Hidden Gems: Meet Claire and Oliver Oden of Claire K Photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire and Oliver Oden.

Hi Claire and Oliver, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I began my photography journey in high school, stepping into a dimly lit classroom filled with students who appeared uninterested in the art, simply seeking to add an extra credit class to their schedules. My teacher, an intense perfectionist, had high expectations and was relentless in her critiques. I remember feeling the sting of her words, often leaving the classroom in tears after she pointed out every little flaw in my photography work. Despite the emotional toll, her tough love pushed me to dig deeper and hone my skills. Each tear became a stepping stone, driving me to capture the world with more intention and passion, ultimately transforming those painful moments into a powerful catalyst for growth. At the end of the school year, my photography teacher sat me down, her expression softer than I’d ever seen. She explained that her intense critiques weren’t meant to break me, but to challenge me, because she genuinely believed in my potential. “I see something special in your work,” she said, her eyes sincere. “I pushed you because I truly want you to succeed in this journey.” In that moment, I felt a rush of gratitude, realizing that every tear had been worth it, and her faith in me ignited a newfound determination to pursue my passion full time.
After high school, I found myself grappling with the classic question, “What am I going to do with my life?” While my friends confidently mapped out their next four years at college, I felt a wave of uncertainty wash over me. The pressure to choose a path weighed heavily, and I hesitated, unsure if I was ready to dive into a traditional route or if I should follow my passion for photography instead, and was that even an option?
I decided to try out online college, thinking it would be a flexible way to further my education while figuring out my path. But after just three weeks, I realized it wasn’t for me. My passion for photography kept pulling me in a different direction, and I knew I had to follow it. So, I made the bold choice to drop out and fully immerse myself in my creative pursuit.
I started my photography journey shooting weddings and family photo sessions, slowly building my skills and portfolio. It wasn’t until I landed my first senior photoshoot that launched my career and changed everything.
In 2019, I officially launched my photography website, marking the beginning of my professional journey. That first season exceeded my expectations, as I booked nearly 25 clients, which was an incredible boost for my growing business. It was a whirlwind, and the demand confirmed that I was on the right path in pursuing my passion for photography.
In 2020, I pushed myself to grow as a photographer, experimenting with new editing styles, poses, and camera techniques to refine my craft. My commitment to improving paid off, as I ended up booking 60 clients that year. It was a year of growth and discovery, which helped shape my unique photography style and further cemented my passion for the art.
In 2021, I dove deep into the business side of photography, learning how to better market myself and manage my growing client base. I also honed in on a unique editing style that set my work apart. However, I faced the uncertainty of whether I would book as many senior clients as the previous year. I wondered if the time and effort I’d invested would pay off—would I receive more submissions, or had I already peaked? The pressure was on, but I was eager to see how it would all unfold.
By the end of the 2021 senior season, the amount of submissions completely blew me away. I had more clients than I ever anticipated with almost 130 bookings, and it was a whirlwind of excitement and hard work. I found myself editing galleries well into Christmas and even through the New Year. It was an incredibly rewarding time that pushed me to grow and showed me how far my photography business had come.
In 2022, I established myself as the premier senior photographer in the area by creating unique editorial senior pictures that were drastically different from the typical style. My business was thriving and my popularity soared, but this success came with its challenges. The growth outpaced my existing systems, and I found myself overwhelmed, having taken on more than I could manage effectively. It was clear that while the demand was there, I needed to find a way to balance and streamline my operations.
In 2023, my photography business experienced unprecedented growth. I began dating my now husband, Oliver, who was not only an accomplished photographer himself but also had a background in marketing. When he learned about Claire K Photo, he offered to help rebrand it, recognizing the elevated quality of my work and suggesting that my pricing should reflect the talent I had developed. That year, Oliver completely revamped my business system, nearly tripled my original pricing, and took on the role of managing my social media and client communications full-time. His efforts led to a dramatic increase in visibility: starting with 1,100 Instagram followers, we ended the year with over 16,000 followers, thanks to several viral videos.
In 2023, I faced the challenging task of sharing something I had built from the ground up with another partner. Integrating Oliver’s new ideas and systems into my established business was difficult, and I initially struggled with the changes. Balancing a new relationship with my photography business added another layer of complexity, making it hard to navigate the demands of both. I found myself doing more shoots than ever, with a schedule packed full of 3 to 6 senior sessions daily. The increased demand was fueled by our attention-grabbing social media presence, which continuously attracted more clients. Despite the hurdles, it was a period of significant growth and adjustment.
We ended the 2023 senior season with a record-breaking 150 sessions and a strong social media presence of 16,000 followers and counting. Our business flourished, and our thriving professional and personal relationship reached a new milestone when Oliver and I got engaged in October 2023. It was an exceptional year for Claire K Photo, filled with significant achievements and personal joy.
