How can you decide whether to focus on a broad or narrow photography niche?

Seven years in and I’m still all over the place with my photography and videography. I’ve found, creating a brand doesn’t necessarily mean you have to narrow your focus, but rather have that unique element of your brand present in all the work you do. That’s the hard part, making your work uniquely recognizable. I separate my work into creative and commercial categories. This allows me to build passion and try new things on creative projects while building clientele and income with commercial work. I have found that the 2 categories are closely related and vitally important to the longevity of your business and brand.

If you're doing everything?–?you're doing nothing. Niche is like an up-close face and in focus – the client will see and understand you from the very first second. Choose something you are really good at or truly passionate about. Ideally, if it's the same thing and position yourself this way. I'm a headshot photographer. I also shoot portraits, I can shoot real estate, and I don't mind doing reportage?–?but I don't put it on my description page. Because headshots are what I'm doing better than anything, faster, and get paid more than for anything else. So this has the highest priority. A client sees that I am dedicated to headshot photography, my portfolio is consistent and he/she knows what to expect.

- Learn new skills - Double down on the acquired mastery - Repeat Exploration of the unknown is part of the human condition. It expands horizons and compels learning. Nomadic, curious interests can be tempered by following our Northstar and waypoints. That inner curiosity motivates us can also erode time and resources if not harnessed. Macro, social, event, sports, documentary, journalistic, boudoir and landscape photography all have a unique customer base and require very specific skills. We can’t master all of these. A good mentor can help you sort this out and define your approach to the several years of work that lie ahead. Know how to ensure your joy is fulfilled and you have a crystal clear professional brand. How can I help?

I am not a professional Photographer but I love to capture moments which brought me joy. So, pictures that I can tell a story about when I converse with friends are my favourite.

Your Location. Another factor that you could consider when choosing a photography niche is your location. An example is if you stay near an industrial area, you could consider choosing to do Commercial and Industrial Photography whereas if you are near a beach, you could consider doing Elopement, engagement and wedding photography. Your location will hence attract clients of a give niche to you as a photographer.

When you're just starting out as a photographer, it makes sense to dip your toes in more niches. Experiment, see which ones you like and would like to continue to work in. You will also see which niche you work in more customers are drawn to. It's possible to not pursue a particular niche for business reasons and just because you enjoy it.

Try everything and discover what motivates you. Seriously. Generalists don’t do anything extremely well because they are not inspired by everything and it shows in their work. For young men, look past what is “cool” and look deeper. Cool is a fad and will pass.

If you haven't got the skill, you must practice. To shortcut how much you need to practice, take courses. It takes both to become excellent at your job as a photographer.

Your skills and experience: Broad niche: Starting broad allows you to experiment, learn new skills, and build a diverse portfolio. Narrow niche: Focusing on a specific area lets you hone your skills and develop a unique style, potentially attracting clients with specialized needs.

- Understand your map and journey - Think and choose wisely - Consistency matters Consider the two main pathways: a branded house OR a house of brands. Each has its own complexities to consider. Your answer to this question guides your decisions and has both benefits and challenges. P&G products abound on the grocery shelf spaces, a house of brands. Marriott would be similar in the hotel space. Apple focuses on specific products and experience, a branded house. Hybrid approaches also exist. I am curious. Are you masterful in a specific photographic genre OR are you a general purpose photographer doing well across several genres? A mentor can help you sort through the issues, passions and pathways. How can I help you?

Before selecting your niche, do some market research. What is the competition in your area like? What do the customers need? Doing this before you get started will save you a lot of headaches.

Your audience and demand: Broad niche: Wider reach means more potential clients, but also more competition. Narrow niche: A smaller, targeted audience can lead to higher engagement and potentially higher rates, but the market might be limited.

Audience and demand should drive your decision on what niche to focus on. Take into consideration your location, market demand, and saturation. If you want to do wedding photography and you live in a rural town with a population of 300, you're probably better off pivoting to another niche.

- Passion - Fuel - Sustainability Businesses grow when people serve a niche by creating a valuable product and experience through consistency, trust, and value. A focus on profits will fade ... for everyone. Know your customer and how your business's solution serves them. LVMH serves specific customers, while Walmart addresses another customer base. A wide range of addressable markets exists in photography. Our time, resources and skill sets guide how successful we will be. The bottom line: the passion you bring will fuel your resilience as you grow your business governed by resource constraints. Create a reliable solution for your customers and a valuable business will manifest. How can I support your journey?

Depuis 2019, je me suis intensivement formée et spécialisée dans la photographie d'entreprise, qui est devenue ma passion et mon objectif principal en 2024. Je m'attache à mettre en avant les entreprises, leurs compétences uniques, et les moments clés, les guidant également dans l'élaboration d'une stratégie de communication visuelle forte. Cette spécialisation me permet de fournir des visuels qui parlent et qui racontent l'histoire de la marque de manière impactante.

