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Are you a specialist or generalist photobgrapher?


11 years 8 months ago #246239 by The Original Daisy
I was just reading an article by Mike Larson where he talks about being a specialist or a generalist and that being a generalist can actually hurt your photography business. Where as being a specialist in a field like only shooting weddings or portraits for example will in the long haul yield greater earnings. Now this all sounds pretty good, I know for me I'm so guilty as I am all over the place and don't specialize in anything. I'm wondering if you could share your thoughts on this?
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11 years 8 months ago #246244 by garyrhook
I find most photographic situations interesting, and each has their own challenges. I think that, to become more than competent you have to focus and apply your energies to specific goals. This implies specialization. Once you have your skills near where you want them (in, for example, portraiture) you could begin to put effort into other areas (e.g. landscapes).
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11 years 8 months ago #246272 by Joves
I generally specialize as a generalist photographer.
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11 years 8 months ago #246306 by Wyrick Photography
I'm more of a generalist today myself. I'll go where the money is at, just not enough business to focus on any specific area for me.
Canon 5d Mark II • Canon 24-105mm F/4.0 • Canon 135mm F/2.0 • Canon 50mm F/1.8 • Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 • Canon 580ex ii
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11 years 8 months ago #246308 by afoto

Wyrick Photography wrote: I'll go where the money is at, just not enough business to focus on any specific area for me.


a good point, depending on where you live.

however by specializing in a specific area of photography and learning, working and excelling in that area allows you to charge more for that specific service.

though, depending on how far into your photographic career you are, it is always good to experiment and try everything! you don't want to brand yourself as the photographer that only shoots babies with bw film, to find out a year later you actually love shooting fashion on a phase back, or landscapes with a 4x5.

this is a problem however that effects the whole photographic industry.
for example, if you have spent the last 20 years building up your architecture photography business, and a wedding photographer steps in and says "ya i can shoot your building for half that price", the client comes away with sub par images and the poor architecture photographer, with all their talent expertise and experience and specialized equipment walks away with nothing.

by specializing in a field of photography it keeps the standards up all around. if every photographer shoots everything the bar of what photographs pass it in the industry goes down.
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11 years 8 months ago #246421 by Justin
I'm a generalist just as I'm finding my interest in photography and where I'm going to excel
Very nice to meet you!
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11 years 8 months ago #246508 by Josh Jofoto

Joves wrote: I generally specialize as a generalist photographer.



:agree: :rofl: :rofl:


80% weddings then 20% what ever else
Canon 7D | Canon EF-S 18-55 IS | Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 | Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 | Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 macro | CanonEF 17-40 f/4 L | 70-200 f/4 L | 580 EX II
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11 years 8 months ago #246637 by JB
Although there is some truth to what you say, I think these days being open will give you more options to make $$ with your camera. Things are to competitive to focus on just one area of photography.
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11 years 8 months ago #246787 by Frisco
I think unless you have years and years of brand built up, these days you need to be open to other photography verticals.
Nikon 18-55mm VR, Nikon 70-200mm VRII f/2.8, Nikon 50mm f/1.8, Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8, SB-700 & SB-800
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