Oliver and I were married on March 1st, 2024, and decided that he would move to Michigan to join me in running Claire K Photo full-time. While we were excited about this new chapter, the past six months have been a whirlwind of wedding planning, relocating, and settling into our new home. Amidst all this activity, we barely had time for marketing, and now with June fast approaching—the start of the senior session season—we realized we needed to quickly refocus our efforts to gear up for the busy months ahead.
We were really unsure how this photography season would go, especially after last year, when we had a lot of clients but dealt with a mix of old and new package pricing. While business was strong, we weren’t sure how much of it was due to the lower prices early in the season. Since we tripled our rates halfway through the year, we had no idea if we’d see the same level of demand moving forward. It was a bit nerve-wracking, not knowing if the higher prices would affect the number of bookings or if our clients would continue to see the value in our work.
In June, Oliver created an Instagram reel that took off in a big way. The reel featured the caption, “I want my senior pictures to look like a movie,” and showcased a cinematic video of one of our senior clients, followed by her beautifully edited photos. The unique concept and stunning visuals resonated with a huge audience, and within just a few weeks, the video had gained over a million views. It brought a surge of attention to Claire K Photo and solidified the demand for one of our distinctive, movie-like senior photography styles.
In April, we were thrilled to have 40 seniors booked, and by June 10th, we hit a major milestone—100 seniors! We were beyond excited and couldn’t wait for senior season to begin, feeling like everything was falling perfectly into place. Little did we know, though, that something unexpected was just around the corner.
July was easily the most insane month of our photography career! From July 11th to July 31st, we were shooting an incredible 4-6 senior sessions every single day. Oliver became a master at scheduling, making sure every senior got their perfect dream session. By the end of the month, we had photographed 86 seniors—an accomplishment that pushed us to new levels of dedication and excitement!
Amid the chaos of senior picture season, Oliver and our intern, Sana, were hard at work creating and posting reels every single day! The Claire K Photo Instagram was constantly buzzing with behind-the-scenes content from each senior session, offering a glimpse into our process, along with helpful “How to Pose for Seniors” videos. Their efforts paid off in a big way—our account grew by over 10,000 followers in July alone, with viral videos taking off every week. It was an incredible period of growth and excitement for our business!
Oliver introduced our very own “Golden Preset Pack,” a set of filters designed for photographers and seniors to apply to their own photos, recreating the warm golden glow and tones seen in our images. The presets quickly gained popularity, with people purchasing either the full pack or individual presets every day. Anytime we posted new content or shared behind-the-scenes videos, more and more people visited our Education website to purchase presets, posing prompts, or Senior Sunday captions. It was amazing to see the response from our community.
Oliver initially set a goal of making $10,000 from the presets within a year, but we reached that milestone in just two months! Today, our Photography Education platform has become a huge success. With hundreds of people purchasing our viral Golden Presets, Senior Posing Prompts, and Contract Bundles, we’ve now sold over $25,000 worth of educational resources. The growth has been beyond what we ever expected!
The Claire K Photo Instagram has attracted hundreds of thousands of new followers, including seniors from across the country eager to fly us out for their senior pictures, and photographers looking to learn from us. They’re interested in everything from our editing techniques to how we go viral on Instagram, as well as how we’ve built a welcoming community by sharing free, valuable content. The demand and excitement around our work have grown beyond what we ever imagined.
We’ve had the privilege of hearing amazing feedback from our seniors, sharing sentiments like: “Working with you for my senior pictures truly lives up to the hype of your Instagram,” and “I initially booked with another photographer and put down a non-refundable $200 deposit, but after discovering your Instagram, I knew I had to work with you. Losing that deposit was the best decision I ever made.” Some seniors have even said, “I already had my senior pictures taken, but after seeing all my friends work with you, I wanted to as well.” Others have expressed, “I told my mom if I can’t have Claire K Photo, I don’t want to take my senior pictures,” and, “We flew into town just to have my senior pictures done by you.” These stories reflect the level of trust and excitement our clients have for our work, and it’s incredibly rewarding to be part of such memorable moments in their lives.
July was undoubtedly one of the most rewarding and challenging months of our photography journey. For the first time in our career, we welcomed seniors who flew or drove from as far as California, Arizona, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana to work with us for their senior pictures. We felt incredibly honored and blessed to capture memories for all 86 seniors during that month, and we had a blast with each session! Alongside the excitement of this success, we learned invaluable lessons about scaling our operations to accommodate such a high volume of clients in a short timeframe. To manage the influx of galleries, we invested in six 5-terabyte hard drives for storage while developing a systematic approach to back up and organize each gallery, allowing us to free up our SD cards for the next day’s sessions.
Amid our photography success, rapid Instagram growth with thousands of new followers, and the thriving popularity of our education platform, we continued to book more senior sessions throughout July. By July 29th, we officially reached the remarkable milestone of booking 200 seniors—a truly astounding achievement that reflects the hard work and dedication we’ve poured into our craft. This surge in bookings not only highlights the trust our clients place in us but also energizes our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for every senior we photograph.
