Lead. Scale. Thrive.
CEO 2026 is where photographers step into confident leadership and control of their business, gain real strategy, and next level business growth.
Built for leaders. Not followers
If you’re ready to stop running on hustle and start running your business like a true CEO…this is your moment.
The CEO Online Conference by Senior Style Guide is a year round immersive online experience designed to help photographers step into leadership, clarity, and confident decision making. Featuring 29 industry leaders, CEO delivers high impact education covering business strategy, mindset, marketing, systems, branding, workflow, and growth + MORE all created to help you scale smarter, not harder.
Tune in from anywhere, on your own schedule, and gain full year round access to every presentation inside your personal membership portal. Watch the presentations and rewatch at your convenience and at your own pace. CEO isn’t just an event it’s a complete business reset designed to create momentum that lasts all year long.
CHECK OUT THE FULL 2026 CEO LINEUP OF CLASSES BELOW
The only way to grab your CEO pass is through one of the speaker links and when you purchase through their link, you’re directly supporting that educator (we love this). Choose your fave and click their link to give them the credit!
Your pass still unlocks every single session watch anything, anytime as long as you are a member of CEO.
The Lineup
Carissa Davis
The teen and tween market is often one of the most overlooked opportunities in the industry, yet it holds incredible potential for long-term business growth. In this class, we’ll explore how intentionally investing in teen clients isn’t just about one session, it’s about building future brand loyalty, referrals, repeat bookings, and lifelong clients who return for major milestones. You’ll learn why pouring into this demographic now is truly an investment in the future of your business, creating momentum, visibility, and sustainable income for years to come.
Teens: The Overlooked Asset
Lacey M. Carroll
A class for photographers who want to think beyond social media and build a strong, local presence. We’ll cover how to design and implement community-centered marketing like pop-ups, being a part of communities, seasonal mailers, swag drops, B2B collaborations and hands-on experiences people actually want to engage with. Leave with an idea bank, planning workflow, and tools to turn small events into big visibility.
Off-Screen Strategies: Real-World Marketing for Senior Photographers
Behind the Scenes with Tara Rochelle Finding Light, Locations & Magic Anywhere
Tara Rochelle
Get ready, because for CEO 2026 I’m pulling back the curtain and taking you behind the scenes on a real, live shoot with me! In this brand-new class, you’ll watch exactly how I work in the wild — scouting locations on the fly, chasing beautiful light (even when it’s playing hard to get), navigating crowded or unpredictable spaces, and directing my subject with confidence and ease.
You’ll see how I make editorial-style magic happen anywhere, whether it’s a dream location… or a “well, we’re making this work” kind of spot. From posing to problem-solving to working angles like a pro, you’ll get a front-row seat to my entire process — the stuff you can’t learn from a static slideshow.
If you’ve ever wished you could be a fly on the wall during a full Tara session, THIS is your moment. Come learn how to elevate your sessions, sharpen your eye, and create scroll-stopping portraits no matter what location you’re given.
Let’s make some magic together.
Valerie Shannon
Are Model Teams Right For You?
Nicki Hufford
Model teams can grow your senior business or completely drain your time. It all depends on how they’re built and whether they actually fit your personality, schedule, and market. In this class we talk about what model teams are really supposed to do, where photographers go wrong, and how to know if one makes sense for you. You’ll learn the real time commitment, how to avoid attracting the wrong clients, how to manage parent and teen expectations, and what to do instead if a rep program is not the right move. This is for photographers who want clarity before jumping in, not more on their plate just because it sounds trendy.
Running a business shouldn’t require sacrificing your health, your peace, or your life outside of work.
In this class, I share the shifts that helped me move from a season where my business consumed everything to a place where it supports a sustainable, balanced life. You’ll learn why burnout happens, how it becomes normalized, and what has to change before boundaries and structure can truly work.
This class offers a grounded framework for building success that doesn’t come at the expense of yourself, so your business can support your life, not consume it.
How to Run a Business Without Breaking Yourself
Shawna Tomren
What better time to master the art of styling a white dress than in 2026, the year Pantone has declared its 2026 Color of the Year: “Cloud Dancer” or to the untrained eye- White!
