What do you like to photograph? Whether it is sports, landscapes, portraits, automobiles, pets or commercial products in order to be successful these days you need to carve out your own niche. Getting a job with Sports Illustrated and traveling the country shooting sporting events is a very tough gig to get and there are literally thousands of extremely talented photographers vying for that job. Now if that is what you want, then go for it.
Today’s photographic climate is very different than it was 15 years ago. With everybody and their brother walking around with an impressive digital camera it is tough to compete with the ‘do it yourself’ photographer. That is why you need to set yourself apart. Find a niche that nobody else is shooting. Market yourself in a way that nobody else is marketing themselves. In many parts of the country well established portrait studios are closing shop. I can only think that it is because they did not reinvent themselves. People are looking for something different, something unique. If you don’t set yourself apart you will have a tough time making it.
Find a niche that works for you. Here are a few niches I have been thinking about lately.
Internet Dating Photographer
Internet dating is a billion dollar a year business and most of the photographs I have seen are pretty much garbage. Do you really want to put your dating and romantic future in the hands of a 2 year old, out of focus snapshot? There is a strong business opportunity to market yourself as an internet dating photographer. Spend an hour or so with your client and create some flattering photos them. These can be shot indoors with modest lighting equipment or shot outdoors in a similar fashion as a Senior Portrait. Offer your client all your images on a digital CD for a flat fee. You can have add-on fees for photo touch up. Be creative. Be different.
Infant Photographer
We have all seen them before. Black and white or sepia toned images of mom, dad and the new born baby. But have you ever tried to find a photographer that specializes in these shots? It is pretty tough to do. This is a niche that isn’t too difficult to develop a real strong style in. Shallow depth of field images, tightly cropped images and add in some post-processing and you have a style that clients will love.
Athletic Posters
Have you been to a youth soccer game lately? Every dad seems to have a Canon Rebel with the kit lens on it taking pictures of the kids playing. It is a tough sell these days to offer action photos to parents. Even high quality shots are a tough sell. Parents seem to be happy with the shots that they took, even if they lack any punch or professionalism. To set yourself apart offer custom action posters. If you aren’t super skilled in Photoshop don’t worry, there are a handful of companies offering quality templates. Artistic Action and GraphicAuthority are two companies that come to mind.
Real Estate Photographer
With the down turn in the economy, there are more houses than ever up for sale. Quality photographs can set your property apart from the others. The equipment needed for quality real estate photographs isn’t too specialized. You will need a decent quality SLR or P&S camera and a wide-angle lens in the 10-22mm equivalent focal length and a tripod. Investing in High Dynamic Range (HDR) image processing can really give your images some pop and help you rise above your competition.
Whatever niche you decide on look for something that sets you apart from all the other photographers in the market. Be creative. Be different.