Booking 200 seniors is a testament to God’s goodness! At the beginning of 2024, we prayed for the opportunity to reach this milestone, and the Lord answered our prayers in a remarkable way. We are profoundly grateful for this blessing and excited to serve each senior with the utmost care and creativity.
August turned out to be a record-breaking month, as we completed 91 senior sessions while also flying to Georgia for my brother-in-law’s wedding amid our incredible growth. We were shooting between 4-6, and sometimes even 7 sessions each day, which pushed us to our limits in a way we had never experienced before. Recognizing the need for a more efficient schedule to manage our expanding client base, Oliver began shooting seniors alongside me in September, allowing us to split sessions each day. On August 28th, we celebrated another significant milestone by booking 250 seniors, further validating our hard work and commitment to excellence in our photography.
As September rolled in and seniors returned to school, we were able to dial down our sessions to 3 per day, resulting in a total of 61 seniors photographed that month. This reduction in pace gave us much more time to focus on editing our galleries, allowing us to maintain a turnaround time of 14 to 30 days for each senior. With this improved schedule, we could dedicate more attention to creating exceptional final products that truly reflected our vision and the unique stories of each senior.
In October, we had a significant influx of summer seniors who opted to book additional fall senior pictures, bringing our total to 40 seniors for the month. We reached the milestone of booking 275 seniors. Alongside these sessions, we also had the opportunity to conduct numerous family mini sessions, allowing us to capture cherished moments for families as they transitioned into the fall season. This combination of senior and family photography kept our schedule busy and provided a wonderful variety of experiences to enjoy.
As we write this, we are still immersed in our senior season, with wedding bookings beginning to pick up as well. We are on the verge of reaching 40,000 followers on Instagram and have already started booking sessions for the summer of 2025. Additionally, we have received 60 senior submissions for the class of 2026, and we are in the process of reaching out to schedule them on our calendar. With an eye toward the future, we are also looking for a social media intern or hire to join our team next summer. We feel incredibly blessed for our 2025 season so far, and we eagerly anticipate the upcoming year, expecting to receive over 700 inquiries for senior pictures for the class of 2026.
It’s hard to believe that just a year ago, Oliver and I were sitting in a local coffee shop, boasting only 1,100 followers on Instagram, charging $300 for senior pictures, and booking clients solely through direct messages. It was during this crucial meeting that we committed to becoming the best senior photography duo in the state. Now, one year later, we are excited to be living the reality of that dream! Our mission is to continue delivering unique, one-on-one experiences for seniors while striving to establish ourselves as the leading senior photography duo in the country.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I began my photography journey in high school, stepping into a dimly lit classroom filled with students who appeared uninterested in the art, simply seeking to add an extra credit class to their schedules. My teacher, an intense perfectionist, had high expectations and was relentless in her critiques. I remember feeling the sting of her words, often leaving the classroom in tears after she pointed out every little flaw in my photography work. Despite the emotional toll, her tough love pushed me to dig deeper and hone my skills. Each tear became a stepping stone, driving me to capture the world with more intention and passion, ultimately transforming those painful moments into a powerful catalyst for growth. At the end of the school year, my photography teacher sat me down, her expression softer than I’d ever seen. She explained that her intense critiques weren’t meant to break me, but to challenge me, because she genuinely believed in my potential. “I see something special in your work,” she said, her eyes sincere. “I pushed you because I truly want you to succeed in this journey.” In that moment, I felt a rush of gratitude, realizing that every tear had been worth it, and her faith in me ignited a newfound determination to pursue my passion full time.
After high school, I found myself grappling with the classic question, “What am I going to do with my life?” While my friends confidently mapped out their next four years at college, I felt a wave of uncertainty wash over me. The pressure to choose a path weighed heavily, and I hesitated, unsure if I was ready to dive into a traditional route or if I should follow my passion for photography instead, and was that even an option?
I decided to try out online college, thinking it would be a flexible way to further my education while figuring out my path. But after just three weeks, I realized it wasn’t for me. My passion for photography kept pulling me in a different direction, and I knew I had to follow it. So, I made the bold choice to drop out and fully immerse myself in my creative pursuit.
I started my photography journey shooting weddings and family photo sessions, slowly building my skills and portfolio. It wasn’t until I landed my first senior photoshoot that launched my career and changed everything.
In 2019, I officially launched my photography website, marking the beginning of my professional journey. That first season exceeded my expectations, as I booked nearly 25 clients, which was an incredible boost for my growing business. It was a whirlwind, and the demand confirmed that I was on the right path in pursuing my passion for photography.
