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4 Reasons Why You NEED to Specialize in Photography | Master Your Craft
Рет қаралды 17,054
Күн бұрынWhen pursuing photography as a career, having too many genres in your portfolio can make it difficult to grow and get quality clients. In this video, Pye discusses 4 reasons why you need to specialize if you're looking to build a successful photography business.
Time Stamps:
Intro: 0:00 - 1:24
Reason #1: 1:25 - 2:43
Reason #2: 2:44 - 3:52
Reason #3: 3:53 - 6:19
Reason #4: 6:20 - 9:53
Outro: 9:54 - 10:15
Welcome to “Master Your Craft,” a photography educational series by SLR Lounge, exclusively on Adorama TV. From gear advice to in-depth instruction, our goal is to give you practical, real-world advice to help you master the craft of photography. Whether you’re a beginner just learning your camera, an amateur looking to become pro, or a professional seeking inspiration, this is the series you’ve been looking for to help you become a better photographer.
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THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!
@slrlounge Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching! What area of photography do you specialize in?
@mengkehsiehphoto Жыл бұрын
I love portrait photography! Thank you for the video, it's very informative :)
@timd4524 Жыл бұрын
You know I can't quite pin down a specific name for it. It ranges from natural macro photography to what I would call macro landscape, I guess. Ive tried to pinpoint a name for it, but that seems hazy. Unlike the person sitting on top of the hill capturing those majestic mountain ranges, I'm the guy on his stomach capturing the tiny streams running through a forest or getting that different angle from under the fallen tree. If I can get an animal of some kind in there, even better. I'm thinking of investing in knee pads this fall 🤔. Need to remember that orange vest during hunting season also. Super important.
@xiqueira Жыл бұрын
When you're just starting out how do you feel out what you're interested i. without spreading out too thin and spending too much time outside of specializing? I have an interest in a few areas and I'm good and some another one OK and just learning the ropes right now. It's a life long interest but now during second stage of life, I'm trying to transition something professional.
@enriqueoutdoors Жыл бұрын
Maternity Photographer
@timd4524 Жыл бұрын
@@xiqueira Just starting out take pictures everywhere. Eventually you'll find yourself drawn to one or two subjects you have the most passion for. You'll be able to tell by your picture count. This will help give an idea at least on where you might want to concentrate your time and money also. Not really a need to spend money on those light systems if you find you're more of a nature photographer. Then again you probably won't need to fork over the several thousand dollars for that extreme zoom lens if you find yourself into portraits. Play around a lot in the beginning. You'll find your niche. Have fun.
@alanberry4919 Жыл бұрын
It is a good idea to specialize for the majority of your income. However, it is also a good idea to learn other genres to a certain degree because you can improve a specialty even further. For example, learning how to do landscapes can improve on location wedding or family portraits. It would not be necessary to specialize in landscape photography though. It is simply another tool and understanding of light and how it and a scene comes together.
@hangtime6743 Жыл бұрын
I only did action sports. During pandemic I learned portrait and ofc. Now I can do sports portraits, green screen stuffs for sports, etc. So glad I decided to learn portrait and ocf.
@meechcreativellc Жыл бұрын
It's so funny, because for point #4 I had a marketing professional tell me the exact opposite where website & social media were concerned. They questioned why each of my "brands" had separate websites, social media, etc. that it was fine and in fact beneficial to have it all in one place. For example say a real estate agent visits that "brand" of mine to find packages for a property, but sees I also shoot excellent branding, or actor and corporate headshots...they'll in turn add that to their "to do" list and inquire about updating their headshot. Same with my umbrella "creative" company which is just that. I shoot primarily for the creative and performing arts, dancers, headshots, theatrical and live events, etc. as well as lifestyle and branding portraits and I didn't want that mixed in with my "other other" brand of being a cinematic drone pilot for hire by production companies, and flying Orth 3D Mapping. So, I thought I was doing it properly as to not appear as a generalist. I kept them all separate online and as dba's, but under the same LLC umbrella. They convinced me to soft integrate all of it...still with some visual online autonomy, but acknowledging it was all one company more than capable of providing these photography and videography services. Anywho, I think it really depends on the market you live in and what is supported by whom. If someone wants to be for example "the best headshot photog in Dallas" then great, go for it. Focus on and market only to that. But there are at least 50 other photogs with that same vision in Dallas...and if I lived there, in that competition, I'm mentioning loudly everywhere that "by the way, I ALSO DO..." all of these other things! Great video as always.
