subject: Southern California Photographer - Pick A Specialty [print this page] There are many photographers in the So Cal area that have a certain thing they do well. While many of them say that they will do a variety of different jobs, one can often tell by the quality of the pictures taken that they prefer to do one thing over another. If the pictures of art look rather ordinary but the outdoor shots are impeccable, maybe the photographer enjoys the outdoors more. Sometimes the wedding photos are beautiful but the fashion shots are drab and ordinary. It could lead one to believe that the photographer prefers working at weddings. A southern California photographer should be versatile, but they should all have one specialty.
Being a jack-of-all-trades may sound good in theory, but it only means that all of your work will be average, not great. No one approaches two different jobs the same way; it's impossible. A southern California photographer who is interested in fashion photography, for example, can't approach shooting models wearing designer clothes at a West Hollywood boutique with the same enthusiasm as shooting a piece of art at the museum downtown. While a job is a job, it's obvious that this particular photographer would rather be shooting clothes, but will take a job doing something different if it means paying the bills.
This is not to say that photographers need to limit themselves. Feel free to be as creative as your mind will let you. However, people naturally have likes and dislikes. As a southern California photographer, there are subjects you'll enjoy shooting, and there are ones you don't. Of course, you have the option of just not taking the job that involves shooting something you don't enjoy, but if it's the only job available and the rent's due, you just might have to take it.
This is what is meant by "specialty." Do one or two things well, and be competent in the rest. We all strive to be the best at what we do, but let's face it - there are things about our jobs we like and things about our jobs we hate. If you enjoy great views of the mountains because they enhance the pictures you take, then taking jobs in the Inland Empire won't bother you as much. If you enjoy shooting along the beach, then seek jobs that won't take you east of the 405. Being a southern California photographer allows a lot of leeway to do specialize like this. Even professional photographers who have dabbled in several types of photography have a couple of areas they enjoy.
