So How Do I set myself apart?

[Arcusmedia]

Ok WOW There are a LOT of Talented Photographers here in Texas!

MY question is How do you set yourself apart? What do you do different?

Any advice to someone new to owning a photography business?

There are hundreds if not thousands of photographers here in DFW.

Any Advice would be great!

[KobraCarry]

I agree with you 100%. I've asked the same question myself and there is no easy answer. Find something you like or a style that you enjoy using and stick with it and perfect it the best you can. Do you want to do portraits out of a studio or your home? You do like sports? Nature? Macro? Etc... There is a huge market for photos, but also a huge amount of competition. Find a nitch nobody else is doing, if that's possible. There's a guy whos work I follow on Flickr and his personal site and he does edgy black and white work of homeless and indigent folks. Crazy wild and subcultureish. Great style. Finding connections is not easy as many folks I've found treat photography as vodoo and don't want to help anyone break in. Again, that would be creating more competition. I'm still working on my style. I like too many aspects of photography right now and am still trying to figure out what "my" style is. Good luck on this life long endevour and let me know if you find the magic answer. And don't quit your day job just yet!

[texkam]

Ok WOW There are a LOT of Talented Photographers here in Texas!

Move to Oklahoma!

Keep learning and improving. Many tend to find a niche. As mentioned here before, really learn the business end. Many creatives suck in that department just as many business minded folks suck in the creative dept. Those who excel at both have an advantage. At least you found the TPF. That's a good start.

[Arcusmedia]

I have been lurking here for five years! i have took may classes and read a TON of books! just ask my wallet :( Now to find what my expertise is!

[KobraCarry]

Go forth on your quest and come back a legend!

...and bring me back a #2 with extra cheese while you're out...

[janikphoto]

You didn't really state what area of photography you want to focus on. I think the plan of attack differers slightly between a wedding photog, editorial photog, architectural photog and a commercial photog. Obviously, a commercial photog would be thinking of ways to stand out when contacting ad agencies... the wedding photog would want to stand out at the bridal shows... the editorial photog would want to stand out when contacting photo and art directors at newspapers and magazines...

And each attack would be different.

[KobraCarry]

Originally Posted by janikphoto

You didn't really state what area of photography you want to focus on. I think the plan of attack differers slightly between a wedding photog, editorial photog, architectural photog and a commercial photog. Obviously, a commercial photog would be thinking of ways to stand out when contacting ad agencies... the wedding photog would want to stand out at the bridal shows... the editorial photog would want to stand out when contacting photo and art directors at newspapers and magazines...

And each attack would be different.

Very good point. I doubt many serious wedding photogs sell animal photos to nature magazine or landscape photogs sell photos to rock and roll magazines, etc. I'm in the same boat. I love too many aspects to be overly serious about one. What hobbies do you have? Places you like to go hang out? Etc. Bring your camera with to those places and incorporate photos of the other things you really enjoy and you should find your specialty

[Arcusmedia]

Well I work for a Newspaper and I love Shooting Fitness, Fashion, Glamour, Boudoir, Portrait, Product, Swimsuit, Engagement, Senior Portraits, Family Portraits & Lifestyle Photography. Not good enough for weddings :) and if i buy you a number 2 whats in it for me?

[KobraCarry]

If you compress all of what you listed is comes out to portraits. Do you have a studio? Are you planning to set on up? Can you do mobile portraits? Do you have a special post processing technique or plug-in that you really like that makes your photos different than most folks?

You can have some of my fries!

[Arcusmedia]

I love Doing images like that!

I am Mobile at the moment but would love to setup a studio!

[janikphoto]

well, you can always shoot everything you enjoy... but, you want to FOCUS on one or two areas for your self promotion. I mainly shoot lifestyle/environmental portraits for newspapers and magazines, and I also do a lot of band photography for everyone from local up to major label. Those are the two areas that receive my promo attention.

However, I still shoot and sell some fine art, do some weddings, do a little table top, etc... I just don't waste time and effort trying to go after that work, because it would detract from my main effort of editorial and music photos. You can still shoot and accept work from everyone you think you can do a successful job for. Just focus promo money and time on what you are best at to stand out at something. A shotgun promo effect (a little marketing for EVERY type of photography) will make you stand out in nothing.

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by Arcusmedia

I love Doing images like that!

hhhmmm... well, good luck with that. I'm sure there's someone out there who would pay you for that look.

and you mention working for a paper. Is it a school paper?

[texkam]

i have took may classes

Apparently English wasn't one of them.

I work for a Newspaper

Yikes.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Went to your website and looked at the two portrait portfolios and to be honest you don't need 72 shots of a girl in a white dress if you are trying to show how good you are. I see no real lighting technique, same with "joe", that would lead me to hire you to do work for me.

That website should show your BEST WORK and only that! (you can do a secondary site for the snapshot stuff)

It is a tough business and I just don't see anything in about 120 photos that i scanned over real quick that stands out.

This may sound a bit rough but you asked for it.

I admit some of my work is rough also but most of it is shot live during an event where you don't pose the subject at all pretty much.

So go get a reflector and use it and do another round of portraits.

[KobraCarry]

I would focus on skater/bmx mags and things of that nature using the look you're showing. That seems to me that it would fit there.

Lifestyle images?! I keep hearing that term. What is that REALLY?