@lukejc1 Жыл бұрын
I totally see why specializing is important. The problem with specializing, however, is that you are putting your eggs in one basket. Remember in 2020 when weddings stopped? All the wedding photographers were left scrambling. Then all the influencers who previously spoke of the importance of specialization were suddenly talking about the importance of diversification. Those of us who are generalists were not hit as hard. I am a full time photographer who shoots weddings, engagements, real estate, families, and seniors and I have shot each discipline for years. I even have a gallery where I sell landscape prints. Am I the very best at each one? Nope! But I deliver a product that my clients are happy with and that's what actually matters as a professional trying to support your family. You don't need to master everything to be successful.
@montazownianr1 Жыл бұрын
Of course, and doing every kind of photography, you training your skills.
@Julius_S Жыл бұрын
I really like this video and appreciate all of the very salient points you make. I just want to offer a my own experience as a counterpoint. I would consider myself a "generalist," and my website really reflects that, although I don't say that word anywhere on it. It leads with portraiture but encompasses products, architecture, events, commissioned landscape and architecture, as well as weddings and a fine art print store. But I think the thing that separates my business from your description of a generalist's experience is that other than having a simple website, I don't advertise. Like at all - 100% of my business is through word-of-mouth. My wedding clients come to me after seeing my landscape photography and wanting something that they don't see in wedding specialist' portfolios, but that they do see in mine. My university jobs are a great fit because I am a one-stop-shop for their staff portraiture, candid classroom images, and architectural-focused marketing materials. Small businesses like working with me because I can do their product, their retail space, their staff portraits, and their shopping experience in one cohesive voice. I volunteer as photo director for a local festival and a radio station which has gotten me work with large bands like the Goo Goo Dolls, Indigo Girls, Andrew Bird and others. I think being a generalist can be very difficult, and admittedly I work much more locally than I do nationally or internationally. But I also LOVE my community and am happy to be embedded within it, and to represent it through photographs. Just wanted to share my experience. I do feel the pull to specialize, and may work toward that in the future, but I'm currently paying my bills exclusively as a generalist and really enjoy it.
@AtlanticPicture Жыл бұрын
I specialized for my main income, but still shoot everything else for fun. In it for photography not a genre. 😊 5:46 actually.. (aside from the super rich) most ppl care about Quality:Price. I got your point, but there's absolutely no guarantee that a (n architectural) job will go to the one doing 1 thing only instead of someone who's doing 2-4. Depends on the body of work, price, delivery time, connection/personality.. etc..
@photo2000 Жыл бұрын
Specialist service offering is great, provided there is enough clients and work our there to support that business model. Been a generalist for over 15 years, and I move with what work is available, and rarely turn down a job enquiry... unless it's very specialised, and above my capability, and then suggest client finds another creative. I studied at university to create a base of knowledge of my craft, and have been improving it even since with on job experience. Being a generalist has exposed my to a broad range of problems which I've had to solve. If your fortunate enough to be an in demand specialist, congratulations. I'm like creating a variety of imagery for clients in different imagery. Each to their own, and I think there is a place for both business models. 👍
@johnleighdesigns Жыл бұрын
Amazing to hear your thoughts on this and adds to those Ive heard on this topic and I have to agree with most of this and certainly the time factor and resources point is so true. My main focus is portrait work I love coming up with ideas and lighting but I have also been involved with product shots and real estate as side projects. A few things in my experience can put a spanner in the machine in terms of trying to specialise. The price point and availability of a "specialist" can be offputting for some clients. For example I dont consider myself a shoe specialist but have done a lot of photo, video and motion work for a shoe retailer as he prefers to come to me as Im more available, price effective, innovative in creative shots and communicative than his previous photographer. Also whilst I have a joy in creating portrait/fashion/concept images for my target audience of actors, models, musicians it doesnt pay the bills as these days many in these groups are able to get by with their own self created images - indeed many prefer the "home made" selfie looks tht they feel is best depicting on the spot real life than professional looking studio or outdoor portrait work. So whilst I have come to believe that specialising in one area of photography, finding a niche market interest would be ideal from a marketing perspective I feel that the if I could focus on say people or products I would still allow myself to be available for one or the other as suits the market, incoming projects requests and potentially other photography work that someone might enquire about. I have a fear to focus in some ways as I love so many different areas but would be great to be able to settle on one thing and go all in to focus on that.
