How To Plan A Senior Rep Photoshoot | Senior Photographer Education

As with any event, there’s a lot that goes into planning a senior rep photoshoot, How nice would it be to know exactly how to plan a senior spokesmodel group shoot without all the stress? The truth is, it’s more than possible — and today, I’m teaching you a method that will help you through every step of the process. 

In the same way you can confidently follow a recipe and know that a delicious cake is bound to come out of the oven, what you’re about to learn is a system just like that. When you follow my signature 4-D framework, you’ll have everything for your senior rep team event covered. The ingredients you’ll need are:

2+ senior reps

1 venue

1-2 outfit concepts

1 info sheet

1 healthy sprinkle of your creativity!

Instead of pouring, whisking, mixing, and baking, the main actions you’ll be taking in this system are: discovering, deciding, designing, and distributing. This is the exact recipe I’ve used to plan and execute over THIRTY senior ambassador events so far. When you follow this proven framework, you'll plan a successful group photoshoot that actually works to bring you new senior leads (and rep applicants for the following year) — which is the primary motivation of investing your time and energy into these fun group photoshoots.

Picking a theme

Discover: Head to Pinterest first and look for Pinterest trend predictions. Also research Tiktok "aesthetics" so you can get a better idea of what teens are wearing and/or "into" right now.

Decide: Choose at least one aesthetic with photos of outfits, textures, patterns, and settings. Then, decide on a fun name for the theme!

Design: A Pinterest board showcasing the theme.

Distribute: Include a link to your Pinterest board when you send out your group session materials to your team.

Picking a location

Discover: I usually spend a couple of hours researching location options, whether local or destination. For some senior rep photoshoots, I'll re-use locations I visit often with regular clients, and sometimes I'll look into rentals, venues, and spaces I've never tried before. 

Decide: You might find yourself with several great options (I know I have!) and sometimes I take a few days to pause before coming back to make the final call. I'm always looking for places with posing diversity options, props, unique backdrops or cohesion with the wardrobe aesthetics. Book your location as far in advance as possible — you’ll want to lock it down before someone else snags it!

Design: Download photos of the space and save them into a folder.

Distribute: When you’re sending out the details for your shoot, share the photos of the space so your clients know what to expect upon arrival.

Creating a schedule

Discover: First, check your schedule to confirm which of your reps are scheduled to attend this particular group shoot. (My Rep It! Students have an entire "Kitchen Sink" spreadsheet which includes one tab for easily tracking their rep team members' info throughout the year.) (We should link something here about rep it… the rep it freebie here instead of later in the budget section? Let me know your thoughts)

Decide: Decide how many outfits, how many backdrops, and whether you want to do group photos or solo shots or both (I’d recommend both).

Design: Write out an easy-to-understand schedule list with order of clients, time slots, and important notes about timing.

Distribute: Be sure to include these details in your info sheet or group shoot email that goes out to parents and seniors.

Putting together goodie bags

Discover: Brainstorm what small gifts will surprise and delight your team.

Decide: How much are you willing to spend and what items will go into it. Check your budget spreadsheet! (This is another gem that Rep It! students have access to.)

Design: How do you want to present the present? Presentation is everything! 

Distribute: I like to have the gifts set up upon arrival as a surprise, or pass them out one by one. For this shoot, we did unique nametags that doubled as "wanted posters." For example, Bailey got a card titled "WANTED: Blackjack Bailey" - it was a hit!

When it comes to preparing your reps, visuals are everything! I also suggest looping in both parent and senior, clarifying your guest policy, including parking and directions, and even adding some suggestions for other activities to do in the area. 

If you ever feel frustrated about a theme not coming out the way you hoped, or the outfits missing the mark, chances are there was a miscommunication from your end to the client's end. Doing this 4-D prep work ensures that there is no room for guessing — your team will step inside your mind and see the vision alongside you!

As far as my own preparation as the photographer, there are a few must-haves I won’t show up without: extra batteries, memory cards, water, and sometimes an outfit change for fun. 

Behind the scenes coverage is a need as well, as it’s super important for leveraging this event into content over the next several weeks post senior rep photoshoot.

