Hold Off on the Switcharoo! Why Early Diversification Can Hurt Your Photography Career
As photographers, we are quick to want to shoot everything. If you have been a photographer for quite a while, I bet you have been told to find your niche and then build from there. Yes, whoever said that is right. You ought to find that one market you want to make photos for. If not, you will end up making photos for almost everybody without anyone liking your work, because they will not see the professionalism in your work. They check your website and everything is everywhere.
After you have become good in your niche, you are allowed to diversify. Masters in different things learned to be masters in one thing first. They did not begin to be masters in everything in the beginning, and also they did not allow themselves to be mediocre. Mediocrity will end your career before you begin it. Don’t be average. Be more than average, because you can be more.
Being good enough doesn’t mean you should quickly go ahead to start something new. This can also affect your career. Here are three reasons why.
- Focus and Expertise. Sometimes, it’s better to develop deep expertise in a specific area before branching out. This can give you a competitive advantage.
“Where your attention goes, your energy goes.” — Joe Vitale
2. Building Clientele and Market Reputation. Focusing allows you to target your marketing efforts more effectively towards potential clients who need your specific skillset. This can be more efficient than trying to reach a broader audience with a more generic message. Being known as the best photographer for a particular type of shoot can lead to more bookings and potentially higher fees, and this is what you want.
3. Cost and Complexity. Diversification can add complexity and cost, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the new area or niche. It takes time to be good at anything. It will take you long hours, days, and months to be good at something.
Imagine a young entrepreneur with a unique recipe for a new type of pizza (if you are able to come up with one). They might be better off focusing on perfecting their recipe, building a customer base, and establishing their brand before diversifying into other menu items or opening additional locations.
While diversification is generally a good strategy, there are situations where focus and expertise can be more important. The key is to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks before deciding on the best approach for your specific situation.
I’m not stopping you from diversifying, I’m saying, make sure it is the right choice so you are not crippled by your decision.
Want to add anything? Leave your comments in the comment section. See you in the next one.
