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Welcome to this week’s edition of the SeniorInspire Newsletter — and we’re kicking things off with some exciting news!

We’ve officially launched our Mid-Year Influencers Photo Contest, and this time we’re putting the spotlight on your SQUARE images! That’s right — it’s time to revisit your recent sessions, and pick out the images that absolutely pop in a square format. Full contest details are just ahead, but trust me, this is a fun one you won’t want to miss.

Also in this issue, I’m sharing Why I Love an incredible image from Susan Gietka, taken during the 2020 Covid lockdown using FaceTime — with a mom on the other end pointing her phone at her senior. It’s a creative, emotional shot that proves great photography isn’t about gear — it’s about vision.

And finally, in Ask Nick Anything, we’re getting into the nitty-gritty of running your business. I’m answering a great question about what metrics you should be tracking to really understand what’s working — and what might need some adjusting. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re flying blind or flying smart, this one’s for you.

Let’s dive in — and hey, good luck in the contest!

For this week's edition of 'Ask Nick Anything' I received this anonymous question...

Hey Nick! I’ve been shooting seniors for a couple of years now, and while I feel like I’ve grown a lot creatively, I still have no idea if my business is actually doing well. I keep hearing people talk about “KPIs” — key performance indicators — but I’m not totally sure what that means in the world of senior photography. What should I be paying attention to? Are there a few key numbers or benchmarks I should be tracking to know if I’m on the right track?

Great question — and honestly, it’s one a lot of photographers ignore for way too long.

KPI stands for Key Performance Indicator, which is a fancy business term for: the stuff you should be measuring to know whether your business is healthy or not.

And the key word here is MEASURING — a KPI is only a KPI if it’s trackable. “I feel like this year was better” is not a KPI. “My average sale per senior went up 22% this year” is.

You don’t need to build a spreadsheet empire or hire an analyst in a Patagonia vest. But if you want to treat this like a real business (and not just hope the bookings keep rolling in), here are some of the most important KPIs to track as a senior photographer:

📸 Average Sale per Client
Take your total senior revenue and divide it by the number of senior sessions. This shows what you’re actually earning per client, not just what’s on your price list.

📆 Booking Rate
How many inquiries turn into paying clients? If you're getting 20 inquiries and only booking 5, something in your process might be turning people off — or confusing them.

📈 Year-over-Year Growth
Are your bookings and revenue increasing over time? Even modest growth is a good sign you're building momentum.

👥 Referral Rate
How many of your new clients came from word of mouth or past clients? A strong referral rate usually means great experiences — and less money spent on marketing.

📲 Lead Source Breakdown
Track where each inquiry comes from: Instagram, your website, rep team, etc. This helps you double down on what’s working — and stop wasting time on what’s not.

🕒 Turnaround Time
How long does it take from session to delivery? Clients notice this — and long delays can quietly hurt your reputation and referrals.

💰 Profit Margin
Revenue is nice. Profit is better. Track your expenses (editing, software, lab costs, etc.) so you know how much you're actually keeping.

🧠 Client Satisfaction
This one’s a bit soft, but still important. Ask clients if they’d recommend you — and keep track of how many actually do.

Bottom line: You don’t need to track everything under the sun, but you do need to be honest about what’s working — and what isn’t. Watching these numbers gives you insight, direction, and control. Ignore them, and you’re basically just guessing.

You’re a photographer. You already understand composition — KPIs are just the business version of that. Frame your numbers right, and you’ll see the full picture.

—

Want me to dig into one of these KPIs in a future column? Or have a question of your own? Head over to www.seniorinspire.com/asknick. I’ll be here — with a Mt. Dew in one hand and a calculator in the other, feverishly trying to figure out my own KPI's on this newsletter...

Now Accepting Submissions – SeniorInspire Influencers 2025!

It’s that time again! Submissions are officially open for our annual SeniorInspire Influencer Contest, where we celebrate the best senior photographers in the business with our one-of-a-kind square issue of SeniorInspire the Magazine.