In 2020, I pushed myself to grow as a photographer, experimenting with new editing styles, poses, and camera techniques to refine my craft. My commitment to improving paid off, as I ended up booking 60 clients that year. It was a year of growth and discovery, which helped shape my unique photography style and further cemented my passion for the art.
In 2021, I dove deep into the business side of photography, learning how to better market myself and manage my growing client base. I also honed in on a unique editing style that set my work apart. However, I faced the uncertainty of whether I would book as many senior clients as the previous year. I wondered if the time and effort I’d invested would pay off—would I receive more submissions, or had I already peaked? The pressure was on, but I was eager to see how it would all unfold.
By the end of the 2021 senior season, the amount of submissions completely blew me away. I had more clients than I ever anticipated with almost 130 bookings, and it was a whirlwind of excitement and hard work. I found myself editing galleries well into Christmas and even through the New Year. It was an incredibly rewarding time that pushed me to grow and showed me how far my photography business had come.
In 2022, I established myself as the premier senior photographer in the area by creating unique editorial senior pictures that were drastically different from the typical style. My business was thriving and my popularity soared, but this success came with its challenges. The growth outpaced my existing systems, and I found myself overwhelmed, having taken on more than I could manage effectively. It was clear that while the demand was there, I needed to find a way to balance and streamline my operations.
In 2023, my photography business experienced unprecedented growth. I began dating my now husband, Oliver, who was not only an accomplished photographer himself but also had a background in marketing. When he learned about Claire K Photo, he offered to help rebrand it, recognizing the elevated quality of my work and suggesting that my pricing should reflect the talent I had developed. That year, Oliver completely revamped my business system, nearly tripled my original pricing, and took on the role of managing my social media and client communications full-time. His efforts led to a dramatic increase in visibility: starting with 1,100 Instagram followers, we ended the year with over 16,000 followers, thanks to several viral videos.
In 2023, I faced the challenging task of sharing something I had built from the ground up with another partner. Integrating Oliver’s new ideas and systems into my established business was difficult, and I initially struggled with the changes. Balancing a new relationship with my photography business added another layer of complexity, making it hard to navigate the demands of both. I found myself doing more shoots than ever, with a schedule packed full of 3 to 6 senior sessions daily. The increased demand was fueled by our attention-grabbing social media presence, which continuously attracted more clients. Despite the hurdles, it was a period of significant growth and adjustment.
We ended the 2023 senior season with a record-breaking 150 sessions and a strong social media presence of 16,000 followers and counting. Our business flourished, and our thriving professional and personal relationship reached a new milestone when Oliver and I got engaged in October 2023. It was an exceptional year for Claire K Photo, filled with significant achievements and personal joy.
Oliver and I were married on March 1st, 2024, and decided that he would move to Michigan to join me in running Claire K Photo full-time. While we were excited about this new chapter, the past six months have been a whirlwind of wedding planning, relocating, and settling into our new home. Amidst all this activity, we barely had time for marketing, and now with June fast approaching—the start of the senior session season—we realized we needed to quickly refocus our efforts to gear up for the busy months ahead.
We were really unsure how this photography season would go, especially after last year, when we had a lot of clients but dealt with a mix of old and new package pricing. While business was strong, we weren’t sure how much of it was due to the lower prices early in the season. Since we tripled our rates halfway through the year, we had no idea if we’d see the same level of demand moving forward. It was a bit nerve-wracking, not knowing if the higher prices would affect the number of bookings or if our clients would continue to see the value in our work.
In June, Oliver created an Instagram reel that took off in a big way. The reel featured the caption, “I want my senior pictures to look like a movie,” and showcased a cinematic video of one of our senior clients, followed by her beautifully edited photos. The unique concept and stunning visuals resonated with a huge audience, and within just a few weeks, the video had gained over a million views. It brought a surge of attention to Claire K Photo and solidified the demand for one of our distinctive, movie-like senior photography styles.
In April, we were thrilled to have 40 seniors booked, and by June 10th, we hit a major milestone—100 seniors! We were beyond excited and couldn’t wait for senior season to begin, feeling like everything was falling perfectly into place. Little did we know, though, that something unexpected was just around the corner.
July was easily the most insane month of our photography career! From July 11th to July 31st, we were shooting an incredible 4-6 senior sessions every single day. Oliver became a master at scheduling, making sure every senior got their perfect dream session. By the end of the month, we had photographed 86 seniors—an accomplishment that pushed us to new levels of dedication and excitement!
Amid the chaos of senior picture season, Oliver and our intern, Sana, were hard at work creating and posting reels every single day! The Claire K Photo Instagram was constantly buzzing with behind-the-scenes content from each senior session, offering a glimpse into our process, along with helpful “How to Pose for Seniors” videos. Their efforts paid off in a big way—our account grew by over 10,000 followers in July alone, with viral videos taking off every week. It was an incredible period of growth and excitement for our business!