@michaelmullins6396 Жыл бұрын
Awesome real talk right here. “You’re not as good as you think you are”. 💯 The Oracle had it right in The Matrix….”know thyself”.
@davecarrera Жыл бұрын
Point 4: As a "generalist" Have multiple specialized websites ;-)
@toddstrong1353 Жыл бұрын
Having several websites isn't out of the question for specificity of genre. So, you direct your clients to each website. I would think that would work.
@TimewithLivi Жыл бұрын
Love this! I’m a fashion and portrait photographer and it’s been so much better having that clarity for myself and the public.
@ejacks3 Жыл бұрын
Pye, Thank you. 🙏🏽 Most of the photography videos we see on KZfaq are solely about gear and photography techniques. Rarely do we see videos about the business side. Informative videos about the nuts and bolts of starting, growing and sustaining a photography business are few and far between. Thank you again and I greatly look forward to further insight that you have to offer. Regards, ECJ
@andrewelder2739 Жыл бұрын
There have been a LOT of videos about this lately by prominent photography content creators. It's good stuff to think about, but I don't understand that last point about a potential customer seeing a website that offers multiple types of photography, and assuming they would only use it if they wanted ALL of those services. Why wouldn't they think "or" instead of "and"? If I go to Amazon, I don't assume I have to buy books AND movies AND laundry detergent AND golf clubs AND etc. I think the modern consumer views services as a la carte by default, not the other way around.
@lschiz-photography1765 Жыл бұрын
Excellent logical and true!! I have been shooting for 10 years, six as a generalist. I’ve had a strong desire to launch my business but struggled with the generalist concept that you so clearly explained here. In the last 2 years I have finally settled in on my love of portraiture. A lack of confidence, dispute the good feedback I get, is that I’m not quite good enough. So the last year or more after good advise, I’m focusing on doing a lot of portrait shoots and extensive retouching, 18 so far this year with more scheduled. It’s been an excellent boost to officially opening. Your advise today is dead on!! Thank you again. Also follow and appreciate you and your style of teaching. Thanks!
@payamjirsa Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed! Yes, specializing is key!
@tcvaldez Жыл бұрын
Your videos are always filled with great information. Thank you.
@joeldiaz141 Жыл бұрын
I specialize as a newborn / family photographer. I can never see myself as a wedding / event photographer. I appreciate your videos Pye!
@samsalueng Жыл бұрын
Clear, concise and I think this one video has helped me more than any I have seen. Thank You Pye.
@otavioleitefotografia Жыл бұрын
Straight to the point. Good.
@jdelarosa89 Жыл бұрын
Joe McNally is a great generalists, but he is just one of a few.
@wilbmoore Жыл бұрын
David black. These type of photographers are called assignment photographers.
@krishnansv4321 Жыл бұрын
good one and an eye opener
@wilbmoore Жыл бұрын
Great video. I'd like to add though if you are a generalist which is a word I wouldn't use, I'd say concentrate on being what Joe McNally or David Black and a few others are which is assignment photographers. IMO
@winni223 Жыл бұрын
If the current state of economy in your country allows you to settle down within a certain genre, then good for you and it's the sound advice. Otherwise we need to be quite versatile to stay afloat.
@DreSocial888 Жыл бұрын
Thank you pye
@sopranomusingsphotography3077 Жыл бұрын
Hi! Thank you so much for these informative videos. I'm a returning hobbyist, looking to specialize in Portrait photography. Mainly within the realm of Cosplay and Book Covers :-)
@AllenInRealLife Жыл бұрын
Your last point was very good and something I've considered for a long time. "Which image do you show on the landing page?" Hits home.
@payamjirsa Жыл бұрын
Exactly, even if you can overcome everything else said, marketing becomes virtually impossible.
