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Welcome to this week’s SeniorInspire the Newsletter — the only weekly publication devoted entirely to senior photography that shows up in your inbox whether you like it or not.

This week we’re diving into the ever-confusing world of Instagram hashtags. Are they the secret sauce to growing your following… or just so much digital glitter? We’ve got some thoughts that might change how you tag forever.

We’re also sharing a few must-do steps to prep for your senior sessions, because let’s face it — showing up with dead batteries and no SD cards is a vibe... but not a good one.

In Why I Love This Image, we’re spotlighting a ridiculously fun 2020 photo from Kenda Davies that basically screams personality and summer joy.

And finally, in our Mentor of the Week spotlight, we’re introducing the one and only Nathan Loker — a guy with big talent, bigger heart, and a YooHoo habit he may never live down.

Let’s go!

This Week’s Question:
I keep hearing Instagram “experts” saying the exact right hashtags are important, but I’m not convinced local teens are finding me that way. Be honest — are hashtags actually worth the effort for senior photographers in 2025?

Short answer: sort of. Long answer: keep reading...

There’s a ton of advice floating around about Instagram right now about the importance of hashtags — but most of it is old thinking and geared toward influencers, creators, or brands trying to reach a global audience. That takes a very different strategy from what you’re doing as a local senior photographer trying to book actual clients in your area.

When your business is hyper-local and niche, the hashtag game changes. Here’s what you need to know…

✅ What Hashtags Can Do (Just a Little Bit)

📍 Improve discoverability — a little.
Using highly specific hashtags like #YourTownSeniorPhotos or #SmithvilleHighSeniors might help you pop up in local search results or get recommended to people near you. But don't expect a stampede of new followers.

🧠 Signal your niche to Instagram.
Hashtags tell Instagram what kind of content you're posting. This can help the algorithm categorize your work and suggest it to users with similar interests — especially on the Explore page or suggested reels. It’s not a game-changer, but it can help.

🏷️ Give your content structure.
Creating your own branded hashtag (like #SeniorInspire  or #SmithvilleSeniorsByAmanda ) can make your work easier to find for potential clients, and it adds a bit of polish and professionalism to your posts.

🚫 But Here’s What Hashtags Can’t Do (At Least Not Well)

📉 Reach teens who aren’t searching that way.
Let’s be honest: teens in 2025 are not browsing hashtags like it’s 2018. They’re watching reels, TikToks, and whatever their friends are reposting. If your goal is to reach seniors directly, hashtags are not the path of least resistance.

⏳ Make up for forgettable content.
The best hashtags in the world won’t help if the content itself doesn’t resonate. Spend more time on what you’re posting and less time debating between #classof2025 and #senioryearvibes.

💡 So What Should You Focus On Instead?

💥Incentivize your seniors to post and tag you – Hands down, this is the most effective way to reach other local teens. When a senior shares a photo you've created and tags your account, it puts your work directly in front of their friends (aka your next potential clients). Come up with a small incentive—like a few extra preview images or an entry into a gift card giveaway—for those who tag you. Word of mouth is powerful, and this is the Instagram version of it.

📸 Create content worth sharing.
Sneak peeks, goofy behind-the-scenes moments, funny bloopers, mini makeovers — that’s what gets shared in group chats and tagged in stories. Make things people want to pass around.

👀 @Tag local businesses, schools, and locations.
This is way more effective than hashtags for local exposure. Tag the coffee shop where you shot. Tag the high school. Tag the boutique that provided wardrobe. These tags hit the right audience faster than hashtags ever will.

📍 Use location tags and geotags on every post.
Always tag your city, the school, or the neighborhood where the shoot happened. These are searchable and far more effective at local targeting than hashtags.

💬 Engage authentically.
A thoughtful comment goes way further than a string of 30 hashtags. If someone comments on your post — respond! But don't make it about you, tell them how amazing the senior was to work with. Let people know you’re a real person, not a hashtag machine.

⭐ Bonus Tip: Use #SeniorInspire
Want to get featured on the SeniorInspire Instagram page? Make sure to tag your senior images with #SeniorInspire . That’s the one hashtag you definitely want to be using — and it shows me (and our whole community) that you’re part of the conversation.

Final Thought

Are hashtags completely useless? Nope.

Are they the key to growing your senior business in 2025? Also nope.

Think of them as digital sprinkles — they might add a little something to your reach, but the real magic is in the cake: strong content, local tagging, smart engagement, and showing up with your personality.

If you’ve got time to toss in a few specific, relevant hashtags? Go for it. But don’t lose sleep over it — or worse, waste precious energy that could be spent creating something worth sharing (or dancing for TikTok).

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 Texas senior photographer Kenda Davies appeared in the 2020 Summer Issue of SeniorInspire the Magazine, and from the moment I saw it, I knew we had a winner on our hands.

Let’s just get this out of the way: this image is flat out fun.

It’s the kind of photo that makes you smile immediately — not because it’s overly sweet or posed, but because it’s got attitude. The expression on the senior’s face says it all: she’s up to no good, and she’s daring you to do something about it.

That sideways glance, the little smirk, the positioning of the water sprayer like a weapon… it’s playful, bold, and full of personality.

And that’s what really makes this image shine — personality. It doesn’t feel like a pose. It feels like a moment — like you just happened to catch her mid-mischief. That takes real direction and connection between photographer and subject.

The pose is simple but super effective. She's holding the water sprayer just right, body angled to camera — it's got just enough attitude without being too choreographed. The stance is confident and cool, like she owns the carwash stall as well as the entire block.

