Filling Your Portrait Studio With High School Seniors

I had a question come through yesterday on the high school senior market and how you build a list of qualified prospects. And since the high school senior market is coming up in full force here in the States, I thought it would be the perfect time to create a new post and look at how you can fill your portrait studio up with high school seniors.

Like other niches within the photography industry, the high school senior market has become a cutthroat business. Years ago, many high schools in our area had a pre-select group of photographers to choose from. You had to go with one of them to be included in the yearbook. So of course all high school seniors selected from those few photographers. Then things changed.

Now any photograph can be included in the yearbook. A child simply has to get it into the yearbook office before the deadline. There are very few restrictions, which means if you look at a yearbook, you’ll see the good, the bad, and everything in between.

Dig Deeper: 7 Tips To Take Better Senior Portraits

Because people are looking for extra money, the high school senior market seems to be the one area that is easy to jump in. With no requirements from the schools, its just a matter of offering a low enough price to gain some business, or so a lot of photographers seem to think. And in reality, it works. [Read more…]

7 Tips To Take Better Senior Portraits

Here in Colorado, May signals the beginning of high school senior portraits. And as the class of 2010 graduates, and the class of 2011 moves in to take its place, there will be a ton of opportunity for you to capture a piece of this lucrative market share.

The difference between a good senior portrait and a GREAT senior portrait is how much you put into it. Can you do something cool and unique the kids will love? Can you use technology to the max, giving seniors a reason to “beg” their moms and dads to use you over any of your competitors? Try out these 7 tips, and work to become the best senior portrait photographer in your area.

1. Start by heading to your local bookstore, and round up every teen magazine you can find. Look at the styles, the posing for the top teen celebrities, and what products are being marketed to teenagers. Then use these ideas to build your own sets and props. Seniors don’t want a boring photo on a plain backdrop or posed against a tree. They want style. They want attitude.

Tips To Take Better Senior Portraits

2. Shoot for the buyers. Yes, the senior will love the images with attitude. But the mom will probably love a more traditional smile. Add in gifts for the grandparents, and you’re bound to need a few more traditional poses just to make everyone happy. While the teen will motivate where they have their senior picture taken, always remember that mom pays the bills.
[Read more…]