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Welcome to this week’s edition of SeniorInspire the Newsletter!

We’ve got a really fun one for you this week, including something I’ve been working on for quite a while. We’re officially rolling out the details for the pre-sale of my new book, and I’m excited to finally start sharing it with you. More on that inside.

We’re also tackling a question that hits a little too close to home for most of us. How do you know if you’re actually good… or just getting polite compliments? It’s an honest look at confidence, growth, and figuring out where you really stand.

In Why I Love This Image, we’re featuring a sun-soaked, attitude-filled image from Michelle Ivy that just feels like spring is right around the corner.

And our Photographer of the Week is Bruce Royal, whose work continues to set the bar and inspire photographers across the industry.

Let’s get into it.

—Nick

This Week’s Question:
How do I know if I’m actually good, or just getting polite compliments?

This is one of those questions that doesn’t usually get asked out loud, but it’s sitting in the back of a lot of photographers’ minds.

You finish a session, the client says they love everything, maybe your post gets a bunch of nice comments, and somewhere in the middle of all that you’re thinking, “Okay, but are they being honest… or just being nice?”

The short answer is, it’s probably a little bit of both.

Early on, most of the feedback you get is filtered. Friends and family are rooting for you, not critiquing your lighting. Clients are reacting to how they feel about the images, not whether your composition would hold up under a microscope. Even other photographers tend to lean toward encouragement unless you specifically ask for critique.

That doesn’t mean the compliments are fake. It just means they’re not the full picture.

Where the compliments come from

It helps to understand what people are actually responding to when they say your work is “so good.”

• Friends and family love you, so you’re already starting with a bias in your favor
• Clients care most about how they look and how the experience felt
• Casual photographer feedback is usually supportive, not analytical

So yes, people are being nice. But they’re also being genuine, just through their own lens.

How you know you’re actually getting better

If you want a more honest read on where you stand, you have to look beyond compliments and start paying attention to patterns.

Here are some better indicators of real progress:

• You can consistently produce solid images, not just one or two great shots per session
• Your sessions feel more controlled and intentional
• When something goes wrong, you know how to fix it instead of hoping it fixes itself
• Your editing is becoming more consistent from shoot to shoot
• You’re starting to recognize your own mistakes before anyone else points them out

That last one is a big one. When you can look at your own work and immediately see what you’d do differently, you’re leveling up.

The part nobody loves hearing

There’s also a point in every photographer’s journey where you realize something a little uncomfortable.

If you’re only showing the best image from each session, and the rest are just okay, you’re still building consistency.

If your work looks completely different from shoot to shoot, you’re still figuring things out.

And that’s not a knock. That’s the process. Everyone goes through it, whether they admit it or not.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s reliability. It’s walking into a session knowing you can create something strong, not just hoping lightning strikes.

Where real feedback comes from

If you want to move past the “polite compliments” phase, you have to be intentional about where you get feedback.

That usually means:

• Entering competitions where images are judged more objectively
• Finding a mentor or small group that will actually critique your work
• Asking better questions than “What do you think?”

If you want real answers, try asking, “What would you change about this?” and then be ready to hear it.

A better question to ask

Instead of asking, “Am I actually good?”, a more useful question is:

• Am I better than I was six months ago?
• Am I more consistent?
• Am I solving problems faster?

Because the truth is, you don’t wake up one day and suddenly feel like a “real” photographer. Confidence comes from stacking small wins over time until the doubt gets a little quieter.

Not gone… just quieter.

One last thought

If you're newer to the business, I’ll leave you with this..

I can almost guarantee you have more artistic talent than I did when I started. I was a boring accountant, for crying out loud. Nothing about my background suggested I was about to become a photographer.

What mattered wasn’t where I started. It was whether I was willing to keep getting better.

So instead of asking yourself if you’re a good enough photographer, ask yourself something more useful.

Am I willing to commit to becoming a better photographer?

And maybe even more important, am I willing to commit to learning how to actually run a photography business?

If the answer to both of those is yes, you’re already on the right track.

