powerful. It’s one of those expressions that tells a story without saying a word.

Technically, Max absolutely crushed it here. Getting clean detail in snow is no joke — it’s so easy to blow out the highlights or lose the texture entirely. But in this shot, the snow still holds shape and dimension. It looks soft, not flat. You can almost feel the crunch underfoot. That takes skill and attention to detail.

Even more impressive? The skintones. Cold weather can wreak havoc on skin in photos — it’s easy to end up with blotchy reds, lifeless cool tones, or overly edited results. But Max balanced it beautifully. The skin looks warm, even in the icy setting, and there’s no hint of harshness or overprocessing. It’s natural, flattering, and just straight-up well done.

There’s a quiet strength to this photo that makes it stand out. It’s not trying too hard, but it lands hard. It feels timeless and modern all at once — the kind of image you want printed big and framed on a wall.

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 more than a third 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.

Let’s face it — summer sessions are equal parts golden hour magic and “why did I wear black again?”

Between the heat, the bugs, and the blazing sun that somehow waits until your client shows up to hit full blast, shooting seniors in the summer can feel more like an endurance sport than a creative pursuit.

But with a little prep (and a well-packed bag), you can keep yourself and your client comfortable, cool, and looking like you totally have it together.

Here are five things every senior photographer should carry during summer sessions:

1. Water (for you and your client)
This one’s obvious, but it’s worth repeating. Always bring water. Then bring a little more. A couple of cold bottles in a soft cooler go a long way — especially when your client shows up with nothing but lip gloss and a latte.

2. Portable Fan or Cooling Towel
That moment between setups when you feel sweat pooling behind your knees? Yeah, that’s when this comes in clutch. A small rechargeable fan can save your sanity — Click here for the one I swear by. And cooling towels? Just wet, snap, and drape. Instant relief.

3. Oil Blotting Sheets or Mini Powder Kit
Summer skin has its own opinions about how matte it wants to be. Blotting sheets or a basic powder compact can make a huge difference, especially when you’re trying to keep foreheads from looking like disco balls. Bonus: your client will appreciate you forever.

4. Lightweight Folding Stool or Seat Pad
Your feet will thank you, your client will thank you, and your back will throw you a party. Use it for quick breaks or sneaky posing tricks. Some even double as step stools when you need just a little height.

5. Sunscreen + Bug Spray Combo
Shooting in a field? Near water? Under the sun? You’re going to want both of these. Look for a combo spray and stash it in your bag — your ankles and shoulders will thank you later.

A little extra planning can turn your sweaty scramble into a smooth, chill session. And your client? They’ll walk away thinking, “Wow, they really thought of everything.” Which, let’s be honest, is half the job anyway.

Stay cool out there.

That’s a wrap for this week!

But before we go, l want to encourage you to consider submitting a question for our Ask Nick feature.

Maybe it's a question you’ve been kicking around — business, creativity, marketing, or maybe just why your light always seems to die at the worst possible moment?

Send it my way! I’d love to tackle it in a future Ask Nick column.

Just head to www.seniorinspire.com/asknick and drop it in.

Short and sweet is fine. Weird and specific is even better.

And hey — asking questions is free. Not asking them? That might be costing you.

Nick
SeniorInspire

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