@ronlemelinphotography Жыл бұрын
such good information
@johnclay7644 Жыл бұрын
informative content
@abadjoseph Жыл бұрын
Should one have two websites for two different styles of photography? Should they link to each other on their respective websites? Thanks for the content, Pye!
@DanielBerganza Жыл бұрын
Hmmm.. overall I get the message but as a real estate photographer I know that this is pretty seasonal. Specially right now. You can mix commercial, real estate, and professionals all in one website. Also you can have multiple websites for each specialty and social media accounts for each one. Yeah there's some people that puts all in one. But clients do not care they just see have a big camera and think you can do it all in a push of a button. In the past I have turned down weddings, couples, products that now I'm beginning to study. And if I fall in my face making some mistakes so be it but I'm not letting opportunities to go by anymore and 30 years from now I say to myself why I didn't do those things. Plus if you try it and don't like it move on. My specialty will always be architecture photography but I need to make some big purchases lol.
@payamjirsa Жыл бұрын
Appreciate the comment. Let me know if you have a specific question, happy to weigh in.
@brentkingstonphotography4615 Жыл бұрын
Very interesting 🤔
@bigbrownmab189 Жыл бұрын
Great video and its so true. I once heard somebody say, sure it will cost you $500 per website to showcase 1 photography skill, but your be able to make all that money back times 10 for not having a cluter cluster F of a mess in owning a single website with all your skills on it. Like in sports the KISS method, keep it simple stupid haha lol.
@shelbywinkelmans9563 Жыл бұрын
This information is really helpful. Just a follow up question. A generalist between corporate, wedding, sport, etc is VERY broad so yes you would need to pick one and specialize. How specialized to compete is my question? I've chosen portrait photography and I dabble in the creative aspects as well as more formal such as engagement and I'm currently creating a home studio. Is that still considered a specialty? Sometimes I shoot and edit more bright and airy while others I shoot and edit more moody and contrasty. Am I still under the portrait specialty?
@payamjirsa Жыл бұрын
Yes, that's still in portraiture. But it's important to dial in your style. If you want step-by-step guidance, you can check out our membership program which goes in depth through all of this from A to Z.
@toddstrong1353 Жыл бұрын
What about people like Rick Sammon and Joe McNally who shoot everything very successfully? There are many others that shoot multiple genres very successfully as well. These people would say you SHOULDN'T specialize. So, I'm curious as to how you would speak to that.
@shivstudio698 Жыл бұрын
Hi sir big fan
@thomasdietz8153 Жыл бұрын
Can portraiture be your specialty or should you specialize within portraiture like only head shots or family or seniors?
@brad_in_yyc Жыл бұрын
The only generalist that has achieved that level of success that I can think of would be Joe McNally. Otherwise, you're correct. But he's an enigma. The exception, not the rule. Great info Pye.
@payamjirsa Жыл бұрын
Indeed, we can all find exceptions. But advice shouldn't be modeled on the exceptions.
@brad_in_yyc Жыл бұрын
@@payamjirsa 100% agree. I've refined myself from a generalist to a photographer who photographs people now. Portraits, headshots, weddings. But I'm still trying to find where I want to specialize in even more. It's a process.
@walo2k5 Жыл бұрын
I felt like you were talking to me 😂😂😂 time to update my site and remove a bunch of stuff and just keep all my jiu jitsu/combat sports stuff
@brentkingstonphotography4615 Жыл бұрын
There are Riches in Niches 😎
@Monsteriosus Жыл бұрын
Except when you live in a remote small town.
@sijilo Жыл бұрын
☺️
@Black_Jesus3005 Жыл бұрын
I suppose even as a hobbyist you’d probably want to specialize. What would you recommend?
@payamjirsa Жыл бұрын
Hobbyist it doesn't really matter, do what you like.
@tpmarkham Жыл бұрын
Specializing = Go with 1 inch wide and 1-mile deep vs. 1 inch deep and a 1-mile wide.
@anthonyk27 Жыл бұрын
Love your content. I disagree with this assessment however. The market for photography is different and photographers themselves need to be able to sustain themselves, by being diverse. Clients do not really critique and analyze photos the same as a photographer does. That is a perspective that many disregard. just my opinion.
