I find that i cannot decide on a niche i wanna focus on for my business and i ended up with doing events and portrait photography the issue is my website is very broad when it comes to what i shoot for example id put under community events Festivals, Charity Functions, Local markets etc. and i feel like that could easily be exploited but at the same i just cant decide on one single thing to specialise in and all the youtubers ive watched emphasize the importance of having one single niche to focus on im 17 and did photogrpahy since 12 but took like a 3 year break in between and i feel like i havent shot enough in every nnche
I do tons of Sports but there is very little money in Sports around here anyways. Even NCAA level sports have no budget for photography.
Anyone, YouTuber or otherwise, that says that the photographer must specialize in one specific niche is an idiot. I mean that’s like saying that in order to be a good mechanic you have to only work on one brand of car. I mean just like in that case, specializing in one narrow area might make you a little bit better at all of the subtle nuances involved in that area, but it’s not like having that knowledge mean that you can’t also have knowledge in other areas.
Nothing wrong with it at all. Some very successful photographers shoot a wide range of different niches. Jeff Cable for example shoots weddings/events, portraits and sports including the Olympics. There is nothing wrong with having a wide ranging skill set.
Obviously with other answers above. This isn’t rocket science and skill in one may translate to skill in another, but you may want to have separate profiles, separate projects, separate shows so you can become known for something. Later when people find out you also do this other thing, it’s a healthy jump. Clients need to see some form of consistency so they know what to expect!! Good luck!
Remember you can have more than one website. If you have a business or think you can make a viable business in one niche it might be worth making a dedicated website just for that.
May make things easier for people considering hiring you in that niche, at the cost of increasing complexity for somone who wants to learn about what you do across all niches.
Stop limiting yourself. Photograph what ever the hell you want. You can choose what you show and to whom.
I used to want to be a gig photographer. Shot a lot of gigs. Then portraits. But literally nothing else.
Now at 39, after a 10 year hiatus, I have decided not to let anything limit myself. I photograph everything I find interesting. Because why the hell not.
My friend… first of all: grammar and formatting. That was a mess to read and if you’re starting a business website, that really matters.
Now in terms of niches… firstly at 17 you are (with respect) young as hell and have plenty of time to go wherever you want with whatever you want. Seriously.
In terms of advertising any services, it does help to show that you do specialise. It helps reassure customers.
Don’t make would-be wedding couples sift through your sick shots of music festivals. Don’t make events companies look through your portraits. Try and compartmentalise so that if you have multiple offerings, you can direct customers to any one of them and they can read up about that.
That way - even if you have no niche right now - you’re showing you can effectively deliver on multiple niches.
No, straight to jail
D:
I came here with the intention of expressing a similar sentiment
But you were second soooo, right to jail with you!
bonk
Sports and real estate here.
I’ve been curious about real estate photography and have questions of you don’t mind.
Does it make sense to get a contract with a brokerage for media needs? Including agent promotions, video walkthrus, drone clips and photos.
Flat fee per listing or a commission?
Your focus may narrow over time, but it’s ok to have more than one niche. If you look at Bryan Peterson he can photograph anything. As a photographer, I think we should be able to photograph anything well and let our preferences develop over time. I used to shoot nature, and concerts. Now I am drawn to fine art, abandonment, water, reflections, and underwater photography.
A close relative is a commissioned artist and took ten years of study and training before deciding that her medium is watercolor.
You’ll find out the things that attract you to photograph them and the things that repel you.
I’d say you can do whatever works, but then it’s not a niche, it’s an ensemble.
Look up a guy named John Hedgecoe. He shoots everything you can think of, and does it well.
YouTube is great, and I’ve learned from it, but it can be toxic too. And it’s hard, when you’re young, to separate good from bad. But give yourself time to find out what you like. You don’t have to specialize in anything if you don’t want to.
You’re seventeen, you have a load of time to find your niche.
When I was seventeen I was working as a wedding photographers assistant, getting experience in the field. There was portraits, too, but I wanted to do either music, things or war correspondence. Being allergic to flesh wounds and bullets and bombs, I decided to do music. I worked for small town bands, took their pictures, got some in local papers. I worked with larger bands and then moved to studio and advertising things. I’m still studio based but now the things I shoot are old, rare and ancient fabrics, with a healthy dose of artefacts. It’s been a long career since I started and the worst thing you can do is rush it.
It’s almost silly to have one niche if I be honest . It works for some yes but it’s not some rule from bible. You do what you want to do. I’ve been a photographer for many many years And I have at least 5 genres that I shoot and clients have contacted me for each.