Industry Icons: When They Were Seniors - Round V

There is a certain part of all of us that lives outside of time.
Perhaps we become aware of our age only at exceptional moments and most of the time we are ageless.
Milan Kundera

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.
Henry Ford

by Skip Cohen

​Knowing just about all of these "grads" like I do, it's obvious that we've all been focused on continuing to learn and create our entire lives. I chose those two quotes above because they say so much about everyone, the quest to keep learning, and in turn becoming ageless!

Well, it's May and we're into graduation season. What better way to celebrate than sharing senior shots from some of the most respected artists and educators in imaging? What a kick it's been as the SCU archives grow to forty-nine seniors captured in the "way-back machine."

From the top left: Glen Clark, Michael Taylor, Rick Ferro, Kristi Wolverton (college), Steve Rosenbaum, Dave Doeppel, Jennifer Rutledge, Rick Friedman, Scott Kelby, and Eddie Tapp.

If you missed any of the last four posts in the series, they're all below. If a few more industry icons come through, I might have enough for one more post next week. And, if you want to send me yours, just do it through an IM on Facebook, or to my email.

​In the meantime, enjoy the walk down Memory Lane...

From top left: Gary Box, Chuck Arlund, Michele Celentano, Vanelli, David Beckam, Kevin Gilligan, Gustavo Fernandez, Bruce Hudson, Joe Buissink, Dawn Davis, Joy Vertz, Judy Host, Matt Meiers, Bryan Caporicci, Melanie Anderson.

From top left: Vicki Taufer, Fran Reisner, Bruce Berg, Nick Vedros, Bambi Cantrell, Yervant, Seth Resnick, George Varanakis.

From top left: Sarah Petty, Cate Scaglione, Sherry Hagerman, Helen Yancy, Bob Coates, Bert Behnke, Dane Sanders, Jesse Feyereisen.

From top left: Ralph Romaguera, Bobbi Lane, Skip Cohen, Cindy Harter Sims, Roberto Valenzuela, Kenny Kim, Brent Watkins, Lori Nordstrom

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Marketing to seniors continues to be big business, but to be successful, it also requires a different skill set from when so many of us were seniors. A great senior session is about connecting with the subject, capturing their personality, and combining it with maximum creativity. If you're interested in the senior market, the first thing you need to do is ensure you've got the skill set, not just with your camera. You also need great communication skills and the ability to build a relationship with your subject.

Remember, for many seniors, this may be their first time working with a professional photographer. They're as nervous about getting a portrait done as they are in dealing with some of their own self-esteem issues. That means your listening and conversational skills must be as good as your understanding of exposure, composition, and lighting!

Marathon Press is an SCU sponsor, but my relationship with them grew out of respect for everything they do for the industry. It's a friendship that's gone on for over thirty years, going to be back to the first book I co-authored with Don Blair. Through the end of this month, they've got a special on foil treatment of grad cards. Click on either banner for more information.

Meanwhile, congratulations to the class of 2025 and all the outstanding artists pushing the creative envelope in capturing their personalities!

Happy Throwback Thursday!

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