Finding Your Niche
- Feb 10, 2017
- 4 min read
Recently, I announced I would no longer be doing weddings as part of my “niche”, nor would I be photographing families or children on the regular.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I have a few exceptions to the rule. A few close friends have asked me to photograph their weddings/engagements, and they know exactly what my style is, and they don’t care. They know what I’m about, and that’s why they asked me.
But, bear in mind, photography isn’t my “full time career” yet. I’m transitioning to it, yes, but I still have to work in order to buy equipment/software, and I still have to pay my bills. I’m living below the poverty line as it is. That being said, in finding my niche and transitioning, I’ve discovered things about myself that have helped me to develop my skills and focus on what I need to work on. In the past year, I’ve developed a lot as a photographer, and that’s also included realizing what I’m willing to put up with. Forgive me if this blog post sounds a bit stuck up, but it’s my hope that by discussing the real problems of photography with other photographers and enthusiasts, we might realize that there are more ways to approach the field than previously thought. So, with that being said, here are a few of my discoveries, which I hope will be helpful to all of you:
1.) Wedding photography is an expensive business.
I get it. Wedding photography seems to be kind of the pinnacle for photography, right? I know several wedding photographers who are insanely talented (And I’ll link them here, here, and here, so you can see for yourselves how awesome they are), but what people don’t really notice is that wedding photography is expensive for a reason. This article on PetaPixel gives a really awesome explanation as to why wedding photographers prices are “wack”. Photographers have to account for studio time, editing, equipment, time, editing software, gas for their vehicle, rent, insurance, etc. Plus, small business owners (like wedding photographers) have to pay taxes quarterly. When you think of ALL the things that wedding photographers have to do (plus bridal fairs, advertising, etc), it makes sense that a photographer would charge $2,000-$4,000 or more. And frankly, to undercharge them is kind of an insult. The LAST wedding I shot, I was there for 9 hours, on my feet ALL day, wrangling people. Now, if you know me and know my various health issues, you’ll know that being on my feet for that long and constantly moving sapped my energy and I was down for two days. And THEN, I had to deal with drama from the clients. Wedding photographers have to put up with the worst out of people all the time. Be nice to your wedding photographers, and don’t gripe when they give you their price packages. They’re priced that way for a reason.
2.) Wedding and family photographers also have to wear the marketing hat, too.
I mentioned this briefly, but really and truly, being in the wedding/family photography business means that you have to be able to market your services. You have to be able to successfully network, and work with clients to market your product. Not that various other photography doesn’t have some degree of networking, but in the wedding/family photography business, you’re competing with lots of other photographers. I’ll be really frank: I do not have the marketing skills that other excellent wedding photographers have. I’m naturally an introvert, and I’m naturally shy, and the idea of putting myself out there gives me the kind of anxiety that makes me want to vomit. I know I have to network, but I’ll be perfectly honest, wedding and family photographers need a specific type of personality. I do not have that personality. I LOVE the personalities of wedding photographers, though. Generally, they’re some of the nicest, warmest people you’ll ever meet. I have a healthy amount of respect for those folks who put the work in day after day to cater to their clients.
3.) Art photography fits my personal style and personality.
I can be gregarious. I can be outgoing. But for the most part, I’m very, very introverted. I know what I want; I also know what I don’t want. I don’t have the personality for wedding or family photography full time. I’m a storyteller by nature, and I want that to be evident in my photographs. When I started taking photos, I had a story to tell. I’m much better with written words than I am verbal communication (I mumble and say um a lot). I think it’s because I don’t quite know how to verbally articulate what I want/how I perceive things. Also, I have an affinity for all things macabre. That goes along with my storytelling; perhaps it’s why I love black and white photos so much.
As a photographer, you have to decide YOUR style. Your niche. Do you like sports photography? Do you like weddings? What’s your personality? Are you outgoing and bubbly, or do you keep to yourself? How much money can you reasonably spend on equipment, gas, taxes, insurance, etc? Do you prefer film, or digital? What’s your preferred software? Do you want to blog, or is writing not a strong point? You have to think about these things, because that’s what helps you evolve as a photographer. And, it will help you decide which direction you should pursue. As for me, moving forward with this photo series is something I’m really looking forward to. I’m looking forward to giving a visual representation to an area of my life that is so dear to me. And, it’s my hope that everyone else will enjoy it, too.
Finding your niche is critical with anything you do in life, but it’s especially true in art. We have to find what best suits our interests and talents, and allows us to grow in our professional careers. Now that I’ve figured out what my style is, I can move forward in other aspects of my career. I have a healthy amount of respect for other photographers and how much money/time they put into everything they do. And I’m infinitely thankful for all the photographers who have helped me along the way, because their advice and tutelage has got me where I am currently.
Here are a few photos from this week! Stay tuned as I begin to transition from this blog to an actual website, designed by Hussar Research!
-Amanda
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