The JenRenPro team shows up and shows out at these group shoots — I couldn’t do it without my videographer and assistant. A videographer will capture vertical video for social media and/or professional video for promotional videos on your rep team application website. One year I even hired someone to bring a drone and it's some of my favorite rep footage to date! My assistant helps with running the schedule, notifying the next senior when it's almost their turn, chatting with parents, etc. Having an extra person on hand is SO helpful, even if it's your spouse, sibling, or friend jumping in to help!

Budgeting your senior rep photoshoot

It can seem tricky to justify a senior rep group photoshoot if it costs more than it produces — which is why knowing how to harness this event for marketing is essential to the success of your program. 

Group photoshoot costs can range anywhere from $100-$2,000+ — it depends on factors like venue, number of students, costs for assistants, gifts, props, wardrobe, partnerships, travel, etc.

That's why it is SO important to track each and every expense in your rep team, as well as how much business it brings you. That way you can feel confident that these group photoshoots are not a trivial expense for a few likes on social media — they're a surefire investment. 

You put in a dollar and it gives you ten dollars back. That's the idea for marketing across the board!

Getting together the theme, location, schedule, budget, and everything in between doesn’t seem so hard now, does it? With the 4-D framework and these tips in your back pocket, you can plan an unforgettable senior rep photoshoot for your senior rep program!

Knowing how to increase your senior leads is one thing, but marketing your business is only one piece of the puzzle. If you're ready to learn how to scale your business to six-figures without burning out, join the Shoot Less Make More challenge.

Day In The Life Of A Senior Photographer | Photography Business BTS

As a senior photographer, there are a lot of things I love about my job. One of the things I appreciate most is the flexibility and freedom it brings into my life. No two days look the same, but the beauty is—I get to design my own path.. Join me on a breakdown of a typical day in my life as a senior photographer and see behind the scenes with a business owner!

My Hatch alarm (ocean noises, thank you very much) clock goes off before the sun. I love getting a head start on the day — there’s just something about that hour that feels like you’re ahead of the ball, and for a business owner, there’s hardly a better feeling!

I'm loving taking pilates classes in the morning, or heading to the gym for a little strength training. I call this input/output time — input in the sense that I use this time to listen to a podcast, training or course. Output in the sense that I'm getting blood moving in my body, which helps fresh ideas pop into my brain! Some mornings, just a quick walk outside is all you need to get the creative juices flowing. Once I'm home, I read 10 pages of a non-fiction book (every single day!), make a cup of coffee (Nespresso’s maple flavor is currently my fav), set my action items for the day, and get ready for calls and photoshoots.

As a business owner, every day is different. Mondays are my consultation days, where I meet with potential clients and design their sessions with me. Tuesday through Thursday are photoshoot days, most often, but since sessions are either early morning or late afternoon, the middle of the day is spent editing, designing artwork for clients, creating content, or coaching other senior photographers. Then on Friday I play the role of babysitter for my nephew Bennett, which is one of my favorite perks of making my own schedule. I'll spend a couple of hours playing with him while my sister gets to catch up on work or get some alone time, and then the three of us will go out for coffee and a walk by the beach. The dream! 

I wrap up the week by planning the next week every Friday afternoon. That's a must for me! I have an hour reserved every Friday for what I call "time block planning" (cuter name coming soon but… you get the idea) where I refer to my master to-do list, and pull out certain tasks to drip into the next week's schedule. As a business owner who relies on her calendar to keep things running smoothly, this is probably THE most important hour of the week!

Depending on what’s going on that day, I sometimes start work at 9AM and finish around 8PM since I’ll often take photos at sunset. For that reason, I always try to take extended breaks during the day, maybe for a few hours, to balance out the workday and make sure I'm taking time to connect with my friends, family, & self! 

When you really enjoy what you do, those days that seem long on a calendar absolutely fly by. As the gal in charge, I’m also able to block off days at a time, take a half day, or travel the world for a month if I feel the need! As a business owner, you get to decide when to work and when to play, without needed pre-approval from upper management. The fact that I happen to love both work and play is just the cherry on top of it all! 

