We just wrapped our popular Seniorologie Rep Program Boot Camp Online Course and had such a great time with all the attendees!  This online course is made up of four weeks, one speaker per week, who shares their tips, mistakes made and what they have figured out along the way.  Because Senior Rep/Model Programs are so different, we feel it is an awesome learning experience to learn from different photographers in order to create a program that is all your own.  No one way is the only way teaching but rather sharing different possibilities that help make a senior program work.  We end this four weeks with a bonus week of just Q&A where the attendees can ask questions to any of our speakers and anything they have thought of after having taken the course.

While I am one of the speakers, I always learn something from each of the other speakers.  I am one of those that loves to learn and feels like no matter where you are in your business there are still things you can learn and still ways to grow.  One of the things we all talked about during this course was the importance of keeping in touch with your models throughout the year and beyond.  A program does not work if you just give them a shoot, some rep cards and expect them to go out and work.  You have to continue to support them and give them the experience they deserve throughout their year as a rep and beyond!  I just got a text the other day from a rep from last year who is in town for the holidays and wants to get together for coffee!  I love that because it shows that we are friends, not just photographer and model, but true friends.

One of the things that Misti Davis of Pink Fly Photography shared during the course is how she always has opportunities to get together with her reps.  One of the ways is with a Senior Model Holiday Party!  I loved this idea and decided to incorporate it into my rep program as well!

Misti says this can be as casual as you want or as formal as you want.  It can be getting together at a local coffee shop just to hang out and catch up or it can be at your home or studio with a hot chocolate bar, which is what Misti did for hers this year!

Misti shares with us her idea behind the Spokesmodel Holiday Party….

You know, I remember when I used to work in the corporate world and each year there would be that fun holiday party that included getting dressed up, lots of yummy food, an occasional gift exchange and celebrating the holidays with all those that you worked with on a day to day basis. I’m all about celebrations and I used to love having those.  Long gone are those days however I had a thought this year…..I’m a company and I can throw my own holiday party!  So I decided to get my 2014 Senior Models together for a little company holiday party. I try to do little get togethers at times throughout the year with them and this was a perfect way to celebrate with those that as representatives of my business…..well…..kind of work for me.  

I decided to have the party at my house in order to keep costs down.  My assistant, Jordan and I put together a Hot Chocolate Bar complete with candy canes, peppermint crunch, chocolate chips, caramels, marshmallows, whip cream and more!  Like all good things I found a recipe for making hot chocolate in a crockpot on pinterest that was super easy!  It was a total hit and called “pinterest in real life”.  Hahaha

Out of my 14 girls 9 of them were able to make it (darn finals week) but I was so glad they made it because a lot of them I hadn’t seen in awhile. We had a small white elephant gift exchange in which fuzzy socks and gift cards were a favorite. I also set up a simple photo booth in the corner for the girls to have fun with. And they definitely did. They were cracking me up with their use of props and ideas….as you can see.  🙂  I shared the images with them on our private facebook page and they have been reposting them to instagram and making them their profile picture ever since.

It was such a fun time and I loved seeing these girls who are from 6 different high schools all becoming great friends! I hope that the memory of their senior year will forever include the memory of being a Pink Fly Photography model! 

Like Misti, set up a fun photo booth with Christmas decor like streamers, tinsel and more.  Give them each a little gift to show your appreciation for all their hard work.  See the Seniorologie Gift Guide here.  Use this opportunity to talk to them, ask them what’s working or not, gain insight into their life as a rep so you can make improvements.  Teens are full of ideas that will help you and they love to be a part of this process.  Also, take this opportunity to involve them in the process of choosing reps for the following year.  They can give you ideas of girls that would make great models.  Getting together with your models is just a great time to further their experience, get to know them even more and give them the opportunity to get to know one another even more and grow their friendships.

Whatever you do, whether its grabbing pizza with your girls or coffee or planning a fun party in your home, just have fun with them.  Show them you care and are grateful for them.  Holidays are all about spending time with those you care about and your model program will be a great thing for all your girls if you truly care!  Continue to give them a fabulous experience both on shoots and after shoots, and they will continue to be great representatives for your photography business.

Enjoy these photos from Misti’s Spokesmodel Holiday Party below!  I just love that they are having so much fun!!  I wish I were there! 🙂