You must consider your resources and budget. Photography can be extremely expensive, but it doesn't have to be. Gear is the most expensive factor in most cases, but travel expenses can become a problem for some photographers. Invest in good quality gear, but do your research before you purchase anything. Do not buy more gear before you have made sure the gear you are currently using isn't already sufficient for what you are trying to achieve.

Your resources and budget: Broad niche: Requires less specific equipment and potentially less travel, but marketing to a wider audience can be costlier. Narrow niche: May require specialized gear and travel, but targeted advertising could be cheaper.

Je suis équipée de matériel professionnel de pointe, ce qui optimise mon efficacité lors des séances photo et le traitement des images post-production. Je propose aussi les services complémentaires d'une équipe de professionnels, incluant maquilleuse, coiffeuse, et conseillère en image, pour assurer que chaque client se présente sous son meilleur jour. Le budget dépendra de la demande et des options proposées.

- Sales cycle - Lead density - Customer urgency Can your budget sustain long sales cycles, fewer qualified leads and a lower sense of purchase urgency? Weddings, graduations etc. have specific calendar dates that define the sales cycle, increase the customer’s sense of urgency and a never ending pool of leads. Customers looking for that perfect piece of fine art with the right story and the emotional connection will have a very different profile. Align passion, cash reserves and sales expectations. Working in one genre often supports another passion. Are the brand experiences similar and consistent? Clyde Butcher is not likely to be an active mobile phone photographer. Consistency and sustainability matter. How can I help you?

Your personality plays a role in what your niche in the end will be. Try different kinds of things and you will, over time, find what you like.

Do what you love! Don't worry about the business side of it. Just have fun and make art that you love. The rest will take care of itself.

Your niche will come naturally and overtime. It may come faster to other people. For me, I got my start in skateboard photography, and did it for many years, but realized it was very difficult to make a living. I was shooting all types of jobs. I took anything that came my way and learned overtime, what I hated to do and what I liked to do. It is OK to be a generalist but as a rule of thumb, you can make way more money as a specialist. Don’t be too hard on yourself trying to find your niche. I would avoid advertising myself saying that you are a specialist and list many things you ”specialize in” it is a red flag if you say “ I specialize in pet portraits, weddings, automotive, and Food” Find your niche by following opportunities or joy.

Your personality and interests: Broad niche: Offers variety and flexibility, but might lack focus. Narrow niche: Allows you to deep-dive into a specific passion, but could feel limiting over time.

Ma priorité reste la photographie corporate, mais j'ai démarré en photographie d'événement familial, paysage, architecture, mariage, famille, etc.

I have always found that being open to different genre brings more challenges and more creativity to the projects. After more than 20 years creating imagery you will see a diverse portfolio, as I am always adapting and growing.

Be aware of the history of photography and art - and literature. The richer your knowledge, the more informed your images will be.

Acredito, que nos dias atuais, a facilidade de adapta??o para diferentes tipos de fotografia, é um diferencial, o que também gera credibilidade e confian?a. No mesmo momento que consigo atender a demanda de um cliente dentro de seu restaurante - por exemplo- também consigo atendê-lo em um evento familiar. Quanto mais amplo o nicho de fotografia, mais fácil se adaptar às tendências.

Your flexibility and adaptability: Broad niche: Easier to adapt to changing trends or client needs. Narrow niche: May require more resilience if the niche becomes saturated or trends shift.

- Be Agile - Be Open - Be Curious A community’s interests, aesthetics and art will evolve. Reflect, learn, and stay future focused. Look for where the trend is moving and adjust course. Moving towards that building next wave brings new opportunities. Push the boundaries of your genre. Inspire others by being creative and innovative with your photography. Some waves will make it to the shore and others will wash out. Paddle out towards the ones that look promising and enjoy the ride. It will end. All that means is that we need to swim towards the next (maybe even better) trend. Enjoy the ride. How can I help you find your path?

In today’s world of multidisciplinary directions and approaches globally, both are necessary. Learning across media and nontraditional sources engage new potentials that influence current and future works on all levels. Mastering specific approaches while broadening future horizons.

Algo muito importante dentro de negócios em geral hoje em dia, é a conex?o com pessoas. Isso é um diferencial muito grande. A fotografia n?o é diferente. Tente se conectar com o máximo de pessoas possível, todos s?o potenciais clientes.

Having more than just photo skills, I've been able to keep the fridge filled and the lights on. In my rural area, I not only do photography but have taken my skills in typesetting and graphic design plus production into additional paychecks while making it easier for my customer to fulfill their needs. Keep your education going beyond the bounds of simply pixels and light!

Ultimately, the best choice is personal. Consider all these factors and ask yourself: Do you enjoy exploring different styles or prefer focusing on one? How much time and resources can you invest in learning and specialized equipment? What kind of clients and projects do you envision working with?

It's like trying different flavors of ice cream before picking your favorite. Start with all sorts of photography to learn and enjoy. As you get better, you might discover what you love the most – like taking pictures at parties, of families, or beautiful landscapes. Gradually, you can focus more on that specific style that makes you happiest. It's like finding the perfect ice cream flavor after trying a bit of everything!