When it comes to work/life balance, my husband and I are definitely in a season of building as we say. We know that every day of intentional work is laying a brick into the foundation of our future. And, to be honest, it feels really good.

So in that sense, the work/life balance does tend to lean into the work side more often, but it also feels like a part of our life too — we both work in "the people business" and get to spend our days with so many great people. Our clients keep us energized and we both work in beautiful, outdoor settings (I mean, I listen to waves crash on the sand for a living). So right now, we're actually thankful that work and life harmonize so well for us. 

My favorite ways to unwind are travel, sushi dinners with my girlfriends, reading a Kristen Hannah book, watching Survivor with my husband (we've seen every single season), spending time with my family, and beach days with my surf-obsessed parents. Even in our season of building, it’s important to have some downtime! 

On the work side, having help is such an important part of growth. I realized lately there’s a whole village in my life and business now! I have a Pinterest/blog manager, a virtual assistant, an editor, interns & in-person assistants, a print lab team, a senior rep team (grab my freebie to learn more about having your own rep team), an accountant & bookkeeper, business coaches, and a financial advisor. Asking for help isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength for any business owner.

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A post shared by Jenna Lesoeur | Senior Photographer (@jenrenpro)

I've invested tens of thousands of dollars in coaching & mentorship in recent years, and the return on my investment always comes back in multiples. I spent far too many years in my business completely alone, sort of "white knuckling" this whole business thing through trial and error. Hiring experienced mentors I trusted, with proven track records, basically pushed me forward years (and, when taking compound interest into account, decades) in a matter of months.


Specifically, I've been trained in sales skills, entrepreneurship, life coaching, messaging, sales events, and, of course, photography! To be honest, I don't think I'll ever be without a coach or mentor who is several steps ahead of me. It's the best way to grow.

When it comes to growth, remember that roots grow down before they grow up. Growth downward is still growth! For the business owner working so hard and/or searching for clarity in your business, you can appreciate the fact that your roots are growing down. Same goes for an investment, risk, sacrifice or leap into a decision — roots grow in the dark, where no one can see. The longer and stronger the roots, the stronger and more durable your growth. Water it, grow down, and repeat. “Fruit“ will be your natural byproduct.

Every business owner starts somewhere — I know what it’s like to look around and realize I’m capable of more. I can pinpoint the moment I knew I could create a life where I got to make my own schedule, make a living being creative, and serve others well in the process.

If you’re looking for more flexibility in your life by building a successful senior photographer business so your days can look a little more like mine, there are ways I can help you! 

Check out my new challenge, the Shoot Less Make More Challenge — 5 days to give you a head start on mastering the art of creating predictable financial stability in your photography business.

Also make sure you’re following me on instagram @jrpuniversity for ways to improve your craft, increase your impact, and invest in your future.

Busting 4 Myths About Senior Rep Programs

It is no secret that I believe a senior rep program is a game changer for any photographer looking to break into the high school senior photography business. But figuring out how to price your program so it’s actually profitable (and not to mention FUN for the students involved) may be causing you to second-guess whether a rep program is really the best way to work with more high school seniors this year. Today I’m going to debunk some of the myths surrounding senior rep programs so you can see why senior rep programs are the single best method for breaking into, and growing within, the senior photography niche!

Myth 1: Reps join for free

The truth is, a senior rep team member gets exclusive access to added value — not reduced payment.

Group shoots, venue rentals, and your valuable time are certainly not free — so your program shouldn’t be either! A successful senior rep team that provides a great experience for your ambassadors AND brings in new, qualified senior leads to book out your calendar does not have to operate at a loss.

Knowing how to price your senior rep program doesn’t have to be complicated, either. In my course Rep It! I teach two simplified pricing & package models to follow for a profitable and effective program: Simple & Tiered.

Once you choose your model & apply your simplified package pricing, you can list your price on your application or share it confidently during your info meeting.

Then, you’ll reap the booked-out benefits of a healthy senior rep program without losing money in the process.

Myth 2: Each rep must refer at least one person

A common complaint I hear from other photographers about senior model teams is that the team members just “don’t do anything” or that it just “doesn’t work.”

