Committing to a single direction - Photoclub - Fotocommunity Alternative und Fotoforum

Andreas Bibas 26.08.2022, 14:01 #1

Committing to a direction

To Commit or Not to Commit – Choosing What to Photograph

Speaking for myself, I'm still searching for the style that truly defines me in photography.
For years, I've been asking myself—what direction do I prefer?
Is it landscapes, street photography, macro, panoramas, or something else?
I'm really curious to hear what you all think about this.
As for me, I can only say that I'm still on that journey.
Do you think this kind of preference can change over the course of a lifetime?

Andreas F 26.08.2022, 14:52 #2

@Andreas Bibas

Why search? Life changes. Your perspective on photography changes too. It’s not necessarily a bad thing to not know your direction or to follow it.

Best, Andreas

In Pictvs 26.08.2022, 15:21 #3

I believe everyone should photograph whatever they're feeling inspired by at the moment, no matter the genre their idea falls into. That said, it's important to experiment across all styles. The learning experience is huge. Eventually, you'll realize that the approach is almost the same across every genre😉

Ilonka S. 26.08.2022, 16:59 #4

Hello everyone,
I’ve asked myself this question too: what do you want to photograph, what brings you the most joy? That’s why I started with dear Mother Nature and animal photos. But over time, it became a bit monotonous, even boring, so I thought about making it more interesting for myself! I began exploring with a more photographic eye.
Nowadays, I still enjoy photographing nature and animals, but I also capture old cars/classics, vintage technology, macros, and I love visiting open-air museums—I’m really into anything nostalgic. Some time ago, I started experimenting with digital art, which is perfect for those long winter evenings. Somehow, I find everything fascinating and like to try out lots of different things.

Heinz Licht 27.08.2022, 09:36 #5

There is no set direction, just areas of focus.

Ilonka S. 27.08.2022, 09:38 #6

@Heinz Licht You nailed it!🙂

Leo Rothner 29.08.2022, 07:26 #7

I’d like to approach the question from a different angle.
What are your personal preferences? Do you see yourself more as a generalist or a specialist?
A generalist tends to have a broad range of knowledge and skills that cover many areas of photography. A specialist, on the other hand, invests much more time and energy into focusing on a specific niche. I believe the choice between these paths really comes down to your personality traits.
Best, Leo

Ilonka S. 29.08.2022, 09:25 #8

@Leo Rothner Hi Leo, I think this question might actually come up right at the start of one’s photography journey. You often develop a particular fondness for a certain subject—like animals or nature—and stick with it. Or, over time, you might find that focusing on the same subjects no longer satisfies you because you’ve already taken countless photos of animals, for example. That’s when you start exploring new directions—that’s how it happened for me, at least. But the great thing about photography, as with many other fields, is that you’re always learning and discovering new things.
So, I can’t give a clear-cut answer to this question or direction.

Andreas F 01.09.2022, 13:35 #9

@Heinz Licht You hit the nail on the head!🙂

Hello Ilona,

I have to disagree with you. I believe the term "direction" is appropriate, and within that direction, there may indeed be a focus area.
The term "direction" can also be referred to as a topic area, photo genre, or photo style. Within these topic areas, there will be specific focuses.
To say there is no direction at all strikes me as an absolutely incorrect statement.

Best regards, Andreas

asterix o 01.10.2022, 23:54 #10

An intriguing topic that can be viewed from multiple perspectives. Committing means specializing and likely gaining quality; at the same time, it probably involves a loss of enjoyment and challenge. Andreas mentioned earlier that life changes; I believe we should accept—or even seek out—change as the only constant process in order to find extra motivation through new challenges.

Raffaele Capozzi 06.01.2023, 14:59 #11

@Andreas Bibas
You really hit the nail on the head, Andreas. At first, I didn’t give much thought to what I wanted to photograph. A landscape here, a sunset there, a flower over there… To some extent, I just photographed and copied whatever I liked from other photographers. Along the way, I read books about photography and kept coming across the same advice: Find your own photographic style! Honestly, that used to annoy me. I thought: I’m not going to limit myself like that! But nowadays, I see things differently.

If photography is just a hobby and something you do for your own enjoyment, nothing stops you from photographing whatever catches your eye. But if you have any artistic or commercial ambitions, the first rule—no matter what field you’re in—is: FIND YOUR NICHE! As long as there’s no consistent thread running through your photos—whether it’s a particular subject you keep returning to, or the fact that you always shoot with a 1/20s shutter speed, for example—if you don’t find a unique signature that sets you apart, you’ll never be taken seriously as a true photographer. Your images might be technically and compositionally perfect, but without that unique element, they’ll always feel incomplete. On the other hand, if you made it your mission to photograph every public restroom urinal you could find, even if you were a mediocre photographer, your work would fill galleries and you’d have tens of thousands of followers on Instagram.