The styling deserves a shout-out too. The white top, denim shorts, the perfect red rain boots — classic summer vibes with just a twist of fashion edge. And that pop of red? Total chef’s kiss. It draws you right in and adds the perfect visual punch against the softer tones in the background.

And let’s talk about color and light. Kenda did a great job using natural light here — the exposure is clean and balanced, with soft shadows and true-to-life skin tones. It feels like summer. Like humidity and sunshine and a good reason to get a little messy.

Bonus points for the subtle storytelling — it doesn’t hit you over the head with a narrative, but it suggests one. You can imagine the full scene: music playing, the smell of soap, laughter in the background, maybe someone just off camera about to get soaked.

It's an image that makes you feel like you're there — and that’s always the goal.

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

I’ll admit it—I get a little superstitious before every senior shoot.

Before I even start the car, I run through my ritual. Both cameras get turned on, a couple of test shots fired, then shut back off. After that, I go through each flash one by one, popping them and powering down. I even test my transmitter just to make sure it’s got plenty of juice.

Finally, I check my SD cards one last time to confirm I’ve got plenty of space. Do I already know they’re fine? Of course. Would it do me any good to find out 15 minutes before a shoot that I didn’t? Not really. But I do it anyway—because hey, I’m not OCD, I'm superstitious.

Only once I’ve gone through the whole routine and feel like the photography gods are officially on my side do I allow myself to start the car and head out.

Now you may not want to stoop to that level of goofiness—why on earth would you? — but here are some real, practical things you should always do well before you leave the house for a shoot:

1. Charge all your batteries.

Not just the ones in your camera—all of them. Camera batteries, flash batteries, trigger batteries. Nothing kills confidence faster than realizing you’re running on empty. Backups only help if they’re fully juiced. Do this after every shoot, and you'll be good to go on session day.

2. Pack your gear with intention.

Of course you need your cameras (duh). But don’t forget the lenses you’ll actually use, extra lights or reflectors if you love them, and charged batteries for every piece of gear. Pack it the night before if you can—future you will be grateful.

3. Clean your glass.

A quick wipe of your lenses and filters can save you hours in post. Dust, smudges, or the random fingerprint from your last shoot don’t add “character”—they just add frustration.

4. Bring a little client comfort.

If it’s hot, have cold drinks in a cooler ready to go. Most clients won’t actually take one, but they’ll love that you offered.

Same goes for a small handheld fan—it can be a lifesaver for long, hot outdoor sessions. Here's one I love that'll cost you $16 on Amazon.

5. Double-check your cards.

Even if you think they’re fine, check again. Make sure you’ve got plenty of free space and that the cards are working properly. Nothing spikes the blood pressure like a “card error” flashing mid-shoot.

6. Scout your locations.

Whether it’s the day before or 30 minutes before, take a quick drive-by to check the light, the crowds, or any unexpected construction. It’s a lot easier to impress a client when you already know the best spots.

7. Pack a “just in case” kit.

Think hair ties, laundry clips for loose clothing, bug spray, safety pins, Band-Aids and blotting papers. Ninety percent of the time you won’t need them, but the one time you do? You’ll look like a genius who can solve any problem and more importantly, you'll be able to say something cool like, "this aint' my first rodeo".

That’s my list. A little superstition, a little preparation, and a lot of making sure you’re ready for anything. Because the only surprises you want on a senior shoot are the fun ones.

This week’s featured mentor is Nathan Loker, a driven and business-focused senior photographer based in Effingham, Illinois. Known for his bold, sporty style and no-nonsense approach to running a profitable studio, Nathan specializes in helping photographers turn their passion into a serious business. Whether you're just getting your footing or feeling stuck after a few years in, Nathan’s structured mentorship programs help photographers level up with intention, confidence, and clarity.

Nathan Loker
Effingham, Illinois

What type of mentoring do you offer?
I offer a 4-week or a 6-week mentorship. We go over business planning, target audience, pricing/products, sales, client journey, consults, and more.

Who is your ideal mentee?
My ideal person is someone who desires to take their business to the next level. It can be a beginner, but most of the time it’s someone who realizes—after 3 to 7 years—that they need a guide to help them make that jump.

Did you have any mentors starting out?
Ironically, I have not had any mentors. I poured myself into education and applied everything I could get my hands on that made sense.

.

How would you describe your own shooting style?
My style is modern, contrasty, sporty, edgy—shadow & light storytelling.

What topics do you most enjoy mentoring on?
The client journey.

What’s one “rookie mistake” you see a lot of photographers make that you try to help them avoid?
Not having the confidence to make the leap and build a business versus a hobby.

If you could go back and mentor yourself when you were just starting out, what’s something you would tell yourself?
Set value on yourself—and don’t worry about the cheap people or the cheap photographers. Do not compare yourself to them.

How should potential mentees contact you?
Visit www.lokerphotography.com and click on “Contact Us”, or shoot me an email at  info@lokerphotography.com.

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.

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 sticking around for another issue of SeniorInspire the Newsletter. Whether you’re here for the tips, the tunes, or just to procrastinate editing — I see you, and I appreciate you.

This week’s Tune of the Week is “Elderberry Wine” by Wednesday from their album Bleeds — a bittersweet, hazy little gem that’s been rattling around in my head. It’s messy, poetic, and somehow comforting in the way senior sessions can be: a little chaotic, a little unpredictable, but full of meaning if you know where to look.

Because let’s be honest — even with the best prep, the perfect hashtag strategy, and a foolproof game plan, things don’t always go down like champagne.

But that’s okay. Elderberry wine works just fine.

🎧 Elderberry Wine – Wednesday

See you next week. Keep creating, keep posting — and remember, even the messy moments can still result in something beautiful.

Nick
SeniorInspire

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