After 6 consecutive years of running an effective senior rep program at JenRenPro, I’ve learned that there’s been a miscommunication in the photography world about what exactly senior reps are expected to do as a member of the program.

In reality, the best way to get a rep’s friends to book their senior photos with you is not to just expect the rep to do all the heavy lifting. It’s to work alongside your rep: they participate, you promote.

It’s not unlike the way the kicker on the football team works with the holder. The rep is the kicker — he or she is excited to be on the team, proud to wear the uniform, and ready to take center stage on the field for his or her chance to score in front of the crowd. You are the holder — you’re essential to the field-goal, and the kicker isn’t going to be able to succeed without you setting up the ball just right.

Use this mentality when you’re posting stories from your team events, sending graphics for your team to share, and designing branded gifts or merchandise.

Once you adopt a “what’s-in-it-for-them” mentality, any marketing effort you make will result in having more qualified leads checking out your senior photography services.

Myth 3: There can only be one Rep program in my area

Do these thoughts ever creep into your mind?

“The market is saturated!”

“There’s a popular program from a popular photographer in my area already!”

“I just moved here and don’t know anyone!”

There can be a hundred programs in an area, but there’s only one you. That’s why I tell photographers to build a STANDOUT program based on your journey, their generation, and creative separation. 

Incorporating YOU into your program is the easiest and most powerful way to attract the right students onto your team. 

The next time you sit down to design your annual rep team schedule for the year ahead, think about how to create photoshoot concepts, merchandise, & community give-back that makes your program naturally unlike any other.

Once you do this, you’ll not only feel more aligned and at-home with your team (your “people”), but you’ll also find it easier to attract not just MORE applicants, but the RIGHT applicants.

Myth 4: The bigger the better

In reality, it only takes serving one student to help you break into the local senior photography market.

There’s a term I use in Rep It! called the “Rep Ramp” which refers to the 3-step process to breaking into and growing within the senior photography niche in your area. Establish in year one, grow in year two, and refine in year three. 

It only takes one domino to start the fall. Your first representative might be a lot easier to recruit than you think — in your establishing year, having even one representative (whether a booked client or an actual team member) means you get secondary access to his or her friends, family, peers and teammates IF the client experience is word-of-mouth worthy.

When you’re looking to break into senior photography, start small with 1-3 reps. Pair a great client experience for them with the right marketing coverage, and you’ll find yourself with senior rep applications pouring in months before it’s time to recruit the next class’ team.

My biggest piece of advice for someone hesitant to start a senior rep program

Many photographers, myself included, begin photography as a creative outlet, hobby, or project. It’s one of those unique careers which are artistic and sensitive in nature, but yet, desperately requires business skills like accounting, customer service, and marketing in order to thrive. 

We’re notorious for obsessing over presets, camera gear, and shoot locations, but we actually should be more concerned with entrepreneurship, sales skills, and mindset.

Someone who believes that “there can only be one program in my area” or that “the market is too saturated” has a bright, neon sign pointing back to themselves that says “I’m not sold on me yet.”

Don’t let fear drive the decision-making in your business. You get to decide how far, deep, wide, and high you want to take your photography business for you and your family. Get sold on you, first!

Are you ready to learn everything you need to know about running a standout senior rep program? My course Rep It! is the all-in-one marketing roadmap for senior photographers. 

Click here to learn more about the program and how to join!

4 Ways To Create A Standout Senior Rep Program | Senior Photographer Education

Wouldn't it be cool if you could have a senior rep program SO signature, that students from out of your state reach out to ask if they could be a part of it? To build a standout senior rep program, you must learn to master the art of reading the (ever-changing) room:

1. Probe pop culture

Keeping your finger on the pulse of popular (“pop”) culture keeps your photo shoot themes fresh and relevant, while still being different from photoshoot concepts already made popular online.

Seek out inspiration from events like the Met Gala, the superbowl, TV series, movies, TikTok aesthetics, or popular concert tours.

Examples: Bridgerton, Eras Tour, Barbie, Coastal Cowgirl

You can also pay attention to recycled ‘vintage’ aesthetics that are rising to popularity again. 

