Welcome
Welcome back for another issue of SeniorInspire the newsletter!
SeniorInspire's Instagram feature page turned 6 last week, an amazing feat when you consider how many senior themed feature pages have come and gone in that time. I bet it's quite a few dozens at least!
Over the past 6 years we've featured an average of almost 3 photos a day and hopefully introduced you to A LOT of photographers who may not have been on your radar.
At least that's what we hope!
Anyway, enough horn tooting and on to this week's newsletter. It is jam packed with freshness, so please read on...
Instagram and Social Media
8 Ways to 'Cheat' the Instagram Algorithm
When I retire from photography, I don't want to ever hear the word 'algorithm' again.
In the meantime, check out this article from Later that will show you 8 organic ways to gain an advantage over the Instagram algorithm.
Your mental health
Go Ahead and Cuss - You'll Live Longer
As a young, pre-teen, I took great pride in the fact that I never used curse words. My mother was proud!
Then I got a job as a caddy... and just like in Caddy Shack, caddies get to golf... And you can bet your ass I picked up swearing the very first time I missed a two-foot putt... which in fact was the very first time I tried a two-foot putt.
I was hooked!
Stub my toe? Cuss!
Cubs lose? Cuss!
Find Norma Jean under the bleachers with my best friend? Cuss! Cuss! Cuss!
You get the idea...
Well, if you're like me and you like to let the expletives fly on the daily, you'll be glad to find out studies have shown swearing may actually help you live longer, healthier and happier!
I kid you not!
Seriously, check out this article from Business Insider and commence cussing!
Education
SYNC 2022 is Merging
Some big news in SYNCville last week.
Darty and Michele announced SYNC and SYNC Sports will be merging into one event to be held at the San Destin Golf and Beach Resort next February!
You can get ALL the details in this very long video from Darty and Michele. I mean, set aside some time. This thing is LONG, but it does have ALL the details.
Very exciting news! All the greatness you've come to expect from SYNC's annual senior conference combined with the smell of athletes across the hall!
I kid, but it sounds amazing!!
Equipment News
Camera Nerd Alert! ISO is Totally FAKE!
I don't know if this is true or not, but I was totally fascinated by this video about ISO and its lack of relevance in the age of digital photography.
The reason I was so fascinated?
Lately I've been using Sony's auto ISO feature A LOT and feeling very bad about myself because of it. Auto anything makes you a poser, right?
Raise your hand if this has ever happened to you... You're shooting a senior in aperture priority and you realize the last 100 images were all shot with a shutter speed of 1/15 or slower because you haven't been adjusting your ISO as the sun was going down.
This has happened to me many, many times because I am a poser, and I shoot aperture priority A LOT! It's just easier...
But auto ISO solves that problem and now that I know ISO is Looney Tunes anyway, I am ready to admit in public... I LOVE auto ISO.
And if it's available on your camera I strongly recommend you check it out too. You can thank me later...
Meet the Photographer
Chatting it up with Cindy
For this week's issue we decided to take a road trip to Dallas, Texas where we caught up with Cindy Arthur!
SeniorInspire Nice to meet you, Cindy! So, how long have you been in business as Cindy Arthur Photography?
Cindy Arthur I've officially been in business about 8 years, but only recently started focusing on senior portraits! I've been more of a family photographer in the past but I just love the senior genre, so I'm hoping to move exclusively to senior photography soon!
SI Any funny stories about your first year in business?
CA Oh my gosh, my first year in business I had no idea what I was doing, totally winging it! Right off the bat a friend asked me to take over a "portrait party" she had scheduled with another photographer, basically mini sessions. That photographer had to back out for a family emergency and I said sure I can do it! Well, it was 18 families in a row and I about passed out from the stress of it and sheer exhaustion - what was I thinking? LOL However, some of those families are still clients and have kept coming back through the years and all the price increases! But yeah, I was not prepared!
SI Yikes! I can't even imagine! Describe your perfect senior client?
CA I would describe my perfect client as someone who is excited about getting their photos taken and values my time and talent! In my experience, the senior girls are mostly excited and love to plan out their session and the senior guys are mostly doing it for mom, and they just want it over with. Not all, of course but most! The ones that are excited and have fun during the session just make me love my job so much and I always have the best time with them! If they'd rather be anywhere else, or they would rather be rearranging their sock drawer, it's hard for me to be my outgoing, bubbly self, so that's not as fun for me!
SI Describe your nightmare senior client?
CA I wouldn't call it a nightmare but I do not like shooting seniors that obviously don't want to be there. It's very uncomfortable and I don't feel like I do a great job posing them because I'm thinking I need to just hurry up and get it done. It kind of throws off my mojo haha!
SI If you got all the senior photographers in the Dallas area together for one night, how close do you think you'd come to filling Cowboys stadium?
CA Ha ha I love this question!! It feels like halfway full at least! Not really, but Dallas is pretty saturated with senior photographers! I have come to know several of them and so far everyone seems kind, supportive and friendly! I don't really feel the competitiveness, but I'm sure there is some of that out there!
SI Is there a band or musical artist that always makes you feel good?
CA I'm kind of all over with my musical taste, but here are a few that I love — Journey, Boston, the Eagles (yes I'm showing my age)! Also Sam Smith, Mercy Me and Lauren Daigle.
SI What's something you're looking forward to right now?
CA I'm looking forward to summer vacation! I don't shoot much in the summer (it's HOT here in Texas!), so the summer months are laid back for me and my kiddos are so looking forward to the slower pace.
SI Completely opposite back in the midwest, summer is when things get craaaazy. Ok, final question, who are some people you follow on Instagram you think others may not know about.
CA Here are a few that I love to follow Kylie Katitch, Marina Williams and Daniel Do — all fun influencer/photographers that are so creative and inspiring.
SI Awesome! Thanks so much for sitting down with us today! Enjoy your summer!!
And Finally
Leaving you this week with a short article about a high school in Florida that used Photoshop to eliminate cleavage in their yearbook.
Some people were happy they did it, some were enraged, but in the end the whole thing was just a big bust...