You Don't Understand Photography if You Cant Do This

[@martindawson]

This is the best explanation of the distinctions between niche, style and genre I’ve heard. Makes complete sense. So many people use the three interchangeably, which is incredibly confusing. I’ve no idea what I am, but I at least have a framework to start thinking about it.

[@CAbbott71]

As an amateur tog, I really do not have this down yet, and my not ever as you really need to be out shooting every day to nail it down. It is, however, extremely important and I see it as a clear line of distinction between a happy snapper, like me, and a true professional. Great explanation of the terms.

[@johnbivins]

I want to express my sincere gratitude for your channel and videos. I'm the top event photographer in my area and it took time to find my path, but once I did, it's truly rewarding. Appreciate you sharing just dang valuable advice. hitting the topics quickly with a hammer on nail approach and sharing very useful points.

[@davidabarak]

"That which does not destroy my career makes my career stronger." - _Friedrich Nichecreep_

[@DavidLeeWedDJ]

I'm only 4yrs in I've shot fitness, Models, Creative portfolios, headshots, art nude, and now thing I swore I didn't want to do is what i'm shooting and loving, portraits. But this video as short and synsynct as it is, as really laid it out for me. I heard, read,watched loads of bits on 'you have to have a niche' but this really explains it simply. So off to bang my head, feel what I really want to shoot, how I want to shoot and for who. Thank you once again.

[@sumisiddiqa5343]

Where I am at in my career, I am still figruing it out. I do fashion, portraits and I want to direct, so as you can see I am a bit all over the place. But I know ill figure it out. Thank you, this was a fantastic/informative video as always.

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Part of the fun is the process so don't rush it.

[@mkhaliphilanga6784]

Dude, i needed this . thanks.

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Glad I could help

[@amanaskarizad]

couldn't be described better! Thank you Scott

[@cropcircle5693]

There's a personal gripe of mine touched on in here that would be awesome to talk about in a video. The client that didn't see some exact shot they were looking for in the portfolio of a more than qualified photographer. All they had to do was tell the photographer the kind of shot they wanted to achieve, something they inevitably had to do with the photographer they hired. This thing that's happening where the client will only hire someone who has already shot the job they want to book is crazy. I'm sure if they said to you "we like your work but want to get some incredible clarity on the glass" you'd have a fantastic response and would do a top notch job. I'm sure of that because I work in the industry and I know what I'm looking at, they should as well. I've been coming across younger and younger (like 22 yrs old) people in hiring positions and they just have no experience, expertise or professionalism. There is no way we can have every potential client request and every momentary trend in our books at all times. What to do?

[@ChristianSantiagophoto]

it is frustrating to feel like you’re expected to fulfill every potential concept or idea anyone can imagine on your own time and dime. And you’re right, most competent photographers in their genres have the technical knowledge to adjust their style to suit what the client wants. But from the clients perspective: their job is on the line. The 50k budget they allocate for photography is only a portion of the total amount the entire campaign might cost. It’s a lot of money riding on the success of the campaign and every potential hiccup is a risk. When an art buyer puts his faith in you, they’re putting themselves on the line because if you stink it up, it reflects on them. So with that kind of pressure, I can understand why they’d go for the guy whose style already resembles what they’re looking for. Especially if all other variables are more or less equal. E.G budget is about the same, and one guy isn’t a total jerk to work with. Etc.

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Oh yes, I can't tell you how many weekends have been spent frantically shooting new work for a treatment.

[@melissab0515]

Love the specifics. Thank you

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Thanks for watching.

[@CGSevenxPhoto]

I'm a music photographer and my style is very candid, but I'm also still trying to find my style because my way of creative thinking is all over the place. I love fashion and sports photography, portrait are my least favorite but brings home the bacon more so than the former. Glad I came upon this video 😎 thank you for making me think!

[@JesusMartinezCreates]

what if you do both photo and video?

[@johnleighdesigns]

I enjoyed your talk and have been struggling for some years to nail things down as a direction due to my previous design & web design roles in advertising enabling me to become a multidisciplinary creative. Whilst I derive great joy from this, and some use the term "generalist", I value variety, have a diverse skillset and it suits my personality wearing different hats and creating. However I totally understand the niche approach and I have been considering how best to apply that thinking to my scenario. In regards my photography side for example I have been steering a path with creative portraits/concepts of people as well as product shoots. But currently it is product shots work where the money is for me as a freelancer and my elevator pitch right now is like this: I'm a product photographer shooting creative images and video for footwear retailers wanting to drive sales and awareness. If you might propose that could be tightend and focused even more I would appreciate your insight and wisdom!

