It’s been more than five years since we last featured Jaimy Ellis on the PhotoBiz blog—and as anyone who’s been in business for more than a minute knows, five years can feel like an entire lifetime.
When we first spoke with Jaimy, her focus was almost entirely on high school senior portraits. Today, her business tells a much bigger story—one shaped by expansion, experimentation, and a renewed commitment to showing up boldly and authentically online.
We caught up with Jaimy to talk about how her business has evolved, why she took a hands-on approach to her most recent website redesign, and what’s fueling her creative energy right now.
From a Singular Focus to a Studio-Based Business
Looking back on the last five years, Jaimy is quick to point out just how much has changed.
“At that time I was really focusing solely on high school senior portraits,” she told us. “Since then, I’ve added a brick-and-mortar studio space, which resulted in adding a specialization in professional headshots.”
That studio space became a turning point. Not only did it expand what she could offer clients, it also allowed her to lean into work she genuinely loves. While senior portraits remain a core part of her business, headshots have become a favorite and a meaningful part of her growth.
As her services expanded to include grad sessions, portraits, and interior and real estate photography, Jaimy found herself needing something just as flexible as her business: a website that could evolve right along with her.
Why This Website Redesign Was Different
Rather than commissioning another custom-built website, Jaimy chose to design this one herself using PhotoBiz’s newest layouts and tools—a decision that came from confidence, not compromise.
“The PhotoBiz platform is so easy to use,” she explained. “Over the years I’ve learned enough about it that I felt comfortable being able to achieve a look that stands out on my own.”
She described being able to visualize how she wanted to use a template, where she wanted to push it further, and how to adjust it to match her vision. Designing the site herself also gave her something she values deeply: freedom.
“I can change things up frequently, which I tend to do… a lot,” she laughed. “I’m always thinking of how it could look or work better, and I’m not afraid to make those changes because I know I can’t really screw anything up.”
That sense of creative safety—knowing you can experiment without breaking anything—has been key to how she approaches her site today.
Standing Out in a Crowded Industry
When we asked what the biggest goal of the redesign was, Jaimy didn’t hesitate.
“I’ve always been someone who wants to stand out in a crowd,” she said. “And I was feeling rather stagnant in my business in a design and branding sense.”
It wasn’t about small tweaks or surface-level updates. She felt her branding was getting lost in a sea of photographers and knew she needed to make a bigger shift.
“I didn’t want to fade into the bushes like that Homer Simpson meme,” she joked.
That realization pushed her toward a full overhaul—one that better reflects her personality, her work, and the bold, high-impact style she’s known for.
A Stronger Connection to Her Brand—and Her Clients
Now that she’s built and customized the site herself, Jaimy says she feels more connected than ever to her brand and online presence.
“It really matches my personal vibe a lot better,” she told us, “and it doesn’t look anything like any of my local competitors’ branding.”
That connection goes beyond aesthetics. Her website now works harder for both her and her clients—collecting warm leads, converting more effectively, and guiding visitors through a clearer, more intentional experience.
In her words, the site is now serving “both me and the viewer/future client better,” which has been a major win as her business continues to grow.
Expanding Services Without Losing Focus
While seniors remain at the heart of her work, Jaimy’s services have expanded naturally over time. For years, college grads, portraits, headshots, and interior design photography came her way through word of mouth, even when they weren’t heavily marketed.
Adding a studio location allowed her to fully embrace headshots, which are now one of her favorite things to photograph. And having a website she can easily edit makes it possible to spotlight new services or pull back when needed.
“Being able to add to and edit my website easily makes it possible to market new services (or take them away),” she explained, “and be more visible online in both traditional browser searches as well as AI searches.”
Evolving a Signature Style by Letting Play Back In
Jaimy’s work has long been known for its bold, crisp, high-impact look. While she’s always maintained a vibrant but accurate editing style, lately she’s been experimenting more—especially with lighting and motion.
She’s been mixing strobes and LED lighting, using longer exposures to introduce motion blur, and leaning into a more editorial, paparazzi-inspired feel.
“It’s about bringing the ‘play’ factor back into my day-to-day work,” she said.
That sense of play has become increasingly important as trends shift—particularly in senior photography.
What Today’s Seniors Are Asking For
One of the biggest changes Jaimy is seeing now is what seniors want their photos to feel like.
“They want images that feel extremely real,” she said. Sometimes to the point of requesting out-of-focus images, motion blur, and less traditionally ‘perfect’ moments.
She describes this shift as both fun and frustrating.
“Having to let go of those long-standing rules is both difficult and freeing at the same time,” she told us. “The challenge is breaking them in an artful way that stays true to my style.”
Even with experimentation, she’s careful not to lose sight of what matters to families. That’s where her long-standing styling consultations come in—helping fine-tune each senior’s vibe while still delivering the classic, sellable images parents and grandparents love.
Blogging With Intention
Jaimy’s blog strategy has evolved just as much as her photography. While she’s long featured individual senior sessions, she’s now moving toward more intentional, long-form content built around key search terms.
Posts like “What Senior Pictures Actually Cost in Iowa City” or “My Senior Picture Process Explained” are designed to be easily scannable, informative, and discoverable—helping both humans and bots find her more easily online.
Systems, Marketing, and a Little Help From AI
When it comes to balancing creativity with business, Jaimy admits she might be in the minority.
“I’m one of those weirdos that really likes marketing,” she said.
She relies heavily on her PhotoBiz site along with her CRM, Dubsado, to move potential clients through a seamless, largely automated booking process—capturing leads while freeing up time.
Those systems allow her to focus on refining processes, learning new marketing techniques, and creating content for social media. And yes, she also gets some help from ChatGPT, which she’s trained to write and think like her.
“No, I didn’t use it to answer any of these questions,” she added with a laugh.
Looking Ahead
Right now, Jaimy is especially loving tools like PhotoBiz’s AI-powered alt text feature—something she admits she used to slack on, but now sees as an easy way to boost SEO.
Expanded blogging is firmly in her plans, and while video content is on her wishlist, she’s giving herself permission to get there when the time feels right.
What’s clear from our conversation is that Jaimy’s next chapter isn’t about chasing trends or doing more for the sake of it. It’s about building a business—and an online presence—that reflects who she is now, while staying flexible enough to grow with whatever comes next.
Jaimy’s story is proof that your photography website doesn’t have to stay frozen in time. As your style evolves, your services expand, and your confidence grows, your website should be able to grow right alongside you—without starting from scratch every few years.
With PhotoBiz, photographers can easily update their site, experiment with new layouts, showcase new services, and stay visible in both traditional search results and AI-powered discovery—without needing a custom rebuild.
Whether you’re refining your brand, expanding your offerings, or ready for a full visual refresh, PhotoBiz gives you the flexibility and tools to take control of your website and make it work for you.
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