Vickie Black and Senior Style Guide

Vickie Black and Senior Style Guide: Building Community, Connection, and Confidence in the Photography Industry

If you’ve ever felt like entrepreneurship can be lonely—or that you’re navigating your business without a clear roadmap—this episode is going to resonate deeply.

In this episode of the Redefine Business Podcast, Brittni Schroeder sits down with Vickie Black, the founder of Senior Style Guide (SSG), to talk about her journey from photographer to industry leader, and how she built one of the most recognized communities for senior photographers.

From starting a blog with no clear monetization plan to launching a magazine, hosting events, and building a thriving membership, Vickie’s story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the boldest decisions lead to the biggest breakthroughs.

Meet Vickie Black

Vickie Black is the founder of Senior Style Guide (SSG), a community built to support and connect senior photographers in the photography industry. Launched as a blog in 2011 and the first senior industry print magazine in 2012, SSG has grown into a comprehensive platform featuring print and digital education, online events, Facebook communities, shootouts, The PUSH Conference, destination events, and the HOT 100—an annual contest highlighting exceptional senior photography across the globe.

Through every facet of Senior Style Guide, Vickie remains dedicated to educating photographers, creating authentic connection, and raising the standard of senior photography worldwide.

From Record Store Owner to Photographer

Vickie’s entrepreneurial journey didn’t begin in photography—it started with owning a record store. After recognizing the shift in the music industry with the rise of digital technology, she made a smart exit and began exploring photography full-time.

Like many photographers, she started by saying “yes” to everything—pets, weddings, babies, and more. But over time, she realized that photographing weddings wasn’t aligned with the life she wanted. The long weekends away from her family pushed her to reevaluate her path.

That’s when everything changed.

After photographing her first senior session (despite having no prior experience), she quickly fell in love with that niche. It offered the creativity she craved without the long-term commitments of weddings.

The Power of Choosing a Niche

One of the biggest turning points in Vickie’s business came when she made a bold decision: to stop photographing weddings entirely and focus solely on senior photography.

This wasn’t an easy choice. At the time, she had weddings booked and a steady income stream. But she knew that splitting her focus was holding her back.

The moment she fully committed, everything shifted.

She gained clarity. She found direction. And most importantly, she created space to build something bigger.

Starting Senior Style Guide

With a clear vision in mind, Vickie launched Senior Style Guide as a blog in 2011. Her idea was simple: feature senior photographers and create a space dedicated to that niche.

At the time, the concept wasn’t widely understood—and not everyone believed in it.

In fact, she faced criticism from others in the industry. Some questioned her branding, her strategy, and how she would ever monetize a platform that promoted other photographers.

But instead of letting that feedback stop her, she used it as fuel.

She continued to show up consistently, feature photographers, and refine her vision.

And then came the next big leap.

Turning a Blog Into a Magazine

After about a year of running the blog, Vickie considered shutting it down. Growth was slow, and the future felt uncertain.

But instead of quitting, she pivoted.

She decided to launch a print magazine.

With no prior experience in publishing, she taught herself how to design it, reworking it multiple times until it was ready. When it finally launched, it became a defining moment—not just for her business, but for the entire senior photography industry.

What started as a simple blog transformed into a respected platform that photographers aspired to be featured in.

Community Over Competition

One of the most powerful themes in this episode is the importance of community.

Both Brittni and Vickie reflect on the photography industry and how it can sometimes feel competitive or even cutthroat. But they also emphasize the value of finding your people—the ones who support you, challenge you, and celebrate your success.

Vickie shares how a group of photographers, who initially offered tough (and sometimes harsh) feedback, ultimately helped her grow. Their honesty pushed her to improve, and over time, they became a source of encouragement and support.

This idea of “rising tides lift all ships” is woven throughout the conversation.

Because at the end of the day, success isn’t about competing—it’s about collaborating.

The Importance of Authenticity and Transparency

Another key takeaway from this episode is the importance of being real.

Vickie and Brittni both discuss how frustrating it can be when people present themselves one way online but show up completely differently in real life.

Authenticity matters.

So does transparency.

Vickie shares stories of mistakes and failures—like showing up to a session without her gear—and how those moments actually built stronger connections within her community.

Because when you’re honest about your journey, people trust you more.

And that trust is what builds lasting relationships and successful businesses.

Evolving With the Industry

Senior Style Guide has never stayed stagnant.

Over the years, it has evolved to include:

• A print magazine
• Educational resources
• Online events
• Conferences like PUSH
• Destination experiences
• A thriving online community

Most recently, Vickie has expanded into a membership model, designed to provide photographers with ongoing education, support, and connection.

This membership brings together multiple industry experts, offering diverse perspectives and real-time learning opportunities.

It’s a reflection of what the industry truly needs: not just education, but connection.

Building a Business That Aligns With Your Life

One of the most refreshing parts of this conversation is Vickie’s perspective on success.

She emphasizes that building a business isn’t just about making money—it’s about creating a life you actually enjoy.

For her, that meant stepping away from weddings, focusing on what she loved, and building something that allowed her to be present for her family.

It also meant taking risks.

Leaping without knowing exactly how things would turn out.

And trusting that the process would lead her where she needed to go.