But how do you find your own photographic style? For me, it took years before I realized I had a special eye for architectural photography. And if others hadn’t kept pointing it out, I might never have noticed myself. At first, I found architectural photography boring. It was a type of photography that came easily to me, which made it feel neither exciting nor valuable. But ironically, those were the photos outsiders appreciated the most (much to my frustration). Today, I believe that outsiders often recognize your true strengths better than you do yourself. And since I started taking architectural photography more seriously, I’ve begun to enjoy it. Of course, architectural photography is a broad field and hardly a niche yet. I’m still far from having my own photographic style, and maybe I never will. But at least I’ve found a thematic focus. I still photograph all kinds of things, but architectural shots clearly dominate.

You can’t force your own photographic style. But if you stick with it long enough, it might just emerge naturally. For some, it takes longer; for others, it comes sooner.

N N 06.01.2023, 15:25 #12

@Andreas

I'm still searching...
Life changes also bring about an inner transformation—a realignment of priorities, a new perspective on the world around me, and perhaps a growing ability to be truly attentive (to the world, people, nature...).
All of this will be reflected in my photography as well...
Many years ago, I had a passion for all kinds of nature subjects—people, architecture, and other themes didn’t interest me much...
When traveling, I was always on the lookout for the extraordinary...
Then came a turning point: a serious hiking accident forced me to rethink things—hiking is now off the table, and I’m searching for subjects that challenge me and ultimately satisfy me after editing... I still need to rediscover and develop my own style anew...

Leo Rothner 06.01.2023, 15:30 #13

@ Raffaele Capozzi

Thank you for your contribution.
I’d like to pose a (provocative) question in response.
What does having artistic ambition have to do with finding a niche? Why should an artist have a unique selling point? Why should I be taken seriously as an artist? Why should I have followers on Instagram?
Art, in the broadest sense, refers to any developed human activity based on knowledge, practice, perception, imagination, and intuition [1].

Okay, that was four questions ;-)

Best, Leo

[1] Wikipedia

Norbert Dreyer 18.01.2023, 08:05 #14

Why should I limit myself in photography? I want to stay open to everything I find interesting. My goal is to take compelling photos, whether it’s landscapes, macro shots, or portraits. I always try to keep an open mind. After all, I’m photographing for fun.

Andreas Siepracki 18.01.2023, 14:08 #15

@Andreas Bibas At some point in life, everyone probably asks themselves this question, and the same goes for hobbies like photography. In my opinion, it generally doesn’t make sense to stay stuck unless you feel you haven’t yet reached your goals. But if you feel like you’re just treading water and the activity that once brought you joy is starting to feel stale, then it’s definitely time to shift your focus—whether just a little or quite a bit. Sometimes your passion for the old things comes back, sometimes you discover new interests, and sometimes you can even combine both to find joy and inspiration. I mainly photograph insects, which naturally limits me seasonally (I haven’t caught a woolly bear moth in December yet, for example), so during the insect-free months, I think about what else I could capture. And every year, I look forward to when the buzzing and humming return...

Long story short:

Don’t box yourself in or hesitate to try new things. Ultimately, as Andreas F. said, life itself shows you what’s possible...

Best,

AS

Jochen Petry 30.01.2023, 21:59 #16

There’s no reason to limit yourself to anything—whether you’re a professional or just a hobbyist. Shoot what brings in money or what you enjoy. Why restrict yourself? It doesn’t benefit anyone and usually just leads to a dead end. There’s no need to put blinders on yourself—unless, of course, you like wearing blinders.

Winfried Berberich 03.03.2023, 11:34 #17

This should be viewed from different perspectives.
As a professional, I can’t be both a food photographer and a landscape photographer at the same time. A professional chooses or finds a specific subject to focus on. Only then can they excel in it.
My focus is on church and sculpture photography. That’s what I’ve trained for and specialized in. As a master photographer and art historian (M.A.), this is what I’ve “learned” and what I enjoy. I could do food photography too—I have the equipment—but I wouldn’t come close to the specialists in that field. That’s the professional side.
Now, about amateurs:
There are specialists among them as well (street, architecture, landscape, animals, etc.). But amateurs can and should photograph whatever they enjoy; they don’t have assignments to fulfill. Therefore, they don’t need to specialize—there are plenty of subjects to explore. This is the essence of a hobby: it’s meant to be fun and fulfilling. You see something that stands out to you and you photograph it. Professionals do this too, when they have the time and their camera is handy. But they have to earn a living, and if they’re specialists—and good ones—they get hired because they’re known for a particular style or subject.
Thanks to my books, I’ve made a name for myself within my circles. Sure, old art is a niche market, so there aren’t many photographers in that area. Many find it boring. But I still enjoy it after 50 years and continue because a) once a photographer, always a photographer, and b) I love photography and simply can’t stop.
Now that I’m officially retired, I’m no longer tied down, and my range of subjects has expanded.