@johnw.3636 Жыл бұрын
I agree
@payamjirsa Жыл бұрын
Appreciate the comment! What are your thoughts on Reason #4?
@anthonyk27 Жыл бұрын
@@payamjirsa I so happy you actually read my comment.... sorry, but I think all the reasons are valid. My personal take is clients are looking for someone that is able to take good photos and are professional with them. I am far from being a expert photographer in business or technical skill, I admit that. However, I actually jumped into this business based on my experience with my wedding photographer. He took great photos, but wasn't very professional and didn't really understand what was important to us. That is something I think clients look for, someone that takes good pictures and understands them. So I set up my site to show the 3 different types of photography I do, real estate, sports and weddings. I send a link to the specific portfolio page I have, based on the client. I also utilize canva to create ads for social media that appeal to those specific clients. Clients generally come from word of mouth, and when looking through my entire site are just looking for pleasing photos, not just genre specific photos. That's my general experience. Full disclosure. I have only been in business for 3 yrs, so it's just based on my limited point of view.
@timd4524 Жыл бұрын
@@payamjirsa I would lean towards multiple outlets. For example let's say my main interest was portraiture ( it isn't ). That would be something I would use a website for. But let's say, my second interest was classic cars. Now those two definitely wouldn't make for a cohesive webpage, therefore I would take a different route for customers. I would be over at the local car shows and mingling with the owners handing out cards that have a totally different website. That way I'm hitting the direct audience for vehicles only. Plus "word of mouth" travels faster in those types of circles. My Aunt made a whole living off of "word of mouth" for weddings and portraits ( She's my photography idol ). People would show off their pictures to their friends and the friends would ask who was your photographer. I would definitely limit it to only a couple fields though. Most likely updating the portraiture site more than the vehicle site. Unlike classic and antique cars, clothing fashion changes every year, and nobody wants to see those pictures from the 70's or 80's anymore lol. Very good video. My father kind of pulled off the same as a lithographer. He had his 40+ hour job as a printer, printing he did from home, and also sold wedding invitations from LaSalle at the same time. Those kind of fed into each other. In those days though you weren't getting customers for invitations from the web. You literally just kept an eye on the wedding announcements each night. People would be surprised, yet delighted when two days later my father would call. Why would they be happy? Usually because at the time their heads would be spinning from all the stuff they had to do. He also sold at very competitive rates but not enough to price himself out of the competition ( there literally wasn't any ). Still you can price yourself out of a business by going to low. He literally had no overhead for the invitations, but you can't let the customer know that. Oh. Only the first half of this comment was relative to the conversation. Or maybe not.
@rickfarber4243 Жыл бұрын
@@payamjirsa A generalist would need to have separate websites and separate social media presence in each area. There are many diversified companies that have disparate businesses, and many people may not realize that they are all owned by an umbrella company. You have to have a corporate identity for each area of specialty. Admittedly, that's not easy, but if successful, one can hire staff to manage each area.
@RalfWeyer Жыл бұрын
Like the old saying „Jack of all trades, master of none“. I’m just imaging being a generalist and competing for example in fashion with someone like Lindsay Adler or product photography with someone like Karl Taylor, good luck with that….
@cirf1979 Жыл бұрын
So I love Weddings but I been told that portrait work is where my skill are sharpest.
@vernonsmith6176 Жыл бұрын
So, what do you think? Will you continue to do weddings or follow what others say? But whatever you do you have my support. Good luck to you.
@montazownianr1 Жыл бұрын
Nah, do everything you want, do not cut off your wings.
@user-pj9mk8wm2j Ай бұрын
Couldn't disagree with you more more. When a good eye is developed, you can shoot most things, its called creativity.
@KrunoslavStifter Жыл бұрын
"In heaven an angel is nobody in particular.” - Shaw, 1903 If you can't be among top three in your niche, find another niche, or create one. “The road to business success is wherever people need another road.” ― Robert Brault The market is driven by; Narratives and emotions in the short run, Fundamentals and truth in the long run. Use this to your advantage. If you are not networking, you are not working. "Universal truth of connecting with others is to always ask yourself this important question: How can I make people feel and do better as a result of connecting with me?"- Jeffery Gitomer
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