When I first decided I wanted to photograph seniors as a business, I didn’t know a single senior.  Not one.  So how was I to grow the senior side of my business if I couldn’t find a senior to photograph?  This happens to be a question lots of photographers ask me.

The truth is (this is usually when the mouths drop open)…you don’t have to photograph an actual senior to build your senior business!  What?!?  Yes, its true.  Your portfolio can consist of juniors or sophomores or even college freshman.  Anyone between the ages of 15-19 can be considered portfolio work for your senior business.  And we all know that to begin shooting a specific niche, you have to show that niche.

People gravitate to the photographer who is showing the work they like.  So if you want to photograph a certain age group, such as seniors, you need to showcase that age group.  Build a portfolio that will attract the client you are trying to attract.

My first portfolio building clients, when I decided to go after the senior market, were sophomores.  I used a connection I had and called a friend of mine who had a son in high school.  He was a freshman but ran track with students of all ages.  My friend gave me the name of a few girls that were sophomores.  My first reaction was to think, ‘this isn’t the age group I’m going after’.  But then I realized this was something I could use to help build my business so I gave them a call.  I explained to them that I was looking for models for a special portfolio building photo shoot and asked if they would be interested.  I set up a shoot with a New Year’s Eve Party theme, styled it with awesome party clothing and hired a hair and makeup artist to complete the looks.  The girls were so excited to be models and we had a wonderful, fun day.

I tell you this to help you realize that by getting your name out there with the younger crowd it will help build your senior business.  By getting to know these sophomores, providing them with a super fun photo shoot that they will remember, I started getting my name out to the teens in my area.  Little by little, I started getting more business.  And by the time these sophomores became seniors, I was their go-to senior photographer.

Now this did not happen overnight.  It took some hard work and patience.  You don’t become a successful senior portrait photographer because you photographed one senior.  You become one by continually working and getting clients, giving them an awesome experience and showing off your portfolio full of beautiful images.  And getting your name out there among the teen crowd.

Here are some tips to how you can grow your Senior business even before your clients are Seniors:

1.  Be Patient – Don’t expect success to happen overnight.  Build your business slowly and organically.  There is a domino effect…by photographing one, it turns into two and little by little that number will continue to grow.  Give it time and clients will start to see you as the senior photographer in your area.

2.  Go after the younger crowd – Don’t just concentrate on current seniors.  Look at juniors, sophomores and even freshman as potential clients.  Create a program that will interest that age group.  Give them an experience that they love so that when they become seniors, they will think of you as their photographer.  Think about doing a Homecoming Mini Session to attract girls in all grades of high school to help get your name out amongst this age group.

3.  Build a beautiful portfolio that will attract teens – Shoot, Shoot and Shoot!  This will only help you grow as a photographer and create images that will attract potential clients.  Show off that work on your blog, Facebook, or Instagram.  Create buzz for your business by showing your stuff!

Realize that teens who may not be current seniors, can still be potential clients.  All these teens will eventually become seniors so why not give them a reason to contact you to be their senior photographer?