Next up on the WPPI Line-Up is Blair Phillips of Blair Phillips Photography in North Carolina.  The fist time I heard Blair speak was at a WPPI Road Trip class in Atlanta.  It had been a long day, and I had been sitting in my seat for a while.  But then, this energetic guy started speaking and I was immediately jolted back to listening intently as he shared his story!  Blair’s speech was my favorite from the road trip and I know that his class at WPPI this year will be just as informative and beneficial to all those that attend!

I had the opportunity to interview Blair and ask him what he plans on teaching in his class in Vegas.  If you are headed to the convention, definitely put his class in your schedule.  You don’t want to miss it!!

Blair also has some awesome templates and products for the senior photographers!  Check out his store here.  For Seniorologie fans, Blair has kindly donated his Senior Templates to one lucky reader!!  These awesome templates are the perfect thing for your seniors to send out to their friends!  They are completely customizable and there are several designs!  Leave a comment on this post only as to why you would love to win the templates and a random comment will be chosen!  Winner will be announced Monday, February 6 along with the winner of our other contest for a pass to WPPI.  Thanks Blair for the interview and for the awesome senior templates!

I am an individual that has defied the odds and overcome some rather large adversities.  I grew up in a broken home filled with its fair share of issues.  My mother made some decisions that were not the best, so the state saw it best for me to move in with my grandparents.  My grandparent’s passed away when I was in high school.  I made one of the biggest choices of my life at that point, and that was to remain in school and not move back to my hometown.  I somehow kept it all together while living on my own and never asked anyone for help.  I made my grandmother proud and finished school.  I have the most wonderful wife on the planet and we have built our business together from the ground up.  I became a father this past August, and it has been the most rewarding event in my life.  There is not another father on the planet that is involved and in love as myself.  I have a newfound sense of motivation, and her name is, “Ava”.  We started our business just a short time ago and have been lucky to have tremendous success.  I shoot over 800 studio sessions per year and around 30 weddings also.  We are some of the most approachable and outgoing photographers in the business.  I genuinely want to become friends with everyone I meet.

How did you get into photography? I was working a job that required me to do a good bit of driving on a daily basis.  I started carrying a point and shoot camera with me while I was on the road everyday.  When I would see neat and intriguing things, I would pull over and fire off a few shots.  I remember my first attempt at photographing people, and really enjoying pushing my creativity.  I took the media card to a local drug store and the photo lab technician really gave me a boost of confidence with her compliments on my images.  I was really into drag racing motorcycles at the time and had given a mechanic my bike and a few thousand dollars to build and install a new race engine.  He took everything and I did not hear from him for about a year.  I thought all was lost and had just written it off as a loss.  During the time I began showing interest in photography, he called me one day and offered to give me part of the money he owed me.  My wife used the money to surprise me with my first digital slr camera.  We went to the beach that weekend and I was photographing her on the beach and it was at that very moment I felt as though I had found my destiny.  It has been one heck of a journey to get to where I am, but if I can do it, anyone can!

Any formal training?I developed my style based on what I felt most suited my style and enjoyment.  The library and the internet was my main form of education when it came to learning the fundamentals.  From there I began going to WPPI and a few other local conventions.  The rest was from being in the trenches and being forced to create something that would give me a competitive edge.  The best form of education is to put yourself in situations that may make you uncomfortable and be forced to create something good from it.

How long have you been in business?7 years in total, three of which were part time.

Who or What inspires you as a photographer?I actually find inspiration in everyone’s work.  I keep an open mind and truly believe we can all learn from each other.  I have always been able to find inspiration from within, by pushing myself to do things bigger and better than last year.

How would you describe your photography style?Eclectic elegance

What percentage of your business is seniors?38% to be exact

What attracted you to the senior market of photography?I just feel like I can relate to seniors on a level that is comfortable for both of us.  I started photographing seniors the way I though you had to, based on what I saw the school photographers doing.  That lasted about a day and I knew that was not for me.  I started doing more of what was exciting to me and I notice my clientele begin to change with it.  I fell in love with being able to express myself, by pretty much doing what ever I wanted and actually getting paid for it.  Seniors just seem like a way to keep my work on a path for constant update.

What has been your best marketing technique for seniors?Quite simply showing what I want to sell.  Facebook has been a big part of our success also.  The clever use of our marketing videos, rather than expecting seniors to read text pages has been a great marketing tool as well.

You are one of the speakers at WPPI in Las Vegas this year! Congratulations!  Tell us why you chose “Senior Photography that makes me the cool kid in school” as your topic?I feel like I have a very unique way of turning our business inside out and completely sharing how to create and maintain a rocking senior business from the ground up.  I genuinely feel I have the ability and the want to help the seasoned veteran as well as the person that is trying to find their way.

 What can attendees expect to learn from your class?

Realistic concepts and ideas that really work with creating and maintaining your place in the senior market.  Outdoor lighting that will blow you away with how easy I make it.  Marketing ideas that actually work.  Senior programs that I have and use in my own business.  Diy sets and how I create all of mine.  I make a promise you will need a great big notebook for tons of notes, because I hold nothing back.

Who is this class for?

My class is for anyone and everyone.  You just need an open mind and have a need for wanting to learn a ton about what makes a senior business thrive in a downward spiraling economy.

When is it?

Monday at 3:00 (Be there)

What is your favorite thing about WPPI?

Networking and the fellowship with other photographers.  I really love hanging around and answering questions.  I actually enjoy taking in classes myself.

What is your best tip to making WPPI a successful trip for photographers?

Make sure you have an open mind before you even board you flight.  You can learn something from everyone.  Make friends and keep in touch with them, as you can help each other as time goes on.  Take advantage of the drink specials.  Last thing; make sure you are in my class.

What is in your camera bag?

Nikon D3, 24-70 lens, 17-35 lens, 50mm lens, 70-200 lens, Sensor scope, room temperature orange Gatorade, really old gum, wedding programs from past weddings, batteries, etch-a-sketch, and media cards.

Favorite lens?

24-70mm f/2.8

Most popular senior product?

We have a senior book that is highly illustrated and jammed packed with about 90 pages of everything we could share about our senior business.

What is one tip you can share with other photographers who want to get into the senior market in their area?

Look at what everyone else is doing and going and try to position yourself headed in a completely opposite direction.