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

I always thing the word "creative" is so broad, so I think you should say what it is thats creative about them. What the style is.

[@cr_phot0s]

Excellent video, very informative. Genre: Portraiture Style: Vivid / Avant-garde Nich/Clients: Alternative Models / Publications Side Note: I recently started doing product and food photography in the same style as my portraits.

[@OffTheBeatenPot]

I am a casting headshot photographer that specialises in making clients look professional, approachable and present. I’m also building a product portfolio and as yet can’t describe that.

[@johnkenny9832]

This was really helpful, particularly in view of hte elevator pitch question last week! Niche Creep is also very catch phrase worthy, although does rather sound like someone that is creepy in a very paerticualr way :-)

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

haha yeah it doesn sound a tad creepy

[@MiguelACoronaDM]

Great explanation! Thank you.

[@_guillermo]

I am a fine-art photographer who shoots avant-garde monochromatic images for myself🖤

[@stevendipaolo4022]

I would certainly not call myself a photographer, but I have an interest and also some “kit” as you call it. From watching your vids the concept that’s come to me is to focus on a niche/style of distinct commercial photography that you can nearly hear. Sound photography. Example: the sound of bitting into a crisp apple. Would this be too niche/too narrow of a market to find consistent work?

[@ChristianSantiagophoto]

I am an architectural photographer who specializes in dramatic, hyper real images for commercial and hospitality brands.

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

I can already see what you are shooting just from that :)

[@Jonjolt]

This video made me want to take pictures of pliers now. I just got some new ones last week.

[@gordonwill6885]

Ooh, I like the idea of Don McCullin photographing a wedding like a war zone..

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Sure he must have done at some point.

[@vizzo7]

hi, great video. What do you suggests when you have different styles you do for eventually for different niches . I have actually have a sterile style in the way of daniel stier( not sure if you know him). but this style is not seem interesting for commercial photography nor in food photography

[@danielpierce8136]

Thank you for sharing! I am still so early in my attempt at a photography career that I am having a hard time picking one niche....the struggle is between what I enjoy shooting vs. what I think I will provide me financial security in photography. Can you elaborate on some examples of where one may go to find jobs to 'bid' on?

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Usually what you enjoy shooting is what you will make the most money doing, unless its soemthing really odd and you live in the middle of nowhere.

[@danielpierce8136]

@@TinHouseStudioUK I live in a pretty small beach town on the east coast of US but message received. Thanks!

[@mutenroshisamaa]

“I do bare and unpolished b&w fashion shoots” is what I’d like to say, but I can only do test shoots like that, there’s no market for that in middle east.

[@one1shotonly]

Here's what I say: I'm a product photographer who shoots dramatic hero shots for commercial clients. Now do you think i should niche down on the kinds of products i shoot or would this be niche enough? Oh and I've recently started introducing cgi into my product shots, thoughts? Love all your videos :)

[@STILLWILLPHOTO]

When you tell someone your positioning statement, you want them to have a rolodex moment in their mind where they can connect you with someone who they know that can benefit from your interaction. -paraphrased from Jonathan Stark. Look him up

[@ruibandeirafotografia]

well my problem is that i do 2 very diferent genres of photography...i do concert photography and product photography...but i would say that my genre is concert and product photography, my nich would be bands, music festivals and promoters, for the concert photography, and markting agencys for the product photography, my style would be organic, colorful and with usage of negative space...

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

If you were only allowed to do one of them, what would it be?

[@ruibandeirafotografia]

@@TinHouseStudioUK Wow! that is tough question... I started as a musician, so concert photography is close to my heart, but product photography was what brought me to photography. I remember as a kid wondering why and how do photographer make boring everyday objects look so interesting... If i had to chose from my heart i think i couldnt do it... But making a buisenes decision, although at this time, i thing that im better at concert photography than i am, for now, at product photography, i would choose product photography. Concert photography, as a profession is dying, to many people shooting for free, and this buiseness will soon die, or at leas it wount be enouth to make a living...