Have a burning question you want answered in a future column? Head over to www.seniorinspire.com/asknick. I’ll be there manning the phones and waiting for your questions...

This week’s Photographer of the Week is Bruce Royal of Ironton, Ohio.

Bruce is one of those photographers whose work immediately grabs your attention. There’s a level of polish and intention to what he creates that really stands out, and you can tell a lot of thought goes into every image he produces.

I’ve enjoyed following his work, and I think you will too. Take a look at the images we’re sharing this week and get to know Bruce a little better in his bio below.

Hi, this is Bruce. I’m an editorial-style portrait photographer with over 15 years of experience creating fully customized senior and client sessions. Every shoot I design starts with one goal, delivering a high-end, personalized experience tailored to each client’s vision.

I don’t believe in a one-style-fits-all approach; instead, I intentionally craft each session to elevate personality, story, and style at the highest level possible.

My work is heavily inspired by fashion and editorial storytelling, blending clean, intentional lighting with creative direction to produce images that feel both timeless and magazine-worthy. From concept development to final delivery, I guide my clients through a fully directed experience so they feel confident, comfortable, and truly seen in front of the camera.

I’m also a speaker and educator, offering mentoring opportunities for photographers looking to elevate both their craft and client experience. I’ll be launching my first workshop on September 19th and 20th in Chicago alongside my good friend Cara Stawiarski, with more details coming soon.

Whether I’m working with seniors, creatives, or brands, my focus is always the same, to create images that don’t just look good, but feel elevated, purposeful, and unforgettable.

Hey! Want to be considered for our Photographer of the Week feature? Head to www.seniorinspire.com/potw and submit your work.

Remember, you don’t have to be the loudest. You don’t have to have the biggest following. You just have to be doing good work and willing to share it.

I want to let you in on something I’ve been working on for quite a while now.

This week I’ve officially opened the presale for my new book, Start Smart: The Senior Photography Business Guide I Wish I’d Had.

The book will officially release on Amazon on April 4, where it will be priced at $29.99. Until then you can save a few bucks and pre-order it directly from me for just 24.99.

But before I tell you more about the presale, I want to explain why I wrote this book in the first place.

Why I Wrote This Book

Over the years I’ve come to a realization that may or may not surprise some people.

For most photographers, artistic talent isn’t the problem.

The work I see from photographers today is incredible. Lighting, posing, styling, creativity. The artistic side of this industry is thriving.

Where many photographers struggle isn’t with their art. It’s with the business side of photography... and more specifically, the numbers.

Many photographers are running their businesses based on assumptions instead of math.

They’re guessing at what they should charge. Guessing how many sessions they need. Guessing whether their pricing is sustainable.

Part of the reason is that there are a lot of great workshops you can attend to improve your photography. Lighting workshops. Posing workshops. Editing workshops. Creative concept workshops.

But very few of them really dig into the simple math behind the numbers that make a photography business work.

You might hear general advice about raising prices or creating products, but rarely do you see someone dig below the surface and walk through the actual numbers that determine whether your business is profitable.

That’s what I wanted to change.

Honestly, this is the book I wish someone had handed me when I was first starting out. It would have saved me years of trial and error.

Who This Book Helps

The short answer? Almost everyone.

If you’re brand new and just starting a photography business, this book will help you build your pricing and structure in a way that actually supports the income you want to earn.

If you’ve been photographing seniors for years but still feel like you’re guessing when it comes to pricing and profitability, the book will help you step back and look at your business through a clearer lens.

And even if your business is doing well, the ideas in this guide will help you make sure the numbers behind your business actually support the life you want to build.

Because the goal isn’t just to create beautiful photos.

The goal is to create a business that works.

Presale Is Open This Week

As of this week, the presale for Start Smart is officially open.

During the presale you can grab the book for $24.99. When the book releases on Amazon on April 4, it's gonna cost you another fiver to get your hands on it.

So if you’d like to order your copy early and save a few dollars in the process, now’s the time.

More details and the order link are available at seniorinspire.com/startsmart.

I’m really excited to finally get this book into your hands, and I hope it helps you build the kind of photography business that’s not just creatively fulfilling, but financially solid too.