Oliver introduced our very own “Golden Preset Pack,” a set of filters designed for photographers and seniors to apply to their own photos, recreating the warm golden glow and tones seen in our images. The presets quickly gained popularity, with people purchasing either the full pack or individual presets every day. Anytime we posted new content or shared behind-the-scenes videos, more and more people visited our Education website to purchase presets, posing prompts, or Senior Sunday captions. It was amazing to see the response from our community.
Oliver initially set a goal of making $10,000 from the presets within a year, but we reached that milestone in just two months! Today, our Photography Education platform has become a huge success. With hundreds of people purchasing our viral Golden Presets, Senior Posing Prompts, and Contract Bundles, we’ve now sold over $25,000 worth of educational resources. The growth has been beyond what we ever expected!
The Claire K Photo Instagram has attracted hundreds of thousands of new followers, including seniors from across the country eager to fly us out for their senior pictures, and photographers looking to learn from us. They’re interested in everything from our editing techniques to how we go viral on Instagram, as well as how we’ve built a welcoming community by sharing free, valuable content. The demand and excitement around our work have grown beyond what we ever imagined.
We’ve had the privilege of hearing amazing feedback from our seniors, sharing sentiments like: “Working with you for my senior pictures truly lives up to the hype of your Instagram,” and “I initially booked with another photographer and put down a non-refundable $200 deposit, but after discovering your Instagram, I knew I had to work with you. Losing that deposit was the best decision I ever made.” Some seniors have even said, “I already had my senior pictures taken, but after seeing all my friends work with you, I wanted to as well.” Others have expressed, “I told my mom if I can’t have Claire K Photo, I don’t want to take my senior pictures,” and, “We flew into town just to have my senior pictures done by you.” These stories reflect the level of trust and excitement our clients have for our work, and it’s incredibly rewarding to be part of such memorable moments in their lives.
July was undoubtedly one of the most rewarding and challenging months of our photography journey. For the first time in our career, we welcomed seniors who flew or drove from as far as California, Arizona, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana to work with us for their senior pictures. We felt incredibly honored and blessed to capture memories for all 86 seniors during that month, and we had a blast with each session! Alongside the excitement of this success, we learned invaluable lessons about scaling our operations to accommodate such a high volume of clients in a short timeframe. To manage the influx of galleries, we invested in six 5-terabyte hard drives for storage while developing a systematic approach to back up and organize each gallery, allowing us to free up our SD cards for the next day’s sessions.
Amid our photography success, rapid Instagram growth with thousands of new followers, and the thriving popularity of our education platform, we continued to book more senior sessions throughout July. By July 29th, we officially reached the remarkable milestone of booking 200 seniors—a truly astounding achievement that reflects the hard work and dedication we’ve poured into our craft. This surge in bookings not only highlights the trust our clients place in us but also energizes our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for every senior we photograph.
Booking 200 seniors is a testament to God’s goodness! At the beginning of 2024, we prayed for the opportunity to reach this milestone, and the Lord answered our prayers in a remarkable way. We are profoundly grateful for this blessing and excited to serve each senior with the utmost care and creativity.
August turned out to be a record-breaking month, as we completed 91 senior sessions while also flying to Georgia for my brother-in-law’s wedding amid our incredible growth. We were shooting between 4-6, and sometimes even 7 sessions each day, which pushed us to our limits in a way we had never experienced before. Recognizing the need for a more efficient schedule to manage our expanding client base, Oliver began shooting seniors alongside me in September, allowing us to split sessions each day. On August 28th, we celebrated another significant milestone by booking 250 seniors, further validating our hard work and commitment to excellence in our photography.
As September rolled in and seniors returned to school, we were able to dial down our sessions to 3 per day, resulting in a total of 61 seniors photographed that month. This reduction in pace gave us much more time to focus on editing our galleries, allowing us to maintain a turnaround time of 14 to 30 days for each senior. With this improved schedule, we could dedicate more attention to creating exceptional final products that truly reflected our vision and the unique stories of each senior.
In October, we had a significant influx of summer seniors who opted to book additional fall senior pictures, bringing our total to 40 seniors for the month. We reached the milestone of booking 275 seniors. Alongside these sessions, we also had the opportunity to conduct numerous family mini sessions, allowing us to capture cherished moments for families as they transitioned into the fall season. This combination of senior and family photography kept our schedule busy and provided a wonderful variety of experiences to enjoy.
As we write this, we are still immersed in our senior season, with wedding bookings beginning to pick up as well. We are on the verge of reaching 40,000 followers on Instagram and have already started booking sessions for the summer of 2025. Additionally, we have received 60 senior submissions for the class of 2026, and we are in the process of reaching out to schedule them on our calendar. With an eye toward the future, we are also looking for a social media intern or hire to join our team next summer. We feel incredibly blessed for our 2025 season so far, and we eagerly anticipate the upcoming year, expecting to receive over 700 inquiries for senior pictures for the class of 2026.