[@florianduenker]

Fashion and Beauty still Iife photographer for advertising purpose in a masculine commercial and sometimes Edgy Style

[@Presalez]

How do I develop a style or signature? How do I find that? I am struggling with this

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Its all about personal perspective. Your style should be an extension of who you are.

[@BBQ-UK]

I am a food and drinks photographer who shoots warm and dark work for local businesses. If I ever wanted extra money I would do portrait work warm and dark.... Not had to go there yet!

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

yeah people are stressful haha

[@blingblingbrodie]

@@TinHouseStudioUK ice-cream is stressful 😂

[@EYExplore]

I hit the like button just for 'niche creep'. :)

[@Mark13376]

I am a food and drink photographer who shoots relatable imagery for commercial and editorial clients, sometimes that includes architecture. P.S. getting beat out on a job because an art buyer said the other person shot a glass with more clarity is a dodged bullet in my mind.

[@matrixphotodesign]

This conversation sounds very familiar

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

haha oh yes,...

[@AndrewBassonZA]

I shoot portraits and couples in black and white

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

sounds very self explanatory so id say thats all good, but maybe add if its posed or candid>?

[@BarrettBaker_photos]

I’m a hobbiest photographer who loves to shoot food

[@batworker]

I’m not professional but “I take relaxed, informal portraits”

[@STILLWILLPHOTO]

I'm the still-life adult beverage photographer that helps Pennsylvania brands attract millennial consumers. My style is a millennial take on the still-life paintings of Dutch masters.

[@aidanhughes1648]

I am a product photographer who specialises in bold and edgy images that help commercial clients promote their brands.

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Sounds good! Try to replace edgy with something else though that describes it a bit more closely as edgy is very subjective . What is it that gives it an edge?

[@aidanhughes1648]

@@TinHouseStudioUK thanks Scott. I'll think of a suitable replacement 👍

[@casianosd]

Now I'm worried... What if I can't do it?!

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

haha you will be fine :)

[@DuckyOpus]

Crap. I want to shoot anything not nailed down. Been referring to it as "Noun Portraiture". People, places and things in a portrait style. I've known for a LONG time I need to narrow it down HARDcore, but how do/did you all get over committing? I worry about dedicating to one path, then finding I somehow chose the wrong one. DuckWork Studios, for anyone interested.

[@teacherofteachers1239]

I'm not a pro in this field, but maybe from experience (not being young) I can share an observation that might be useful: My experience in my life and observing and reading about others is that the person who does dedicate to one path, as you put it, becomes expert along that path and, for that very reason, is better positioned to change and be successful on a new path - taking their expertise with them, like a big toolbox - than is the person who spread themselves out from the get-go and never developed any particular expertise. The bonus is that the previous experience, rather than leaving the person flopping around aimlessly like a landed fish, lets them bring a fresh way of working, fresh insights and results, and even confidence itself. Well, that seems like one way things work out. - Dave

[@kristofbarta2964]

I am a still life/product photographer shooting simple hero type shots for my portfolio. I don't earn my living from photography yet.

[@marksands-foy7631]

I”m a male model photographer who shoots low key images in studio.

[@doughowell3171]

My niche is still life my style is total illumination my genre is... I don't know.

[@colinhouck2208]

Here it goes: I’m a commercial food photographer specializing in vivid images.

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Sounds good. See if you can add something more than just "vivid" for the style though as its very broad.

[@colinhouck2208]

@@TinHouseStudioUK ok, I’ve thought about it and think I can go with vibrant and vivid

[@mantas3d]

I have a feeling that you can be a bit 'looser' And a bit more generalist if you work in smaller country / city. Ill try to define mine (not sure if one can even call it photography, taking pictures is only 20 percent of my work) i create 3d models out of photos for local add agencies in a realistic style. Sounds weird :)

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Yes I think you can too. But your describption of what you do sounds spot on.

[@TheJoannaCruz]

I don't have a style yet...

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

It takes time and part of the fun is finding it

[@HaroldEscalona]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@eric_erock434]

i do anything that pays lol as well as my own editing

[@photom3]

I’m all over the map and can confirm it doesn’t work well if you want to make money or get noticed.

[@kevinsolie2208]

I am niche creep