Each week, I’m spotlighting one standout image from the thousands of senior photos we’ve featured over the years — in the magazine, on Instagram, and beyond. Whether it’s the light, the vibe, or just that unexplainable something, these are the images that made me stop and say, “Wow.” 

This week’s Why I Love This Image comes from Texas photographer Michelle Ivy, and it was one of our Photographers I’d Like to Follow winners from 2021. And with spring right around the corner, this image feels like a perfect seasonal kickoff. It’s warm, it’s bright, and it absolutely leans into that sun-soaked, golden-hour magic that we all start craving this time of year.

Let’s start with the light, because wow… this is one of those images where the light is not just part of the photo, it is the photo.

That sun blasting in from behind her could have easily been a disaster. Blown highlights, washed-out tones, loss of detail, all the usual risks are there. But instead, Michelle uses it as a feature, not a flaw. The light wraps around her hair and shoulders, creating that beautiful glow while still keeping her face clean, sharp, and perfectly exposed. That balance is not easy to pull off, and it’s what separates a good image from a great one.

Then there’s the senior, who absolutely owns this frame.

Her attitude is spot on. There’s confidence here, but it doesn’t feel forced or over-the-top. It’s strong, a little bit fierce, and completely in control. The pose, with her arms raised and framing her face, adds to that sense of power without feeling stiff. She looks like she belongs in front of the camera, and more importantly, like she knows it.

The styling fits the scene beautifully. The soft floral top paired with the jewelry gives just enough detail without overwhelming the image. It feels fresh, seasonal, and perfectly in tune with that spring vibe. Nothing feels overdone. Everything works together to support the overall mood instead of competing with it.

And let’s talk about the setting, because it quietly does a lot of work here.

The architectural elements in the background, combined with that warm Texas light, give the image a strong sense of place. It’s clean, structured, and just urban enough to add interest without pulling attention away from the subject. The lines from the railing subtly lead you back toward her, keeping your eye exactly where it should be.

Another thing I really appreciate is the color harmony. The warm tones from the sunlight, the soft pastels in her outfit, and the neutral tones in the background all blend together seamlessly. Nothing feels out of sync. It’s cohesive in a way that makes the image feel polished without feeling over-edited.

If I had to add one more thing, it’s the way Michelle handles depth and separation. Even with a bright background and architectural elements behind her, the subject still pops. There’s a clear distinction between her and the environment, which keeps the focus exactly where it belongs.

At the end of the day, this image just feels good. It’s confident, it’s warm, and it captures that perfect in-between moment where winter is fading and something brighter is on the horizon.

So yeah, that’s why I love this image.

Are you teaching a workshop on the horizon, I’d love to help you spread the word. NO CHARGE - No strings.

Just send me the details and a graphic, and I’ll get it in front of a bunch of senior photographers who might want in.

SeniorInspire the Newsletter goes out to about 2,500 senior photographers across the country, and nearly half of them actually open it (the rest are slackers who probably don't go to workshops either).

Anyway, just reply to this email with the details and a graphic, and I’ll get it in front of a bunch of senior photographers who might just want in.

Simple as that.

If you made it this far and have any opinions or ideas I'd love to hear it. Good, bad, whatever. Just hit reply or send me an email and let me know what you think. I love the feedback!

Thanks for reading all the way to the end. I appreciate you sticking with me.

Quick reminder... my new book, Start Smart: The Senior Photography Business Guide I Wish I’d Had When I Started, is now available for pre-order. If you’ve ever felt unsure about the business side of what you’re doing (and let’s be honest, we all have), this one’s for you. More details coming soon, but I’m excited to finally get this into your hands.

This week’s Tune of the Week is “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash, which feels like the perfect soundtrack for that question we talked about this week: Am I actually good at this… or are people just being nice?

We’ve all been there. That moment of doubt. That internal back-and-forth.

But here’s the truth... you don’t get better by leaving. You get better by staying, learning, refining, and putting your work out there again.

🎧 Should I Stay or Should I Go – The Clash

See you next week. Stick with it.

Nick
SeniorInspire

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