Examples: 90s/y2k and its low-rise jeans, bright colors, & platform shoes

Don’t forget to include a classic, tried-and-true theme into your annual group photoshoot schedule, too. — just be sure to add your own personal twist to it.

Examples: USA, but in an airplane hangar instead of a field, or shot completely on film.

Note: there’s a fine line between a cool, new concept and something SO out there that students may be hesitant to participate in. Pop culture that’s relevant to your generation will likely be different from what’s relevant to teens — the next point will help you strike the balance.

WHY IT MATTERS: Choosing photoshoot themes that excite will encourage more people to apply for your program, and catch the attention of seniors (and their parents) online.

2. Poll the audience

Sometimes it can feel like knowing what teenagers like and don't like feels like you're speaking a different language than they are, and in some ways…you kind of are!

The best way to get inside their mind is sometimes to just ASK!

On social media:

Utilize the poll features on social media to ask students which themes they'd like to see for next year's photoshoot schedule, what their current favorite coffee or boba tea shop is (jot this down for the meet and greet), and which makeup or skincare product they would want most for their birthday this year (jot this down for their surprise welcome gift).

On your application: 

Another way to do this is to add a question to your senior rep application that allows THEM to tell YOU which photo shoot concepts or locations they've been wanting to try.

Interestingly, I've been seeing more seniors than ever before use words like "different," "unique," and "never done before" in their applications. Now that social media has been around for a while (especially to this generation), it's less likely to come by completely original ideas or inspiration online. So, why not go straight to the source and hand them the mic? 

On set:

Get into conversation with your current team & team parents and ask them for feedback. There's hardly anything more valuable than being perfectly in tune with your students (and their parents) so that you can make well-informed decisions about your program going forward.

WHY IT MATTERS: Your client wants to feel heard. Making the extra effort to incorporate their suggestions and feedback builds trust, and the type of client experience that’s going to have them raving about you and your program to their friends and family.

3. Pinpoint the generation

Your program serves two groups: the student and the parent. Knowing this is essential, but still not enough. You also need to account for which generation each of your clients belong to in order to earn and retain their attention.

For example, a Class of 2012 senior model team (millennial students and boomer parents) will be motivated by and attentive to completely different things than a Class of 2029 team (Gen Z students and millennial parents).

The way they respond to messaging and promotion depends in large part on their generation.

Are you still designing your senior rep program to cater to millennial student behaviors? Get to know Gen Z now, and when the time comes, transition your business and marketing to better serve Gen Alpha.

Psst - the last Gen Z student graduates in 2028.

Class of 2029 will mark the beginning of an entirely new generation!

Ways to do this: reading, social media observations, get in conversations with them

WHY IT MATTERS: knowing your audience acts now is one thing, but studying their behavior in a way that helps you predict what’s coming next empowers you to be a first mover in your market

4. Peek-a-boo product placement

If you’ve tried having a senior rep team before and the people on your team just didn’t “work” — it might be time for a new marketing strategy. The good news is, I’ve got one!

Despite popular belief, the most successful rep programs are not the ones whose students do the most work. Gone are the days of requiring your senior ambassadors to pass out a certain amount of promotional cards to their peers, or insisting that they themselves carry the responsibility of bringing you a certain number of leads. Your program will help you book out your calendar only once you yourself, as the photographer, master the finesse of marketing your program first, and your business second.

One way to do this is with subtle, peek-a-boo product placement.

Today, this is more indirect (and more effective) way to market.

Lean into trends that are popular with teens now (for example: I’ve noticed my clients start to wear more oversized sweatshirts rather than fitted sweaters, and more baggy pants rather then leggings or skinny jeans)

Plus, now that you’ve studied the generations your serve, you know that:

Gen Z and Gen Alpha are known to be adverse to advertisements

99% of Gen Z consumers will hit ‘skip’ on an ad if it’s an option

86% would be more inclined to buy a product recommended by a friend than a paid influencer

When designing wearable merchandise for my team to sport, it’s important to make the design subtle enough that it doesn’t scream “this is an ad!!!” but interesting enough to catch attention and get people asking questions.

If they’re more likely to wear it with their peers, you’re now creating at the very least subconscious brand awareness with them.

