How I Selected My Photography Niche
When I first started my journey as a photographer, the possibilities were boundless and captivating! I started out wanting to do it all - families, newborn, maternity; weddings, couples, engagements; portraits, branding, headshots; fashion, events, real estate; landscape, food, sports. I said yes to them all! You could even find ads for every style of photography. However, I soon realized that I was in over my head.
My editing style was non existence. Trying every photography category and wanting to please every client meant I was taking on way more sessions than I could handle. I started to get burned out and the love I thought I had for photography turned into "Why am I even doing this?" Those feelings took over me, and I become very overwhelmed and unaccomplished. I wasn't standing out in the crowd I had no business goals or mission. It was time to stand out and excel, I needed to focus on a specific niche.
To select my photography niche, I took several factors into consideration. Firstly, I reflected on my own interests and passions. I asked myself what subjects or themes I was most drawn to and felt a strong connection with. This helped me narrow down my options and identify the areas of photography that truly ignited my creativity. Family! This would be broken down to families, and maternity. I wanted to capture motherhood journey's! From my own experience of motherhood, I knew that family photography was where my heart was at. Being able to capture these moments that I took for granted melted my heart.
Secondly, I conducted thorough market research. I analyzed the demand and competition within different photography niches. I explored the work of other photographers in various fields and evaluated the potential for growth and success. This research allowed me to make an informed decision and choose a niche that had both personal appeal and market potential.
Lastly, I practiced! Taking on this new journey I experimented! Not by trial and error, I already did that. But by hosting free model calls. This allowed me to be in charge of outfits, location and who I was capturing behind my lens. Doing this helped me create a workflow I could follow, love and expand on in the future. Being hands-on with my work, there was no way for me to fail. I became determined to make this the right career for me.
This process helped me understand my strengths, preferences, and the niche where I could excel and produce my best work. Not only did this allow me time to work on my editing style, but it also made room for me to embrace my journey. I was able to spend more time building a strong marketing plan vs trying to make a quick buck from every session.
By considering my interests, conducting market research, and exploring different niches through practice, I was able to confidently select Family photography for my niche. Focusing on a specific area has allowed me to specialize, develop a unique style, and attract clients who specifically seek the type of photography I offer. I must admit I still book for other niches such as weddings, couples and seniors. However, I don’t necessarily advertise for them like I do for my family sessions.
