Is it standard practice to establish a "specialty?"

[NicoleScraps]

Over the last 8 months to a year, I have been practicing, learning, and exploring different areas in photography. I definitely enjoy people/portrait photography the most. Within the portrait category, I have found that I most enjoy working with newborns and teenagers (seniors). So I am trying to move forward in those two areas, really work on my techniques and try to come up with creative ideas focusing on these two areas. I doubt that I would turn down another portrait opportunity if directly approached, but I think that I want these two be my specialty area....I want to make that happen.
In your opinion, is this too limiting? Is this typically the normal thing to do, pick an area or two that you love and be the best that you can at it?

[Biomech]

I think most people spe******e so that they can focus their attention and from a business point of view if you try and do everything you spread yourself too thin and ultimately fail. If you can find a niche, even better! - Like Jim Poor and his dogs.

[nickbedford]

I don't think that's limiting, but if you love portraits/people in general you can always keep working on the other areas in that genre too.

For example, I've generally found that anything with people in it, whether it be a rock show, a band promo shoot, a model shoot or even just photos of a party or function is what I want to do.

That being said, the shoots I'm getting asked to do professionally (that is, being paid) are mostly promotional in nature. For example, the band promo shoot above or the CD artwork shoot I did for another band's single release recently.

When you start to realise what areas you'll probably make money in, don't drop everything else if you're doing it for yourself for free. Keep shooting everything that you love doing and the paid shoots will make it all so much more worthwhile, at least while you're not doing it for a living.

Not to mention they all overlap. Techniques and tricks you learn in one part of "people photography" are useful in other areas.

[NicoleScraps]

Well, let's see, within the people category, I have not actually tried promotional, fashion/model, weddings, boudoir, or sports. Having said that, none of those are appealing to me, personally. Maybe I shouldn't make a statement like that until I actually try some of these areas, but I believe it is true that I would not enjoy them. Not so much because of the photos, but because of the atomosphere required to get the photos, ie; I am so not a sports fan, so I cannot imagine going to a sporting event and actually wanting to take photos (no offense, it's just not my thing). likewise with promotional type stuff. I am a middle aged stay at home mother....I don't really DO concerts and stuff like that.
I have tried "family" photography and honestly, I am not sure if it is the best match for me. I felt out of my element trying to control and direct multiple children who wanted to run in different directions....ack. maybe they are not all like that. And I am not totally giving up on that area. But the babies. Oh man, I so love working with them. And the teenager, they are just so fun and usually very open to anything that you want to do.
Plus I really do not have an endless amount of time to research every new type of photo opportunity. If I limit myself to just a few areas, I can really channel all of my research and ideas in one direction.

This was just my thought process when decided what areas to narrow in my focus on.

[candleman]

If you don't spe******e you will struggle IMHO.

If you can become "known" in your area as "the baby photographer" don't you think more people will come to you for baby photos because you know what you're doing?
(depending on how large a community you have at your disposal, if your target market is too specific n too small a town you won't get enough regular cash flowing into your business)

When I need a window fixed in my house I don't call a handyman, I call a glazier. (spe******t)
Not only does this allow you to concentrate all your marketing and networking into one area, but it allso allows you to share more for the fact that you have a spe******ed set of skills not every other photographer has.

If you're going boutique, then if you aren't spe******ed you will just confuse people.

anyway,
try a few different avenues and see what you like before getting too serious.

[Elmo]

When I started in photography i gravitated toward "Street" and photojournalism. During the next 50 years I trie it all from industrial to fashion. I always gravitated back to where I started. If you look at my current 365 project is is heavy in street and photojournalism style. the last week it has been strictly photojournalism.

Elmo on Photography

And yes this might be considered a shameless troll for my blog and homeless folks in general; also against rouge policemen.

.

[nickbedford]

Originally Posted by NicoleScraps

Well, let's see, within the people category, I have not actually tried promotional, fashion/model, weddings, boudoir, or sports. Having said that, none of those are appealing to me, personally.

Don't worry. There a lot of "people" areas that I'm not interested in too, such as sports and actually taking photos of children, teens or babies

The promotional, fashion/model shoots are fun for me because I get to challenge myself with the lighting and whatnot, especially since I don't usually have much to work with. I also like the "working" environment of it.

I guess for myself I'm probably going down that path of specialty (promotional/model/studio) because I'm very interested in film productions and the like, not to mention I'm starting to make a bit of money out of it too. I love watching the behind the scenes footage on films and TV shows and seeing how they've constructed sets with lighting and props and camera direction.

As said, it's probably wise to spe******e within a few different areas like you've stated, but it's always good to maintain interest and learning in the other "hobby" areas you like.

[NicoleScraps]

Originally Posted by nickbedford

Don't worry. There a lot of "people" areas that I'm not interested in too, such as sports and actually taking photos of children, teens or babies

Isn't it funny how we all have "photography" as a common interest but we all have such a different take on it.

[Biomech]

I personally go for events. I like travel photograpy, events and maybe landscape/abstract - pretty much anything that gives me the freedom to do what I want. Not a big fan of modelling shots at the moment. :P

[funcrunch]

My own specialty is events, and on my web site I feature three main areas: music, weddings, and portraits. The last is a bit iffy because I only do portraits on-location (explained on the web site). I do not aspire to have a studio and am much more interested and skilled at taking candid shots than posed. I just felt I should list portraits as they go hand-in-hand with weddings, and I've gotten some lovely outdoor engagement and family shots.

I'm really best at shooting concerts, and feel my photos in this area are top-notch, but I simply cannot make a living doing that alone. Everyone raves about my concert photos but few are willing to pay for them. It's not even an issue of how much I charge really (my prices are going up at the end of the month), it's the expectation that people generally shoot photos at concerts for free, or in exchange for admission and a couple of drinks. But that's a separate and oft-repeated rant...