Another example of this is branded cookies placed in year-end gift boxes. Subtle, cute, aesthetic, attention-getting, thoughtful, and ultimately…post-worthy!

WHY IT MATTERS: Authentic, word-of-mouth referrals are still the best way to grow your photography business. Offering indirectly-branded merchandise that excites is a key to increasing your brand’s awareness in your area.

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Standing out can also mean “to make an impression” and “to shine.”

At first, having a standout senior rep program means that a client will hear about you and your program for the first time. Whether by word of mouth, on social media, or otherwise…you’ve gained exposure. In essence, you’ve made an impression.

Then, once they’re aware of your photography business, the team, what you offer, etc. — now, standing out means you “shine” with your personal brand touch. This is what guides them to a well-informed decision that is the best fit for their family. In this sense, standing out is the difference between someone simply knowing about you and choosing to ignore you, and someone who eagerly signs up for your program as soon as they get the chance.

The exposure piece helps them FIND you.

The personal brand piece helps them CHOOSE you.

My standout senior rep program changed the game for my senior photography business.

The results from my senior rep program speak for themselves. Once I had my program established, I no longer had to work weekends or book photography gigs I wasn’t passionate about and I went from generating less than $10,000 in annual photography revenue to achieving my first 6-figure year. I know from personal experience how valuable these rep programs are, which is why I am so passionate about other senior photographers having a rep team of their own!

Take their word for it!

My rep team families come in for great photos, which they get! But what they’ve told me pleasantly surprised them was the bonds made between the team, and the organization and seamlessness of it all.

If your goal is to book more senior sessions, what you DON'T need is a copy-and-paste program that costs you valuable time and money without bringing you any new leads.

What you DO need is a standout program that's true-to-you, profitable, creative, & important to your local community. And setting yours up is easier than you think.

Have you tried the whole “senior rep” thing, but haven’t seen success? Check out my free guide for 5 more tips for starting OR scaling your own senior rep program in a way that actually leads to more senior bookings without being more expensive than it’s worth!

4 Reasons You Need A Senior Rep Program As A Senior Photographer

To have a senior rep team, or not to have a senior rep team…that is the question.

Any time I explain to my senior photography students or even people outside of the photography world how I've designed my senior rep program and made it an integral part of my photography business (read: being booked out year after year, baby!), they often stare into the distance for a second and then come back with, "Wait...that is genius." It works — I'm telling you. But don't just take my word for it, check out the evidence below to see for yourself!

First, what is a senior rep program? It is a curated team of qualified high school students who represent your senior photography business throughout their senior (and sometimes even their junior) year. Having a senior rep program empowers photographers to make a name for themselves in their local senior photography market and grow a raving, referral-based business. At the same time, a senior model program that is set up effectively will be profitable, effective in drawing in qualified leads, and honestly… a whole lot of creative fun, too!

My senior photography business experienced a night and day change once I implemented my improved senior rep program model. I went from generating less than $10,000 in annual photography revenue to hurdling past my first 6-figure year. These results speak for themselves when it comes to whether or not I think senior photographers should have a senior rep program, but we can break down the “why” even further.

1. Social media is always changing, but word-of-mouth is forever

While senior photography client leads can come from numerous sources, like Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, your website's SEO-optimized blog, print marketing, mail campaigns... there is one referral source that most often brings eager, kind, ready-to-book leads into my pipeline — and that is, people who heard about me from someone they know that took their senior photos with me.

So how do you get more people to talk about your business? You kick up dust. Make a splash. Become visible in your market.

Easier said than done, sure — but the truth is, NOT having a senior model program could be costing you some seriously awesome clients.

According to a study by Nielsen, 92% of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family over all forms of advertising. Another study by McKinsey found that word-of-mouth is the primary factor behind 20-50% of all purchasing decisions.

Knowing how to nail personal networking AND social media with video marketing skills is non-negotiable in today's photography business landscape.

TL;DR:
Having a senior rep program means leaning into personal networking FIRST, and social media second. A strong personal network in the senior photography space leads to warm, often pre-qualified word-of-mouth referrals, regardless of what 'the algorithm' is doing.

