How to Overcome Obscurity as a Photographer in 2024

Photo by Michael Dziedzic on Unsplash

Obscurity is the state of being unknown. Is that enough of a definition? I hope so. I have been in a state in which I was unknown. The first time I picked up a camera, nobody knew me as a photographer. They knew me as the funny kid who did not really know what to do with his life. Picking up a camera does not make you known. Today, photographers are almost like celebrities, they are celebrated everywhere, they win awards on grand scales, therefore you might think, if you get a camera you’ll be known, you’ll be famous and earn. But chasing fame is a futile endeavour. I bet successful and famous people never chased fame, they focused on their work and fame was only a by-product of their hard work. I’m saying, that fame came to them as a reward for their hard work, nothing more. If a photographer is chasing fame, he’s chasing the wind.

“Fame is the perfume of heroic deeds.” — Krishnamurti

It can be difficult to get noticed as a photographer, especially in today’s competitive online world. However, there are a few things you can do to overcome obscurity and start building a following. Let’s look at five.

1. Find your niche. What kind of photography are you passionate about? What makes your work unique? Once you know your niche, you can start to target your marketing efforts towards people who are interested in the same things. When we speak about niche it easily gets dismissed especially in these times. Impatience is what is overshadowing artists. Seriously! They start a thing for two weeks, it doesn’t work because they expected too much, then they switch boats. Why do they switch boats? Because they don’t find anything productive coming from it. Is it not crazy. Finding your niche is crucial to breaking out of obscurity.
2. Build a strong online presence. Create a website and social media accounts to showcase your work. Make sure your website is well-designed and easy to navigate, and that your social media posts are high-quality and engaging. Look, it’s hard work. Don’t be deceived by these online gurus. Don’t watch YouTube for one hour and conclude that being a content creator is an easy job and that it’s a job that requires less effort. That’s far from true. Building a strong online presence demands your attention.
3. Network with other photographers and creatives. Attend industry events, join online communities, and collaborate with other photographers on projects. Networking is a great way to get your work in front of new people and learn from other professionals. “Your network is your net worth.” — Porter Gale. In Ghana, we say you need connections in order to enter some places. This is true everywhere. You need connections and nobody is going to do that for you bro! You do it yourself. You’re a photographer? Welcome to the game of being a business person. Build your own path to success.
4. Submit your work to publications and galleries. Once you have a portfolio of work that you’re proud of, start submitting it to publications and galleries. This is a great way to get your work seen by a wider audience and potentially get hired for new projects. Share your work.
5. Be patient and persistent. It takes time and effort to build a successful career as a photographer. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. Just keep creating great work and putting yourself out there, and eventually, you will start to see success.

Thank you for checking out this article. If this brought you value, do well to check my book for beginner photographers and subscribe to my podcast.

Bless.