In this class I’ll show you how to treat a white dress not just as “another white dress” but as a creative blank canvas. We’ll style It in a way that feels intentional using accessories and texture to add edge, depth, and visual interest.
You’ll deliver images that feel both elevated and approachable- classic enough to last, editorial enough to stop the scroll! We’ll show your clients they don’t have to choose between timeless and trendy…they can have both and so can you!
Let’s Shawna-fy it! Styling the white dress for a Vogue Level Moment
Ready, Set, REP!
Kelsey Marie
Launching a senior rep team isn’t just about opening applications. It’s about building excitement, clarity, and a strong foundation before your team ever goes public.
In this class, you’ll learn the five essential things to prep before launching a successful senior rep team. We’ll walk through how to strengthen your brand, prep your calendar, structure your requirements and perks, build a high-converting waitlist and application, and design a content day that fuels the hype before your applications ever even go live.
Whether this is your first rep team or you’ve managed one before, this class will help you create a launch that feels organized, professional, and irresistible to seniors. Let's set you up for your best season yet.
Creating Movement, Confidence, and Connection in Senior Sessions
Mari Kranz
In this class, you’ll watch Mari photograph and direct a senior model she is meeting for the very first time. No prior connection, no practice run, just real-time direction, communication, and intention behind every movement and pose.
Want to learn how to get your seniors go from shy to shining? You’ll see exactly how she builds trust quickly, creates natural movement, and guides seniors into confident, connected images from the moment they step in front of her camera. This behind-the-scenes session breaks down what she says, how she says it, and how she adjusts on the fly to create images that feel effortless, editorial, and true to each senior even when they’ve just met.
Perfect for photographers who want their senior sessions to feel less posed, more natural, and deeply connected from frame one.
Sholanda
If you’ve ever felt torn between serving families and seniors or wondered how to make both thrive under one brand this course with Shalonda of Chubby Cheek photography is for you. Shalonda will guide you on how to seamlessly merge a family photography business with a senior photography business as well as discuss how senior focused photographers can easily expand into capturing families. She will lay out simple strategy’s so that senior clients become family clients, and your family clients grow into senior clients years down the road.
From Family Photographer to Senior Fav (with a dash of UNO Reverse)
Geily Romero
In this deep-dive planning masterclass, Geily Romero, a Fractional CFO for 6- and multi-6-figure service providers, will guide you through the exact process she uses to build her clients' Profitable Year Plans. You will walk away with a crystal-clear financial plan for 2026 that prioritizes sustainable profit, your goals, consistent owner's pay, and an essential financial safety net for when you need it most.
Maximize Your 2026 Profits: Your Profitable Year Plan
Maria Ortiz
The Art Of The Reveal Session: How A Strong Client Experience Leads To Higher Sales
Discover the key to running a successful IPS session. You’ll learn how to craft a seamless, client-centered experience that builds trust, excitement, and connection as you guide clients toward confident decisions without ever feeling pushy, because you’re truly serving them at a higher level. By focusing on the journey, and not just the sale, your IPS sessions become effortless, enjoyable, and highly effective, creating an environment where clients want to invest. Whether you’re running your first reveal or looking to elevate your current workflow, this class gives you the tools to create sessions that your clients look forward to and grow your revenue.
Grab CEO through Maria’s link & she’s hooking you up with:
1. The IPS Playbook: Your guide and word-for-word script that leads to confident and profitable IPS sessions (even if it’s your first time)
2. 1:1 60 minute Strategy call: a 60 minute zoom call to get clear on your current goals and leave with easy actionable steps that you can immediately implement to gain momentum.
Paige Day
Joshua Sharp
Organizing Volume Photography
Follow behind the scenes while I shoot a team and talk through how and why I organize the way I do. Then watch as I edit and export a basic gallery for that team. It's about efficiency and quality and I will show you how to do both!
Level up your dance photography! Join me as I shoot with some of my teen dance photography clients.
This class teaches you how to prep and direct dancers, light them beautifully in any setting, style for movement, and create dynamic images that highlight strength, flow, and artistry.
Packed with practical demonstrations and creative guidance, this class will give you the confidence to direct, light, and photograph dancers with intention and artistry. Whether you're brand new to dance photography or looking to elevate your existing work, you’ll leave with tools you can use immediately to create powerful, refined, movement-driven images.
