Revolutionizing Senior Portraits: Merging Boutique Artistry with Volume Photography for Unmatched Sales Success!

Every January, I travel to Las Vegas for an industry tradeshow called SPAC, the School and Sports Photographers Annual Conference. This is the only national conference dedicated to volume photographers. This group specializes in capturing high school seniors for yearbooks, K-8 elementary school pictures, and individual team portraits for various sports, including Little League, cheerleading, dance, hockey, football, and other high school sports.

The conference offers an in-depth look into different aspects of these photography niches, emphasizing the importance of volume photography in educational and sports settings. It provides valuable opportunities for professionals, particularly those focusing on high school seniors, to connect, learn, and share insights about best practices and trends in our field.

I have been attending SPAC for over 19 years. As I entered the K-8 elementary school picture day market, I quickly realized that photographers in this field are quite unique. They tend to focus less on perfecting technical skills and more on mastering the business aspects, particularly the management of large amounts of data involved in school photography. This includes organizing students' photographs for yearbooks and processing large quantities of client orders. What truly touches my heart about this community is their generosity in sharing knowledge and supporting one another.

When you think of a tradeshow, you might envision an opportunity to buy items such as software, cameras, and lighting equipment. However, SPAC provides more than just a chance to make purchases. Its true value is in the educational sessions and the opportunity to network with fellow photographers, allowing us to tackle our most pressing challenges together.

The conference will feature breakout sessions on essential topics, such as setting up camera lighting for school picture day, posing high school seniors for portraits, creating pricing sheets, and employing extraction techniques for background removal. Discussions will also focus on retouching software and best business practices, including strategies for hiring and management. Although I studied business and marketing in school, I continue to learn a great deal from seasoned professionals in the field.

Over the years, I have attended SPAC almost every year, focusing on developing my studio in Claremont and creating a business tailored to my local clientele. I work with Claremont High School, Western Christian High School, CSArts in Duarte, and various private schools. My education at SPAC has been crucial in helping me build a business that meets my clients' needs while allowing me to lead the lifestyle I've always envisioned.

After years of learning from others, I felt compelled to give back to the community. While registering for the 2025 conference, I discovered opportunities to become an educator. I proposed a session on photographing senior portraits for high school contract accounts in a boutique studio setting like mine in Claremont, California. Capturing senior portraits in a studio with in-person sales is a unique approach within the volume photography industry. As an outlier in this field, I utilize in-person sales and ensure that parents are present during the studio session to guarantee they are thrilled with the portraits. Senior portraits require a custom approach and should not be treated like standard school picture days.

About a month after I submitted my proposal, I received an email notifying me that I had been selected to speak at SPAC. I felt both thrilled and overwhelmed. I was assigned a time slot in one of the ballrooms on the first day of the tradeshow. Upon receiving that confirmation, I thought, "Oh my God, what have I gotten myself into?" I experienced a mix of excitement and panic.

While I have spoken to groups ranging from 30 to 600 people before, I had never addressed my colleagues in the photography industry, which filled me with a sense of intimidation. Instantly, I was gripped by imposter syndrome, thinking, "I have nothing to share; I don't know what I'm talking about. They are going to think I'm an idiot." I questioned the relevance of discussing in-person sales, knowing that many in the industry do not use that strategy.

Despite my negative thoughts and anxiety, I decided to do what I have always done to succeed in business: I got to work, ignoring my mental doubts. I thought about my presentation during countless bike rides and eventually honed in on what I wanted to communicate.

The title of my presentation was "Boutique/Volume Seniors with In-Person Sales: Breaking the Rules!" Below is the description published in the SPAC guidebook:

My studio's 25-year journey from fine art wedding photography to boutique family and senior portraits has led me to a unique approach to high-volume senior portraits. I shoot tethered in the studio and use In-Person Sales for contract senior portraits to create emotional senior portraits that sell. I'm breaking the traditional rules of volume photography while honoring boutique studios' techniques and marketing methods to develop high average sales and buy rates.

Learn about marketing, the pros and cons of IPS, and why people purchase photography. Marketing is so much more than promotions and advertising. Let us expand your understanding so you can be strategic in developing a business model that suits your strengths, attracts clients who appreciate you, and gives you a business that you love.

My goal isn't to convince you to use IPS. I will share the fundamentals of a boutique-style studio and marketing techniques you may have yet to consider so you can build a business you love.

My lab, Richmond Pro Lab, sponsored my session. Surprisingly, several representatives, including one of the owners or founders, came by before the presentation to ensure I had support. I was nervous as the time approached for me to speak, so everything felt like a blur.

Once I began speaking, I found my footing. Although I felt nervous inside, discussing photography and art allowed me to settle down as I was in my element. I truly enjoyed educating and engaging in business discussions with my audience. The session went perfectly, and I had a fantastic time.

Immediately after the session, one of the participants complimented me on doing a great job in the ballroom foyer. I also communicated with several other photographers through the tradeshow app, and they expressed that they loved my session. Last week, I received the official feedback from the polling conducted by SPAC regarding the educational sessions. I received 5 out of 5 stars from all but one participant, who gave me 4 out of 5 stars. One photographer even remarked that I was the best presenter they had experienced in over three years of attendance and expressed hope that I would present again!

Reflecting on it all, I realize that my nerves and anxiety were unwarranted but ultimately helped me present my thoughts as I had hoped. I am now looking forward to stepping into a new phase of my career and gradually becoming an educator for my peers.