I have always known that I wanted to photograph high school seniors. It doesn’t feel like all that long ago that I myself was a senior…strutting the halls, feeling very important when I got my first official photo session with a “real” photographer. I was SO excited about those photos. I was one of the first of my friends to get them done, and of course, I flaunted the prints (yes, prints…we didn’t have Facebook back in the dark ages) to anyone who crossed my path. My friends were all equally impressed by my good looks and excellent choice in photographer. So much so, that many of them chose to hire the same photographer for their own senior sessions.

At first, this seemed like a huge compliment. I had helped these friends of mine by leading them on the path to awesome senior portraits. And yes, their portraits were almost as awesome as mine…with one fatal flaw: they were identical to mine. Identical! Same poses, same locations. I was devastated! Clearly, my senioritis ego was in full swing.

It wasn’t until my own path led to the photography industry that I realized I had held a grudge against that particular photographer all this time. I knew I had to be better. I knew I had to offer seniors a more unique, individual experience that would not – could not – be duplicated by their friends.

In addition to my personal mission to help every single senior in the valley have award-winning, ego-inducing photo sessions, I knew that there were a great many photographers in the area willing to work with seniors, but few who truly specialized in the field. I could see a market waiting for someone to bring big-city concepts and take it by storm.

I tried for several years to get my little pet project off the ground. I practically begged seniors to hire me. I did get a few. A couple of neighbors traded babysitting for a senior session. A distant cousin responded to my plea for a “senior rep” and graciously allowed me to take her photos for free, in exchange for handing out a few cards. Not exactly the big market sweep I was envisioning. I was nearly ready to give up on the whole idea. What was wrong with the seniors in this town? Why did none of them care that they were at a major crossroads in life that needed to be documented?

I continued to take nearly every session brought my way. Families, children, couples, an occasional small wedding, and even broke into the newborn photography business. Then a new opportunity presented itself that nearly had me jumping out of my seat. One of my all-time favorite senior photographers was offering a workshop, close enough to home to be able to consider going. After a lot of thought, numbers crunching, begging and pleading, my husband and I finally decided it was an opportunity I couldn’t miss.

A few weeks later I found myself in the beautiful Park City, Utah, getting ready for the ELEVATE workshop with Micah Folsom and Nicole Martin. Micah’s work with seniors was so inspiring to me, and I couldn’t wait to meet her and learn from the master…although I’m sure she’d blush and disagree if she were to read this. Only a small portion of the workshop dealt with senior photography, but it was enough!

A well-established senior rep program starts the search for new seniors at the end of their junior year. I began my search shortly after the school year had started. I chose to go ahead and search for current year seniors. I advertised my search for senior reps on Facebook as much as I could without becoming an irritation to my followers. Applications trickled in so slowly that I was afraid I wouldn’t receive enough applications to fill all the spots! I eventually had a good selection of seniors to sort through from surrounding schools, and eventually selected five senior girls.

It was such an awesome experience! I started a group on Facebook to allow the girls to introduce themselves, and to give us an easy method of communication. We scheduled a day for our rep session – no small feat when working around the schedules of five very busy and active senior girls – and I finalized my plans and ideas.

So much about that first rep session went wrong or turned out less than I had hoped. Despite the limitations I was working with – the lack of experience being one – it turned out to be an awesome session. We had a great time getting to know one another, which made individual sessions with the girls even more comfortable. The girls were super excited to share their images with friends and more than willing to comply with the requirements set forth for participation. Each have completed their own individual sessions now as well, and they each brought unique ideas to their sessions. In the end, it was well worth the leap of faith I took when I decided to jump in with both feet.

What’s next?

This is Part 1 of The Story of a Senior Rep Program series. Click here for Part 2, where I’ll share with you some of the details of my budding Senior Rep Program, as well as a few ideas to help you get your own off the ground.