It’s hard to believe that just a year ago, Oliver and I were sitting in a local coffee shop, boasting only 1,100 followers on Instagram, charging $300 for senior pictures, and booking clients solely through direct messages. It was during this crucial meeting that we committed to becoming the best senior photography duo in the state. Now, one year later, we are excited to be living the reality of that dream! Our mission is to continue delivering unique, one-on-one experiences for seniors while striving to establish ourselves as the leading senior photography duo in the country.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I began my photography journey in high school, stepping into a dimly lit classroom filled with students who appeared uninterested in the art, simply seeking to add an extra credit class to their schedules. My teacher, an intense perfectionist, had high expectations and was relentless in her critiques. I remember feeling the sting of her words, often leaving the classroom in tears after she pointed out every little flaw in my photography work. Despite the emotional toll, her tough love pushed me to dig deeper and hone my skills. Each tear became a stepping stone, driving me to capture the world with more intention and passion, ultimately transforming those painful moments into a powerful catalyst for growth. At the end of the school year, my photography teacher sat me down, her expression softer than I’d ever seen. She explained that her intense critiques weren’t meant to break me, but to challenge me, because she genuinely believed in my potential. “I see something special in your work,” she said, her eyes sincere. “I pushed you because I truly want you to succeed in this journey.” In that moment, I felt a rush of gratitude, realizing that every tear had been worth it, and her faith in me ignited a newfound determination to pursue my passion full time.
After high school, I found myself grappling with the classic question, “What am I going to do with my life?” While my friends confidently mapped out their next four years at college, I felt a wave of uncertainty wash over me. The pressure to choose a path weighed heavily, and I hesitated, unsure if I was ready to dive into a traditional route or if I should follow my passion for photography instead, and was that even an option?
I decided to try out online college, thinking it would be a flexible way to further my education while figuring out my path. But after just three weeks, I realized it wasn’t for me. My passion for photography kept pulling me in a different direction, and I knew I had to follow it. So, I made the bold choice to drop out and fully immerse myself in my creative pursuit.
I started my photography journey shooting weddings and family photo sessions, slowly building my skills and portfolio. It wasn’t until I landed my first senior photoshoot that launched my career and changed everything.
In 2019, I officially launched my photography website, marking the beginning of my professional journey. That first season exceeded my expectations, as I booked nearly 25 clients, which was an incredible boost for my growing business. It was a whirlwind, and the demand confirmed that I was on the right path in pursuing my passion for photography.
In 2020, I pushed myself to grow as a photographer, experimenting with new editing styles, poses, and camera techniques to refine my craft. My commitment to improving paid off, as I ended up booking 60 clients that year. It was a year of growth and discovery, which helped shape my unique photography style and further cemented my passion for the art.
In 2021, I dove deep into the business side of photography, learning how to better market myself and manage my growing client base. I also honed in on a unique editing style that set my work apart. However, I faced the uncertainty of whether I would book as many senior clients as the previous year. I wondered if the time and effort I’d invested would pay off—would I receive more submissions, or had I already peaked? The pressure was on, but I was eager to see how it would all unfold.
By the end of the 2021 senior season, the amount of submissions completely blew me away. I had more clients than I ever anticipated with almost 130 bookings, and it was a whirlwind of excitement and hard work. I found myself editing galleries well into Christmas and even through the New Year. It was an incredibly rewarding time that pushed me to grow and showed me how far my photography business had come.
In 2022, I established myself as the premier senior photographer in the area by creating unique editorial senior pictures that were drastically different from the typical style. My business was thriving and my popularity soared, but this success came with its challenges. The growth outpaced my existing systems, and I found myself overwhelmed, having taken on more than I could manage effectively. It was clear that while the demand was there, I needed to find a way to balance and streamline my operations.
In 2023, my photography business experienced unprecedented growth. I began dating my now husband, Oliver, who was not only an accomplished photographer himself but also had a background in marketing. When he learned about Claire K Photo, he offered to help rebrand it, recognizing the elevated quality of my work and suggesting that my pricing should reflect the talent I had developed. That year, Oliver completely revamped my business system, nearly tripled my original pricing, and took on the role of managing my social media and client communications full-time. His efforts led to a dramatic increase in visibility: starting with 1,100 Instagram followers, we ended the year with over 16,000 followers, thanks to several viral videos.
In 2023, I faced the challenging task of sharing something I had built from the ground up with another partner. Integrating Oliver’s new ideas and systems into my established business was difficult, and I initially struggled with the changes. Balancing a new relationship with my photography business added another layer of complexity, making it hard to navigate the demands of both. I found myself doing more shoots than ever, with a schedule packed full of 3 to 6 senior sessions daily. The increased demand was fueled by our attention-grabbing social media presence, which continuously attracted more clients. Despite the hurdles, it was a period of significant growth and adjustment.