Making Dance Photography Magic – No Tutu Required
Alicia Crosson
Being successful in the teen market is really about two things:
TRUST AND CONNECTION
Teens can spot inauthenticity a mile away, so the teen photographers who thrive are the ones who truly get them... While still running a solid business.
BUILD REAL CONNECTION
CREATE AN EXPERIENCE
KNOW YOUR TEEN MARKET
BUILD A STRONG MODEL/REP TEAM
PROVIDE A SAFE, TRUSTING SPACE
SHOW UP CON & OFFLINE)
RUN YOUR PROGRAM LIKE A BUSINESS
YOUR HEART MATTERS & TEENS FEEL IT
Help Refine Your Brand Voice For Teens
Save Time, Book More Seniors, and Stand Out
Scott Wyden Kivowitz
Senior photographers are busier than ever, so let AI and automations take work off your plate. In this session, you’ll learn how AI can streamline your admin, strengthen your marketing, and dramatically cut your editing time. From personalized email automation to smarter post-production to content ideas that speak your clients’ language, you’ll walk away with simple, actionable workflows that help you book more seniors and stress less.
Client Experience That Sells Without Selling: Service, Delivery & Profitability
Kristie Bradley
Kristie Bradley pulls back the curtain on the client experience strategy that fuels her high-end, joy-driven studio. You’ll learn how intentional communication, thoughtful service, and elevated product delivery create a seamless experience that naturally leads to higher sales—without scripts, pressure, or “selling.”
Kristie walks you through the emotional touchpoints that build trust, and her real-world digital delivery system using PASS that delights clients and increases print and product revenue. You’ll leave with practical, easy-to-implement steps that strengthen your client relationships, streamline your workflow, and boost your profitability with heart.
This class is perfect for photographers who want to create an unforgettable client experience that feels genuine, generous, and effective.
Social Media That Actually Works: Grow, Connect & Convert as a Photographer
Ashley Nicolle
Get ready to build a social media presence that goes beyond “pretty posts.” I’ll break down the strategies photographers need to authentically grow your audience, boost engagement, and create content that keeps clients coming back. We’ll talk about what to post, what to avoid, and how to connect with your community in a way that feels natural. I’ll also share insights from working with my own social media intern, including simple ways interns can elevate your workflow and help you stay consistent. You will walk away with clear action steps you can implement immediately.
Senior Guy Sessions Made Simple
Cindy Arthur
Let's be honest, a lot of senior guys are not too thrilled about getting photos done! This 30 minute class will be packed with easy prompts, guy-friendly posing tricks and ways to pull tons of variety from just a few poses! Learn how to keep your senior guys relaxed, make the session feel effortless and capture confident, natural images (without awkwardness or overthinking), and deliver strong galleries every time!
Simple Studio Lighting
Cindy Huotari
In this editorial-style class, delve into the world of modern studio lighting tailored for high school seniors. Learn to simplify your approach, while maximizing visual impact.
Post Sale Playbook: Creating A Stand-Out Client Experience After The Sale
Rita Ann Jana
So much time and energy is spent persuading seniors to book. How much time and energy do you invest in keeping them after the sale? Senior photographers are quick to photograph one class and immediately move on to the next before the current class has received their diploma.
In this no-fluff class, you’ll learn my step-by-step method for creating a stand-out client experience after the senior sale. These easy to implement, repeatable strategies will build excitement long after your sale. Create a memorable client experience that makes you stand out from your competitors and drives referrals year after year.
Plan Intentionally. Shape a Year Designed for Success
Valerie Thomas
Laying the groundwork for a strong, successful foundation
Using high school yearbooks as a reference and yearbook ad opportunities
Building and nurturing your email list
Creating calendars that help you work smarter, not harder
Best practices for answering phone calls and responding to emails
Sending pre-session information efficiently and effectively
IPS essentials — the must-have documents for a smooth, profitable workflow
The 5W Framework For Iconic, Story Driven Senior Portraits
Ally McElfish
Most senior portraits tell us what a student looks like but not who they are.
This class breaks down how to transform a session from a simple photoshoot into a meaningful, story driven experience.
We’ll cover how to use the 5 W’s: Who, What, When, Where, and Why to build a clear narrative during the pre-planning questionnaire and consult. From there, we’ll explore how to elevate that narrative through grounding elements: purposeful lighting, intentional locations, color choices, subtle nods to school spirit, and props that actually contribute to the story.
