What are the essential skills for digital photography success in the creator economy?

It's smart to have a niche when it comes to your photography business, but it is crucial to expand beyond it. Before you decide which niche you want to belong to, you need to play around with your talent, and explore every aspect of it to ensure you make the right choice. Aside from allowing you to get a taste of what every genre has to offer, it will expand your knowledge library, and allow you to adapt to any unforeseeable situation by cross using your skills.

There is more than one way to niche as a creator and it is important to remember that the purpose of having a niche is to make your life easier, make your marketing more effective, and help you attract projects and clients you love. It is not forcing you to limit your passion or to exclude opportunities. In fact having a niche often helps attract projects outside of your main area of focus. The three ways creators can niche are: 1. usage - who is using your creations and what they are using it for 2. subject - what do you create, what is the main focus of your creating 3. style - what is your specific and consistent style Depending on where you are in your journey you may have different priorities for your niche.

A way to discovering your niche in digital photography in 2023 is to take a picture of your surroundings. You can take a picture inside your home or outside. And then take notice on themes that are important to you. Once you have established a them you like try to hone in on this theme and practice ways to create work in this theme you enjoy slowly refining your skills and work.

honing your editing skills to refine and enhance your portfolio's visual impact is essential for digital photography success. Showcasing versatility across different styles and techniques within your niche amplifies your appeal to a broader audience. Additionally, actively seeking feedback from peers or mentors to continually improve and evolve your portfolio ensures its relevance and competitiveness within the dynamic creator economy landscape.

A portfolio is a collection of your best work and this is true however your portfolio is a small portion of the photographs you have taken. So also incorporate more than just your photography. Create a vision board for the type of work you are interested in creating in the future. And this can be done with your photographs and in how you decide to design your portfolio. Make sure it’s a complete package meaning your portfolio is accessible both digitally and in a physical form. Curate your portfolio according to what is important to you because how you curate your work tells a story as well.

Look, growing a network requires meetups, collaboration, workshops and time. Take the time to continue your work and remain consistent. People will take notice of your work when they are ready. Leave room for finding inspiration for your craft. Taking a moment to expose yourself to something new will make your work better.

Effectively leveraging social media platforms for exposure and engagement is crucial. Knowing how to showcase your work, engage with your audience, and stay consistent across different platforms is key.

It's important to know the market price and bid accordingly. Also, we shouldn't forget our worth and not bid less as quality content needs skills

For me, one of the richest rewards of photography is the constant opportunity to learn and explore new methods and technologies. From the days of my teenage years laundry room darkroom in my parent's basement, for the last 50 years, photography has fed my curiosity, and my desire to learn. Half of my career was film-based, half has been digital and all of it has been about continuous learning. Learn the tools of the trade. They are potent creative resources and are worth mastering. Embrace the challenges and enjoy constantly learning.