All entries must be senior photos taken within the last year and cropped to a SQUARE format. To enter, head over to www.seniorinspire.com/influencer2025 and submit your best work by August 10th.

And here’s a little incentive to get in early: everyone who submits before the deadline is entered to win a free SeniorInspire Influencer t-shirt! We’ll be doing weekly drawings in our Facebook group, so don’t wait!

Are you on the fence about submitting? Here are 5 great reasons you should get your work out there:

📸 Your work could be featured in SeniorInspire the Magazine, one of our most anticipated issues of the year

🧠 It’s a chance to reflect on your best work from the past year

💬 Gives you easy content to promote on your own social media

🎯 Builds credibility with future clients and parents

📰 Your featured images could inspire other photographers across the country

Time to show us what you've got!

Senior Focus Photography Workshop
Paige Day ~ Selessa Holmberg ~ Cindy Arthur
October 4–6, 2025 | Bay Area, CA

A bold, dreamy, editorial-style workshop for next-level senior portrait artists, you can join at any level, beginner, and up.

Join three of the industry’s top creatives for a 3-day, hands-on experience packed with inspiration, strategy, and high-impact shoots designed to elevate your work and grow your business.

What’s Included:

5 expertly fully styled, guided shoots with live coaching
Lighting mastery: natural light, OCF, and studio setups
Dream locations: gorgeous beach, downtown, golden hour field, creative studio, and dynamic dancer shoot
Real strategies to book better clients and increase profits
This isn’t a cookie-cutter course. It’s curated, elevated, and crafted to move your business forward.

Limited spots. Big breakthroughs.
Ready to stand out, charge more, and create your dream biz?

EARLY BIRD PRICING ends July 15, 2025

REGISTER ON OUR WEBSITE:
SeniorFocusPhotographyWorkshop.com

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT OUR REEL

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.

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.”

Back in 2020, when the world shut down and photographers everywhere were forced to get scrappy, New Jersey photographer Susan Gietka managed to pull off something pretty remarkable. Using nothing but FaceTime, an iPad, and a little help from Mom, she created this warm, stylish, and completely original senior portrait — all without ever being in the room.

Here’s why I love this image:

🎥 Shot via FaceTime during lockdown
This image was made in the thick of Covid when in-person sessions weren’t an option — and yet it feels anything but limited.

💡 The lighting is beautiful
Even with the constraints of snapping on an iPad, Susan managed to coach soft, glowing light that flatters the subject perfectly.

🛏️ The composition is fun and unexpected
Having the senior lying down, records scattered, and that pink vinyl held above her face — it’s creative, casual, and totally engaging.

🎨 The color coordination is spot on
The pink vinyl, sequined pillow, warm tones, and soft textures all play so nicely together without feeling overly styled.

🎶 Vinyl always gets bonus points
Let’s be real — I’m a sucker for records. But this isn’t just a gimmick. The way Susan incorporated them adds character and retro charm to the image.

📱 It doesn’t feel like a FaceTime photo
This part might be the most impressive — there’s nothing about this image that screams “pandemic workaround.” It simply feels like great photography.

💋 The pose is relaxed but confident
The senior’s expression, the subtle glam of her makeup, the soft curls — it all adds up to a look that’s both effortless and stylish.

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

That’s a wrap for this week!

But before we go, let’s talk a bit more about sales averages. It’s one of the most important KPIs in our business — and yet, I still hear photographers say things like, “My average is somewhere between $900 and $1,200.”

Here’s the thing: averages aren’t a range. They’re a single, very real, very calculable number. Just take your total sales and divide by the number of clients. Boom — that’s your average. Not a vibe, not a guesstimate, not “somewhere in the ballpark.”

If you don't want to give someone a precise number, you can say, “I’m right around a thousand,” or “just north of a grand,” but let’s not pretend math is flexible. It’s not.

And if you don’t know your number? That’s a good sign it’s time to calculate it. You might be pleasantly surprised — or at least better informed.

Now get out there and create something amazing!. 📸

Nick
SeniorInspire

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