Are you a specialist or generalist?

[Vtec44]

I'm a specialist. I only do a particular type of photography in a particular style. It doesn't mean that I can't shoot other type of photography or style, but it's just my preference.

 

[pixmedic]

Definitely specialized, and quite content to be so.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[Designer]

I always heard it's best to specialize, but I didn't [emoji16]. I do weddings, newborn, family portraits, and seniors.

Ah... so it's all portraiture, then.

Nothing wrong with that.

 

[chuasam]

Definitely specialized, and quite content to be so.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

I'm trained in food, macro, abstract when I was in school. As much as I like food, my food photography was my weakest as I really sucked at plating.
I did landscape too...and that sucked cuz I hated being outdoors for more than 30 minutes at a time.
I do like travel photography but only with my mirrorless, point and shoot or my cellphone (cuz I'm essentially lazy).

 

[paigew]

I always heard it's best to specialize, but I didn't [emoji16]. I do weddings, newborn, family portraits, and seniors.

Ah... so it's all portraiture, then.

Nothing wrong with that.

I suppose so! For some reason when I first read and responded to this thread I thought it was a "do you specialize professionally" question. I think I read one of the replies vs the op when I saw it pop up on the app. My bad!

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[webestang64]

I specialize in generalness.

 

[Gary A.]

I specialize in mediocrity

And you have excelled in that endeavor.

 

[jcdeboever]

I specialize in mediocrity

And you have excelled in that endeavor.

Thanks

 

[Gary A.]

I specialize in mediocrity

And you have excelled in that endeavor.

Thanks

 

[tirediron]

the most successful pro photographers I've seen out there are extremely niche.
attempting to be good at various genres means you're spreading your skill and marketing thin.
I've seen photographers who are very successful shooting something as nice as glass jars and food tins.

I've seen the very best niche photographers travel the world (being paid by clients) to shoot a very specific item.

Trying to be everything to everyone is how a lot of department stores are failing.

Location has a GREAT deal to do with this. In a town of 22,000 people, if a client wants family photos, I shoot family photos. If they want real estate, I shoot real estate. Specializing is great, but it's not always practical. Shooting left hand weddings on slide film with an 8x10 view camera isn't going to put a lot of food on my table.

 

[DanOstergren]

Specialist for sure. I don't really have an interest in any other sector of photography beside portraits.

 

[petrochemist]

Photography wise around a third of what I shoot is Infra Red, but I'll shoot just about anything under the sun & occasionally a few other things too! (stars & the sun itself) so I guess I'm a generalist still.

At work I'm in a highly specialized role so I can still be a specialist

 

[susinead]

If the choices are either special or general then my answer is most certainly yes.

I couldn't agree more!!!
General for the purpose of learning and improving skills, but certain types of photography interest me more.

 

[benhasajeep]

I am a specialized generalist! Basically a Jack of all Cameras. Well used to be. I don't do MF any more (don't even have the equipment). And been a decade since any LF work (still have the equipment).