For example, a senior holding a basketball on a court is fine but adding gelled lights in school colors or hinting at the mascot in the background instantly deepens the story and gives the image meaning.
By the end of the class, attendees will understand how to plan, shoot, and deliver senior portraits that feel personal, intentional, and unforgettable creating images that truly represent the senior’s passions, identity, and legacy.
Posing Body Types
Chelsea Marie
Posing different body types with the same or similar pose to best represent the subject. From size small to x-large models.
Clearing the Funk Out of Your Business
Missy Cornell
As creatives, we’re wired for imagination, not spreadsheets. So when it comes to our business, things can get messy fast.
Overwhelm leads to fear… fear leads to desperation… and desperation leads to undervaluing ourselves and our work.
In Stinky Sales, we dig into:
· The mindset habits that quietly sabotage your sales
· Why your value is worth more than you're charging
· How to shift from panic-selling to purpose-driven selling
If your sales process feels awkward, inconsistent, or… well, a little stinky, this session will help you clear the air and build a business that smells like confidence and longevity.
Magnetic Messaging: How to Attract Soul-Aligned Seniors with a Brand Voice That’s Unapologetically You
Yoli Ray
You didn’t become a photographer to sound like a marketing robot—or to copy what everyone else is doing online. This talk is for the photographer who wants to attract the right kind of seniors (and parents) without trying to “speak Gen Z” or churn out soulless content.
Inside this session, you’ll learn how to align your messaging with your natural energy (yep, the one your best clients already love you for), so your brand does the heavy lifting before a client ever clicks “inquire.”
We’ll cover:
· The biggest messaging mistakes that repel dreamy clients
· What Gen Z really wants to feel when choosing their photographer
· How to write captions, bios, and emails that sound like you (and call in your kind of people)
· A sneak peek at your energetic messaging style and how to use it to magnetize your marketing
When you register using my link, you’ll get access to my Create Your Own Custom GPT class + guide—so you can build a personal brand assistant inside ChatGPT that sounds like you and knows your business inside and out.
The Luxe Senior Experience Blueprint: How to Turn Every Step Into ‘OMG We Love Her’ Moments
April Wetzig
Most photographers talk about offering a “great experience,” but luxe is a different level, and it starts long before the camera ever comes out. In this class, I’ll walk you through my entire senior client journey: the systems, touchpoints, scripts, questionnaires, prep steps, and behind-the-scenes workflows that create a seamless, elevated experience from the first DM to the final gallery and product delivery. You’ll learn what actually makes something feel luxe (hint: it’s not fancy packaging or pricing), how to personalize without adding hours of work, and how to craft an experience seniors rave about and parents happily invest in. Seniors will refer you over and over.
Booked. Educated. Styled. Captured. Revealed. Crafting the signature client experience.
Linda Cornelius
Get an inside look at the signature client journey behind Linda Cornelius Photography. Transform the way you work with clients from start to finish.
In this class, I reveal the full experience I give every client—from the very first message, to preparing them for their session, to photographing with confidence, all the way through a profitable IPS ordering appointment.
You’ll learn the simple workflows and personal touches that keep sessions smooth, clients happy, and sales strong—without feeling salesy.
The Luxe Senior Experience Blueprint: How to Turn Every Step Into ‘OMG We Love Her’ Moments
You can’t out-hustle burnout, and you don’t have to. In this session, photographer and clarity coach Jennifer Denton shares the systems and mindset shifts that helped her build a multi-city brand without losing her creativity (or her sanity). Learn how to move from chaos to clarity, create structure that supports your art, and build a business that works for you - not the other way around. If your desktop, inbox, and brain all look like one big collection of noisy clutter, let’s change that. You’ll walk away with fresh motivation, actionable tools, and a renewed sense of what success really looks like, both in your business and your life.
Jennifer Denton
Posing 101 - Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Struggling with stiff seniors or recycled poses? Not anymore. This fast-paced posing reboot breaks every pose down into four foolproof checkpoints — head, shoulders, knees, and toes. Kristin’s “posing cheat codes” will have you directing with rhythm and confidence for natural and engaging portraits.