Are you wondering if you should choose a photography niche?
Have you heard the phrase “jack of all trades and master of none”?
As a photography business coach, I understand the importance of choosing a photography niche that aligns with your passion and expertise.
How to Find Your Photography Niche
- Decide What You Want To Be Known For: Being a jack of all trades may seem appealing, but it’s important to focus on what you truly enjoy at and are passionate about. Identify who you want to work with and go all in with it. A photography niche will help set you apart.
- Avoid Being a Generalist: Offering all types of photography services may attract a wide range of clients, but not everyone is the right fit for your business. When you narrow down your focus and specializing within a niche, you can attract clients who appreciate your expertise and dedication.
- Discover Your Favorites: Look back at your work and identify your favorite sessions and photos. What made them stand out? Was it the client? Was it the vibe during the shoot? Or maybe the end results?
- Reflect on Memorable Clients: Think about the clients who you truly enjoyed working with. What type of session was it? Analyze why you loved working with them and incorporate those elements into your niche.
- Seek Inspiration: Identify photographers who inspire you and analyze their offerings. What sets them apart? What is it about them that inspires you – their work, their personal brand, or something else?
- Consider Your Personal Life: Evaluate where you are in life and determine what aligns with your values, available time, and organic connections. I’ve pivoted my photography niche three times – first in wedding photography, then high school senior portraits, and now personal brand photography – and I did that because it better aligned with my stage in life.
- Leverage Experience: Take stock of your experience and the industry you have immersed yourself in. Have you honed your skills and developed a distinct style? Ensure that you still have a genuine passion and eagerness to continue growing in that field.
- Identify the Collective Theme: After answering these questions, look for common threads that tie everything together. Within that lies the photographer you want to be—the one who is both happy and successful. Embrace that theme as your niche and pursue it wholeheartedly.
Benefits of Choosing a Photography Specialty
The first benefit of choosing a photography niche is that you’ll become known for something. You’ll be able to command higher pricing because you’re a specialist. Think about a hair stylist. There are the hair stylist that do it all and then there are those that specialize in things like balayage…and charge accordingly.
Another benefit of choosing a photography niche is that you’ll be the go-to person for your specialty amongst your friends and family. You won’t just be a “photographer” that everyone calls on for every random need, but you’ll be the “family photographer” or “birth photographer” or “sports photographer” that they can call.
Finally, choosing a photography niche will help you with your marketing. When you’re talking to everyone (anyone who needs photography), you’re also talking to no on in particular. Your messaging gets watered down to appeal to anyone looking for a photographer. When you specialize with a photography niche, such as senior portraits, you can market directly to those looking for senior portraits. If you’re a wedding photographer, you’ll market to newly engaged couples.
Remember, finding your niche will help you establish yourself as an expert and attract the right clients. Embrace the concept that “the riches are in the niches,” and go after the niche that aligns with your passion and strengths.
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