Welcome
Welcome everyone, to the next issue of SeniorInspire the Newsletter!!
We've been taking turns with NASTY colds in our house last week, but I'm starting to feel a bit better and I'm raring to go for Thanksgiving!
Thankfully it's a bit of a downtime for me right now, so I only had to reschedule a few mostly minor things. I did miss getting last week's newsletter out though and I apologize for that. Did anyone miss me?
To make up for the missed issue we have a fantastic one for you today starting with our interview with LEGENDARY photographer, Nathan Loker. Am I overselling him? Maybe a little, but don't miss this interview... it's a good one!
I've also included some Black Friday deals you may want to check out as well as a few other little tidbits of info for you to chew on before the big day.
That's it for now. I hope you all have killer Thanksgivings with family and friends that you love!
Marketing and Branding
Say it with me - SEO is the way to go!
Heading into the offseason, one of my goals is to get way, way better at SEO (search engine optimization).
No one knows SEO like Neil Patel and I ran across this great video of his that covers what small sites like ours need to do to start seeing SEO results.
Check this out, it'll make your head spin a bit, but watch it a second time and things will start to sink in.
And once you've watched the video a few times, be sure to check out his free keyword tool called Ubersuggest. It's a fantastic free tool for checking your progress!
Adobe Products
Photoshop 2022's New "Depth Blur" feature
Last week I ran across this video about another new feature in Photoshop 2022 - Depth Blur!
Apparently, the initial version of this feature was lacking, but it's recently been updated and the guy in the video thinks it is now INSANE!
I mean, INSANE? REALLY?
That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but still looks pretty cool and my be worth checking out!!
P.S. If SeniorInspire was doing a Secret Santa gift exchange this year (we're not), I'd LOVE my Secret Santa if he or she were able to get me this guy's shirt! It's INSANE!!
Business and software
Black Friday Deals
We all like deals and here are a few good ones I found heading into Black Friday...
Denny Manufacturing is offering 50% off your entire order with the promo code 'BFD-EM21'.
If you're looking to escape to some warmer weather in March and get some killer education to boot, SYNC is offering $250 off their regular rate of $799 with the code 'BF2021'.
If video education is more your thing, check out ProEdu.com where they've got a huge sale going on.
If you haven't tried any of the Infinite Panels for Photoshop, they are super slick! For Black Friday you can save 35% with the code 'BF2021'.
Josh Hanna is offering 35% off any template design order using the code 'THANKFUL' at checkout!
January 1 is the perfect time to set up with a new payroll provider and Gusto is the best! If you use this link to sign up you'll also get a $100 gift card!
Anyone else looking to spin some records for Christmas? The Sound of Vinyl is offering 40% off through Friday on all their vinyl. I just picked up a 2 LP Bob Marley set for less than $20! Ya Mon!!
If you're looking for a new template for your Wordpress site, it's hard to beat Divi and they're having a huge Black Friday sale starting on Friday. Check it out!
Need a new domain for your website? Domain.com 20% off a new domain with the code THANKSGIVING2021
Get up to 65% off the best Instagram plugin for your Wordpress site at Smash Balloon!
MyPhotoApp is still the best app builder in the business. Period!
Velocity Micro builds the best PC's and right now they've got a great Black Friday sale going on.
If photography made your eyes bad, check out Liingo Eyewear and use the code 'lens-75' to save 75% on your lenses. Incredible deal on some great glasses!
And for all the fellow Swifties out there... the Taylor Swift Holiday Collection. No discounts here, but if I was a girl I'd be all over this stuff.
Happy shopping!
Meet the Photographer
Yoo Hoo - It's Nathan Loker
For this week's interview we took a ride to Effingham, Illinois, the land of YooHoos, Nathan Loker and not much else. We caught up with Nathan at Gopher's Grill out on Jefferson...
SeniorInspire Hey there, Nathan! How did you get started in photography?
Nathan Loker My journey was unique. I graduated from college to be a youth minister and in the middle of that, with no money, I bought an $800 intro DSLR kit camera. My competitiveness and art side took over after that. I have been in business for about 10 years now, being paid that is. Trust the journey.
SI Did you have any mentors along the way?
NL Yes, I’ve had mentors along the way in the areas of networking, growing business structure. I have a few friends in the industry that we held each other accountable and we learned together along the way also when I first started. Mentors are a must!!!!
SI What's your record for most YooHoo's in a day?
NL I’d say my record number of Yoo-Hoo’s in a day is maybe about 12 or so... hah!
SI Speaking of YooHoo, which would you rather have? A higher average or a lifetime supply of YooHoo?
NL I see what you did there. I’d rather have a higher average and, in return, it’ll bring YooHoo’s whenever i want to buy them because I’ll be able to afford them!
SI Ah, I see what you tried to do there, but it was an either/or question. So no more YooHoos for you. OK, what's something you're always game for?
NL I am always game for workshops, creative shoots and hanging with other creatives. It gives life to what we do.
SI When you were younger, what did you wish you could become famous for?
NL I actually came from a very competitive and athletic family. I aspired to be Michael Jordan but in reality that wasn’t feasible. I wished that if that didn’t happen, to be just the water boy to be on the floor with the top athletes.
SI I know you run a Facebook group dedicated to the art of grilling. If you could be reincarnated as a grillable meat, what would you want to come back as and why?
NL LOL, I wish not, because then I’d be devoured by a carni. Hahaha
SI That surprises me. I thought for sure you'd want to come back as something like a Kobe Strip Steak.
OK, are you going to be holding any workshops next year, and how can people sign up for them?
NL Talking about mentors/workshops, My buddy Josh Hanna the Great and myself are working on offering 3 workshops next year. Goal is to create a bootcamp like in home studios, a workshop in Athletic Lighting on Location with studio sales/pricing etc and a workshop on High School Seniors on location with any scenario!
How to sign up? Email info@lokerphotography.com to get on our limited waiting list. We offer a small group set up of no more than around 20 (in which we had a waiting list for) for each workshop to make sure we can get hands on learning, real questions asked, real lighting problem solving, starting points and creative posing.
SI Ok, great! I hope some people will jump on that. Thanks for being a good sport and have a great Thanksgiving!
And Finally
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Thanks for being part of the SeniorInspire family!!