What skills do you need to impress photography employers and clients?

+1 on what Erkmen said about fundamental skills. Now this is coming from someone in the corporate space, but I like to hire photographers with good foundational knowledge - knowledge based on principles, theories, and concepts instead of a plethora of tips, hacks, etc. There's a difference between knowing WHAT mode/settings to input or use and knowing WHY a certain mode or setting needs to be used.

Many photographers shy away from the fundemental technical aspects of photography and yet want to gain software skills or try to emulate images that they are drawn to without considering the basics. Its good to revise your knowledge of exposure,camera,lens and lighting (natural and flash) so you can feel more confident. A good tip is to occasionally run through your camera's menu, try different apertures on your lenses and play around with exposure compensation and composition. You need to challenge yourself when you're not actually shooting something important and reflect on your results. Youtube learning is great but developing your own understanding and making notes or building a workbook will be beneficial. Every day is a learning day.

Unlike technical skills which are objective, e.g. you can measure your progress step by step. Creativity is subjective and open to interpretation. Some people believe that you are the best critic of your own work but you should also consider sharing your creative images with others, not only online but with people you trust. Building a creative portfolio takes time and one of the most challenging lessons is when your favourite images, which you are very proud of, do not resonate with others. This can be frustrating but not everyone will see what you see and this makes life tricky but also interesting. Finding your style is important, it could be the angles you like to use, the moments you capture or the aesthetic quality of image you make.

As a professional photographer or any professional creative. The business skills mentioned go a lot deeper. Going deeper within marketing yourself, you have to understand exactly how you're going to market yourself or company. Knowing which target audience you want to market your work to. How does your website, social, and personal branding reflect on how you're going to be perceived. If you just showcase your work, that's normally not enough. Position yourself as an expert, showcase that you recognize the strategy behind the photos. Why do they need photos, and what result is this going to achieve? This advice goes especially for photographers seeking work with brands & businesses, but can still apply to individuals as well.

A head for business and a creative mind are very different ways of thinking so if you struggle with the business approach, set aside a day a week to get good at business. Understanding , cashflow, admin, paperwork (invoicing, contracts, licensing, etc) costings, and being able to price a job correctly. There is a lot to learn but don't let is overwhelm you and think of it as your own little business course. There are some excellent resources online which will be valuable. e.g. The AOP in the Uk is an amazing resource and provides much the standard contract paperwork most photographers need to be using. If you can get ahead with your knowledge of business, you'll most likely make more profit and this will give you more time to be creative.

Working with a team & your client cannot go overlooked. As you progress in photography, your business with the right marketing & business skills mentioned will grow. That means you may need more people on-set to help you achieve the result. If you work with brands/businesses, it can be as many as 20 or more on-set. You as the photographer, have to be able to collaborate with everyone, while also maintaining control on-set, making sure the shoot is being executed on time & on-budget. This applies to any shoot, but the more people, the more crucial this skill is. Also as mentioned, you need to learn to take feedback. More eyes on your photos means less room for error, everyone has a chance to notice something that you may not have noticed.

In my experience it’s usually egos that waste the most valued time that could’ve been used understanding then utilizing strengths each artist the model/photographer brought to set that day. We can all be confident in our crafts, but it’s the people handing part that make us pros. Skipping the meaningless part of proving why u both deserve to be in the room, & instead exuding powerful pieces reflecting why u both deserve working together satisfies all artist associated & even better create powerful familiar professional relationships.

I agree with David. I would add that being flexible is also crucial as things can change at short notice on a shoot, no matter how well planned. Also sometimes you have to step up and lead from the front especially if plans change. Being assertive and showing willingness to take the creative lead is an important skill.