2. Don't know what to post? Group photo shoots are a content creator's dream

Do you ever feel like you want to attract more senior photo clients, but don't have any exciting senior-related bookings or events coming up on your calendar? Having a senior rep program means having beautifully styled, fun photo events taking place on your calendar year-round, so you'll never NOT have something to share online.

Senior rep events and group photo shoots are perfect opportunities to share what it's like to work with you — plus, you can market both your rep team AND regular senior photography portrait services at once.

There's a lot of talk about "showing your face more" and how important having a "personal brand" is for business owners in today's photography business space. For a while, as social media carved its path into more traditional, faceless marketing tactics, many business owners dragged their feet when it came to showing up online. The thought of filming ourselves, having to learn how to edit videos, and facing the fear of being perceived by strangers on the internet was daunting. But what if we re-framed those thoughts? What if incorporating video marketing into our social media strategies could be fun, quick, easy & effective?

Video marketing, short-form and long-form, is here to stay, and storytelling will become more important than ever for the success of your photography business. If you have any content-related goals this year, let it be this: prioritize setting your content apart from the rest through storytelling! Check out this reel for more on how to do it!

TL;DR:
Content is about more than just your usual bookings. You can utilize your senior rep program for portfolio work and behind the scenes storytelling to boost your marketing to the next level.

3. They build lasting referral sources

Unlike marketing strategies like paid advertising, offering discounts, or time-sensitive mini sessions, a well-designed senior ambassador program will attract high quality leads who want to work with you specifically year, after year, after year.

You see, a senior rep program takes on what I teach my students as the "Rep Ramp" — a 3-part process where the rep team is established, grown, and, finally, free to run on autopilot. While having a rep program is a long-term marketing strategy, the beauty of it is that you're planting seeds now that will reap bountiful harvests later, like:

-when your super unique group shoot photos become found on Pinterest 2 years after they're taken, or 

-when the younger siblings of your current rep team's member finally become a senior and refuse to work with anyone else, or

-when the freshman who found you on social media from a senior rep group shoot post started following you, and has been on your waitlist for years

Choosing to start a senior rep team takes more effort and input in the beginning, and eventually gains enough momentum to run itself. There are, of course, always new and exciting updates made to the program, such as which new photoshoot concepts to introduce, adjusting your booking process, and raising your prices to stay profitable and ensure a positive experience for all team members.

TL;DR:
The referrals you get from an established senior rep program snowball and continue to reap benefits for years!

4. Senior Rep teams maximize the already existing social dynamics of high school students

Unlike photography genres such as newborns, weddings, and even family sessions, the senior photography niche is complimented perfectly by having a limited-time team in place (i.e. 12 months of being a high school senior) to attract current and future leads. Not only do rep teams support the ever-popular teenage habit of posting photos online, but having representatives who are currently enrolled in local high schools automatically spreads your work into pre-existing, extremely tight-knit high school student & parent communities.

Gen Alpha spends 4 hours a day on social media... so the importance of meeting these clients (and let's not forget: their parents) where they're already at is undeniable.

But don't forget that social media is only one piece of the marketing puzzle — it's never been more important to nurture and grow a real-life community within your brand.

TL;DR:
With actual high school students representing your business, you’re showing up exactly where your ideal client already is.

Not only does a senior rep team benefit your business, there are additional benefits that are so fulfilling. It’s hard to pick just one, so I have two favorites. First, the relationships I’m able to build with the girls throughout our time together, including seeing them grow SO much in one short year and sending them off into their next chapter by the end of it. Second, the cool destination locations we visit as a part of our group photoshoot adventures. Nothing brings a group of people together like exploring, adventure, and figuring-it-out-as-you-go!

When I implemented my rep program, I went from a wide-open calendar to having to create a last-minute, makeshift waitlist when my schedule got too full. My favorite part of all? I went from booking any photography gig that came my way (weddings, events, you name it) just to make end’s meet to gaining the freedom to pick and choose projects from a place of light-hearted desire — not financial necessity.

Want 5 clear tips on how to start a successful senior rep program for your photography business? Check out my free guide here!