We ended the 2023 senior season with a record-breaking 150 sessions and a strong social media presence of 16,000 followers and counting. Our business flourished, and our thriving professional and personal relationship reached a new milestone when Oliver and I got engaged in October 2023. It was an exceptional year for Claire K Photo, filled with significant achievements and personal joy.
Oliver and I were married on March 1st, 2024, and decided that he would move to Michigan to join me in running Claire K Photo full-time. While we were excited about this new chapter, the past six months have been a whirlwind of wedding planning, relocating, and settling into our new home. Amidst all this activity, we barely had time for marketing, and now with June fast approaching—the start of the senior session season—we realized we needed to quickly refocus our efforts to gear up for the busy months ahead.
We were really unsure how this photography season would go, especially after last year, when we had a lot of clients but dealt with a mix of old and new package pricing. While business was strong, we weren’t sure how much of it was due to the lower prices early in the season. Since we tripled our rates halfway through the year, we had no idea if we’d see the same level of demand moving forward. It was a bit nerve-wracking, not knowing if the higher prices would affect the number of bookings or if our clients would continue to see the value in our work.
In June, Oliver created an Instagram reel that took off in a big way. The reel featured the caption, “I want my senior pictures to look like a movie,” and showcased a cinematic video of one of our senior clients, followed by her beautifully edited photos. The unique concept and stunning visuals resonated with a huge audience, and within just a few weeks, the video had gained over a million views. It brought a surge of attention to Claire K Photo and solidified the demand for one of our distinctive, movie-like senior photography styles.
In April, we were thrilled to have 40 seniors booked, and by June 10th, we hit a major milestone—100 seniors! We were beyond excited and couldn’t wait for senior season to begin, feeling like everything was falling perfectly into place. Little did we know, though, that something unexpected was just around the corner.
July was easily the most insane month of our photography career! From July 11th to July 31st, we were shooting an incredible 4-6 senior sessions every single day. Oliver became a master at scheduling, making sure every senior got their perfect dream session. By the end of the month, we had photographed 86 seniors—an accomplishment that pushed us to new levels of dedication and excitement!
Amid the chaos of senior picture season, Oliver and our intern, Sana, were hard at work creating and posting reels every single day! The Claire K Photo Instagram was constantly buzzing with behind-the-scenes content from each senior session, offering a glimpse into our process, along with helpful “How to Pose for Seniors” videos. Their efforts paid off in a big way—our account grew by over 10,000 followers in July alone, with viral videos taking off every week. It was an incredible period of growth and excitement for our business!
Oliver introduced our very own “Golden Preset Pack,” a set of filters designed for photographers and seniors to apply to their own photos, recreating the warm golden glow and tones seen in our images. The presets quickly gained popularity, with people purchasing either the full pack or individual presets every day. Anytime we posted new content or shared behind-the-scenes videos, more and more people visited our Education website to purchase presets, posing prompts, or Senior Sunday captions. It was amazing to see the response from our community.
Oliver initially set a goal of making $10,000 from the presets within a year, but we reached that milestone in just two months! Today, our Photography Education platform has become a huge success. With hundreds of people purchasing our viral Golden Presets, Senior Posing Prompts, and Contract Bundles, we’ve now sold over $25,000 worth of educational resources. The growth has been beyond what we ever expected!
The Claire K Photo Instagram has attracted hundreds of thousands of new followers, including seniors from across the country eager to fly us out for their senior pictures, and photographers looking to learn from us. They’re interested in everything from our editing techniques to how we go viral on Instagram, as well as how we’ve built a welcoming community by sharing free, valuable content. The demand and excitement around our work have grown beyond what we ever imagined.
We’ve had the privilege of hearing amazing feedback from our seniors, sharing sentiments like: “Working with you for my senior pictures truly lives up to the hype of your Instagram,” and “I initially booked with another photographer and put down a non-refundable $200 deposit, but after discovering your Instagram, I knew I had to work with you. Losing that deposit was the best decision I ever made.” Some seniors have even said, “I already had my senior pictures taken, but after seeing all my friends work with you, I wanted to as well.” Others have expressed, “I told my mom if I can’t have Claire K Photo, I don’t want to take my senior pictures,” and, “We flew into town just to have my senior pictures done by you.” These stories reflect the level of trust and excitement our clients have for our work, and it’s incredibly rewarding to be part of such memorable moments in their lives.
July was undoubtedly one of the most rewarding and challenging months of our photography journey. For the first time in our career, we welcomed seniors who flew or drove from as far as California, Arizona, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana to work with us for their senior pictures. We felt incredibly honored and blessed to capture memories for all 86 seniors during that month, and we had a blast with each session! Alongside the excitement of this success, we learned invaluable lessons about scaling our operations to accommodate such a high volume of clients in a short timeframe. To manage the influx of galleries, we invested in six 5-terabyte hard drives for storage while developing a systematic approach to back up and organize each gallery, allowing us to free up our SD cards for the next day’s sessions.
