5 Reasons to Niche to Senior Photography
Have you ever found yourself eagerly looking forward to certain types of photography sessions you have booked, and dragging your feet to go to others?
Well, then, it may be time to take a good, hard look at which types of bookings you’re becoming known for. Some call it a niche, some call it a focus…the important thing is that you choose one based on what supports your growth as a business owner AND your creativity as an artist.
Let’s face it: every photographer has a different set of personal values, and I believe all photographer’s personal values spill over into which type of bookings they gravitate toward.
This means the photography niche you choose to focus on is not only an important step in your journey, but a necessary step toward a burnout-free, financially sound photography career!
(And, as to whether or not “niching” is required to be a successful, full-time photographer…I believe that it’s important to experiment with niches in the beginning of your career before ultimately choosing one major niche, and maybe 1-2 complimentary niches as your primary offering. The topic is debated, but the truth is — a lightning bolt is only the width of a thumb, and still hotter than the sun.)
As a seasoned photographer in the senior photography niche myself, there are many things I love about working with seniors, teens & their families. In this post we are calling out 5 values that senior photographers usually hold. If you find yourself reading through any of these values, nodding your head and resisting the urge to grab a pitchfork and shout out “Hear, hear!” in your place of reading…then it just might be that the senior photography niche is the perfect one for you. Let’s dive in!
1. You prefer individual portraits vs groups
In photography, there are many niches: weddings, events, nature, seniors, boudoir, newborns, families, and even pets. If you're someone who is beginning to realize you enjoy the more calm, 1:1 nature of a portrait session versus, let's say, a wedding day or event photography — then congratulations, you may have just taken your first official step into the rewarding world of portrait photography!
Many photographers start booking couples shoots and weddings as a way to bring in more substantial booking income. I get it! It can seem that the only way to really 'make it' as a photographer is to work within this niche. While it is a really great way to build your portfolio and get your name out there, working with more than one subject means additional posing instruction and sometimes even managing the dynamics between the subjects. Then, you factor in things like age (working with kiddos), tight schedules (15 minutes to capture 20+ family formal photo combinations), and/or the unpredictability or working event venues you've never been to before (eg. being hired to photograph a company holiday party) — and next thing you know, you're spending more time adapting than you are creating beautiful artwork via your photography skills!
It's important to try as many genres as you can in the beginning, so you can experiment with the types of photography you enjoy and the types that don't fulfill you creatively or professionally.
TL;DR:
It IS possible to make a full-time photography income shooting only senior portraits.
2. You enjoy fashion + editorial work
Let's face it, teens know what's cool! For that reason, there's an inherent degree of fashion-forward, cutting-edge trends incorporated throughout the wardrobe brought to senior sessions
While breaking into the fashion industry may or may not be your goal, working with trendy, fun-loving, naturally youthful teens is an inspiring, fashion-adjacent category.
If you're a photographer who's fascinated by Paris and New York fashion week, love a good Pinterest-sesh, have always taken an interest in sewing, fabrics, or design (Hello, Project Runway! I myself may or may not have visited the Mood fabric store and left with a "thank you, mood!" t-shirt as a souvenir - if you know, you know) — if that's you, then don't be surprised if you feel naturally pulled to work with seniors!
TL;DR:
Senior photography is not only a viable career option financially, but it's also extremely fulfilling creatively for fashion-lovers.
3. You feel called to celebrate others
By default, being a senior is all about celebration. Celebrating turning 18 and becoming an adult, celebrating the completion of your secondary education, and potentially celebrating the next chapter which comes after turning the tassel and collecting your diploma. As such, when you're working with seniors and their parents, the mood is naturally full of excitement, hope, pride & appreciation. Who doesn't want to work with that?!
As photographers, feeling a sense of purpose in our work is an important safeguard against burnout. Knowing your 'why' in photography, what drives you, is not only a key part of your messaging in marketing your senior photography business (I teach this to my students in Rep It!) but it also provides YOU, the artist, with a sense of pride in your own mission.
TL;DR:
You are more than a photographer who delivers images. You operate as a part of a bigger, more meaningful purpose in the lives of your clients.
4. You prefer not to work on weekends
I'll never forget the lightbulb moment I had in year 1 of my photography career. I thought to myself, "Wait. So if I get really good at this whole wedding photography and engagement photoshoot thing...and I get 'booked out'...then most of my Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays are going to be spent...at work?" It didn't sit right with me.
As photographers, we have the privilege and freedom to create our own schedules (queue the confetti poppers!) but what happens when that suddenly turns into weekends traveling for all-day wedding engagements and weekdays editing thousands of images?
All photographers will reach a point in their career when they meet a fork in the road, and have to hold up their written list of values and use this list to decide which path to take. For me, I value weekends at the beach with my surf-loving family, and would much rather keep my photo sessions on weekdays. (Haven't written down your values yet? Do that now! It'll be your guide as you navigate business ownership.)
TL;DR:
Senior photography means true freedom of schedule.
5. Gives you the ability to work with a fun-loving age group
No two teenagers are the same and you’ll certainly work with a wide variety of personalities over the course of your senior photography career, but it’s safe to say that you’re bound to have loads of fun at your senior sessions.
You remember what it's like to be a teenager! School, friends, football games, homework...that is your world, your reality. It's fun to tap into their life, reminisce alongside them, and ask them about what's next.
Being around younger people can feel rejuvenating. Seniors are often bubbly, respectful, and great listeners. In general, being around them is enjoyable.
Plus, the parents! A HUGE part of working with seniors is, of course, working with their parents, too. It's an incredibly sweet dynamic to witness. While spending time with the seniors is fun, silly, & fountain-of-youth-y for us, speaking with the parents gives us a sense of camaraderie, of wisdom, and shared pride in their awesome senior!
TL;DR:
Senior photographers cater to two groups: seniors and their parents.
My favorite thing about being a senior photographer is witnessing the love and support that my seniors experience from their friends and families. In a way, the photos I take and the artwork I deliver is just a vessel for people to come around the seniors and help them feel loved & celebrated in the way they deserve to be. From the parent's POV, I get to help them properly document an undeniably special time — the official transition from childhood to adulthood.
Want to know the most common word used in my feedback form? "FEEL."
At the end of the day, parents of course want nice photos of their son or daughter, but more than anything, I think they appreciate the feeling of confidence that comes from a well-prepared senior photographer's photo experience. And from the student's point of view, watching seniors hype each other up online when they post their images is so sweet to see.
The main things that drove me toward senior photography were my two younger sisters. We are extremely close, and growing up I just always had a way of watching over them, supporting them, and eventually, taking their senior photos! I also coached cheerleading after graduating college, and that reinforced my passion for being around teenagers during what can be difficult years of one's life. I've always felt comfortable with teens, like I get the sense I can read them well and understand their queues (when they're uncomfortable, or starting to get more comfortable), which is an important skill to have on set.
If you're thinking about leaning into senior photography, take a close look at what's important to you, your values — in your life and business. You might be surprised to learn that creating a thriving, booked-out senior photography business where you are truly in control of your schedule and your income is absolutely possible for you, no matter where you are located or how much experience you have. We all have to start somewhere.
Ready to start with more seniors? Download my 5 Things Every Senior Photographer Needs to Know guide to learn how to make a splash in the high school senior photography world.
