Let's face it, it's tough being an artist and entrepreneur at the same time. You have the tasks of being creative with all its characteristics while at the same time managing a business and getting real with the hard facts. I agree that it takes a lot of hard work coming up with a wide array of skills to compensate for the road ahead. But among all the chaos of developing yourself and the company you run, a certain image and style starts to emerge. Something unique to you and only you. It's a great feeling to find something that speaks true to you and even greater if you have someone to listen and exchange with. Finding an audience for your work is a mixed bag of natural attraction and deliberate effort of seeking those who will become your fans. Playing both aggressive and passive interchangeably will give you a balanced outcome for your ideal audience.
“In the beginning there was everything. Knowing nothing except the possibilities of it all.”
Honestly, I've heard from both camps saying the general message divides into something like this. "Grab hold of whatever you can get" or "Specialize and work your way into one area only" The thing which really bugs a lot of people is that both are fundamentally right. It all depends on your preferences and which path you want to take your business.
In my humble opinion as a photographer this information generally applies to anyone running a business in their beginning stages. I would suggest to take everything that comes your way. Why? If you've never tried it, how will you know if you like it or not? Before your ready to settle into something it's best to satisfy curiosity and explore the possibilities. That way when you've really made the decision to stay somewhere you'll know you've tried all other alternatives and be all the more confident in your choices.
Taking on so much can seem overwhelming at first but if your up for the challenge then get ready for a massive boost in accelerating your growth because you'll be broadening your skill set over a wide range of areas enabling higher levels of potential in your business. The gift I've received from taking on everything has enabled me to find ways to learn quickly but also transferring the skills I received from each niche and complimenting them together. For example I started shooting in bars and clubs and become skilled in handling low light. Also getting to know the performers got me to create portrait sessions for them. That in turn gave me the foundation to shoot for weddings and family which then turned into understanding the business process and brought me to another level of working with commercial clients.
To see the connections across each niche gives me the motivation to always try new areas I'm unfamiliar with. Once business starts to set in you'll naturally begin to be selective on what type of work you take on. Automatically finding a niche into work that speaks to you while you've tested the market and received tangible results on what's in demand.
“In the end there was nothing. Only a handful of them but I knew profoundly.”
This can take years to accomplish. Especially if your starting off with doing everything under the sun. But like I mentioned you'll gravitate towards three to five areas you enjoy the most. Some like fashion or fine art can take longer to break into but if you keep that flame alive and work smart you'll eventually get there. It does require you to make a conscious decision though.
You'll have to start weeding out the other things that don't speak to you in order to make room for the things that do. The mindset here is to think long term. Write down your goals and direction on paper. Make it real as much as possible. Build a plan and set it in motion. Eventually trying to please everyone will leave you drained and stretched out to thin. Take the time to consider what you enjoy producing the most and keep your mind on the vision.
Like I said in the beginning, most areas I've done helped me develop the brand and businesses I have today. But we all first go through a process of discovery. Honor it and be flexible to what comes your way and learn all the aspects of the art. Know that your style is always in fluctuation but there's always a core that identifies you from the rest of the crowd. Once you find it, it won't matter how many areas you venture into. The style you create over and over will tie them all together into your voice and expression. A mixture of being naturally open to the change and seeking new work in uncharted territories will be a never ending benefit to your skills and business knowledge.
Always check in with yourself and choose which areas you love most and stick to them to the very end. Be flexible, change and watch yourself sky rocket to massive growth in all aspects of your life and business!
Keep Snappin'!
Chris from MKMI Photo