Amid our photography success, rapid Instagram growth with thousands of new followers, and the thriving popularity of our education platform, we continued to book more senior sessions throughout July. By July 29th, we officially reached the remarkable milestone of booking 200 seniors—a truly astounding achievement that reflects the hard work and dedication we’ve poured into our craft. This surge in bookings not only highlights the trust our clients place in us but also energizes our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for every senior we photograph.
Booking 200 seniors is a testament to God’s goodness! At the beginning of 2024, we prayed for the opportunity to reach this milestone, and the Lord answered our prayers in a remarkable way. We are profoundly grateful for this blessing and excited to serve each senior with the utmost care and creativity.
August turned out to be a record-breaking month, as we completed 91 senior sessions while also flying to Georgia for my brother-in-law’s wedding amid our incredible growth. We were shooting between 4-6, and sometimes even 7 sessions each day, which pushed us to our limits in a way we had never experienced before. Recognizing the need for a more efficient schedule to manage our expanding client base, Oliver began shooting seniors alongside me in September, allowing us to split sessions each day. On August 28th, we celebrated another significant milestone by booking 250 seniors, further validating our hard work and commitment to excellence in our photography.
As September rolled in and seniors returned to school, we were able to dial down our sessions to 3 per day, resulting in a total of 61 seniors photographed that month. This reduction in pace gave us much more time to focus on editing our galleries, allowing us to maintain a turnaround time of 14 to 30 days for each senior. With this improved schedule, we could dedicate more attention to creating exceptional final products that truly reflected our vision and the unique stories of each senior.
In October, we had a significant influx of summer seniors who opted to book additional fall senior pictures, bringing our total to 40 seniors for the month. We reached the milestone of booking 275 seniors. Alongside these sessions, we also had the opportunity to conduct numerous family mini sessions, allowing us to capture cherished moments for families as they transitioned into the fall season. This combination of senior and family photography kept our schedule busy and provided a wonderful variety of experiences to enjoy.
As we write this, we are still immersed in our senior season, with wedding bookings beginning to pick up as well. We are on the verge of reaching 40,000 followers on Instagram and have already started booking sessions for the summer of 2025. Additionally, we have received 60 senior submissions for the class of 2026, and we are in the process of reaching out to schedule them on our calendar. With an eye toward the future, we are also looking for a social media intern or hire to join our team next summer. We feel incredibly blessed for our 2025 season so far, and we eagerly anticipate the upcoming year, expecting to receive over 700 inquiries for senior pictures for the class of 2026.
It’s hard to believe that just a year ago, Oliver and I were sitting in a local coffee shop, boasting only 1,100 followers on Instagram, charging $300 for senior pictures, and booking clients solely through direct messages. It was during this crucial meeting that we committed to becoming the best senior photography duo in the state. Now, one year later, we are excited to be living the reality of that dream! Our mission is to continue delivering unique, one-on-one experiences for seniors while striving to establish ourselves as the leading senior photography duo in the country.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I had a deep passion for music, photography, and fashion, which fueled my creativity and inspired me to create beautiful experiences for others. My family fostered a safe and supportive environment for me and my brothers, encouraging us to explore our interests and pursue our passions. This nurturing atmosphere allowed me to develop my love for the arts and shaped the creative journey I continue to embrace today.

Pricing:

• The Mini – » Up to 30min » 1 location » 1 outfit » 30+ final digital images » Senior Session Planning Guide » Location Planning Guide » Print release » Online Gallery with unlimited downloads » Optional FaceTime consultation $450
• The Exclusive – » Up to 1 hour » 1 location within 1 hour » Up to 2 outfits » 60+ final digital images » Senior Session Planning Guide » Location Planning Guide » Print release » Online Gallery with unlimited downloads » Optional FaceTime consultation $800
• The Boutique – » Up to 2 hours » 2 locations within 2 hours » Up to 4 outfits » 120+ final digital images » Senior Session Planning Guide » Location Planning Guide » Print Release » Online Gallery with unlimited downloads » Optional FaceTime consultation $1200
• The Ultimate – » Up to 2.5 hours »3 locations within 2.5 hours » Up to 6 outfits » 200+ final digital images » Senior Session Planning Guide » Travel Session Guide » Print Release » Online Gallery with unlimited downloads $1600
• The Platinum -» 1 minute “Senior Highlight Reel” Video » Up to 3.5 hours » 4 locations within 3.5 hours » Up to 8 outfits » 400+ final digital images » Senior Session Planning Guide » Travel Session Guide » Print Release » Online Gallery with unlimited downloads $2600

Contact Info:

• Website: www.clairekphoto.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairekphoto/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/HG5MjqtJKXDjY4g3/?mibextid=LQQJ4d