Romano Engler 21.11.2023, 22:25 #18

I also think it’s important to distinguish between a professional and an amateur mindset. Ideally, you enjoy what you do professionally, but that’s not always the case or it doesn’t always stay that way. As a professional, everyone aims to become an absolute expert in their field, so making money usually means focusing on a niche—and within that niche, you have to deliver exactly what the client wants. As an amateur, you have complete freedom to do whatever you want and what you enjoy, and you can change that anytime you like.

Maybe it also depends on the type of person? Some like to plan, prepare, and set everything up perfectly, while others prefer to be surprised, stay spontaneous, and take a more reactive approach.

Uwe Naumann 21.11.2023, 22:53 #19

@Romano Engler
"As an amateur, you have the freedom to do whatever you want AND enjoy it, and you can change that anytime 🙂."

Above all, being an amateur means having the freedom not to do certain things.

Romano Engler 21.11.2023, 23:06 #20

@Uwe Naumann That’s true, of course—if you’re a professional, you have to be able to afford it financially, unless you’re in such high demand that clients are lining up at your door.

Winfried Berberich 14.01.2024, 13:32 #21

@Romano Engler
These days, no one’s rushing to your door. Being a professional means constantly knocking on doors, chasing after gigs, and doing sales outreach. Even the most well-known photographers have to do this.
But the future looks bleak, thanks to AI. It’s becoming more and more prevalent. In the future, fakes will become the norm. I’m glad I don’t have to play that game anymore.
My photos are stored on my own servers and are regularly ordered by other publishers. It’s a nice little extra income for retirement. Instead of photography, which I now only do casually on vacation, I’ve devoted myself to astronomy—though that’s been a hobby for 40 years. But only visually and through drawing. The only type of photography I’ve stayed loyal to is architectural photography—that was just how it was, and even today, it still holds me as a photographer.

Jens Fischbach 20.01.2024, 18:02 #22

Hello, photography has been a hobby of mine for about 20 years now. I find it really fascinating and I’m constantly learning, both in practice and in post-processing, even as a retiree.
What I have done, though, is create two Instagram accounts—one for color photos and one for black and white.
My biggest challenge in photography is finding people who are willing to experiment in front of the camera. I’d love to practice shooting by a window or using continuous light and flash, but even when I offer TFP sessions, nothing comes of it in my area. And photography clubs just aren’t my thing... (all about higher, faster, further, better, newer, “check out my latest trip,” and so on). I’m more of a lone wolf. Best regards

Jochen Petry 21.01.2024, 14:25 #23

@Jens Fischbach
If you want to find people willing to be photographed by you, you need to approach them.
Without that, it’s not going to happen.
Having a decent portfolio is practically essential to bring your chances into a realistic range.
Because if it’s unclear what to expect from you and your photos, very few people will be interested in standing in front of your camera.
And yes, it’s work. Time-consuming, frustrating, and often discouraging, even if you’ve been doing it successfully for a long time.
But working with people is the most rewarding part.

Ulf Simon 21.01.2024, 21:47 #24

I’ve never really had trouble connecting with colleagues or casually starting a joint session. And there were always models within my circle of friends and acquaintances. That was back in the analog days when I was around 30, active in a vibrant artist community: photographers, painters, graphic designers, musicians, poets, writers, sculptors, performance artists... pretty much everything. But fundamentally, something like that should still be possible today—being a lone wolf isn’t necessarily bad during the actual creative process, but before and after, it can be more of a hindrance. Even an oddball like me can always find like-minded people.

Jens Fischbach 22.01.2024, 00:19 #25

@Jochen Petry I've already done 3 workshops with my "own model" and also a few photo shoots. I've been photographing for over 20 years...
I'm really interested in experimenting with different lighting setups, flashes, lamps, and poses. I’m not expecting professional models or top-tier looks—everything these days seems to have to happen quickly. Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone who can spare 2 hours or is interested in TFP.
Unfortunately, I don’t really have much family left; there are only about 6 people in my immediate circle.

Since smartphone cameras have gotten so good, I feel like it’s become even harder. Now AI is coming into the mix as well. I’m not the most outgoing person and live quite a secluded life in the countryside, so it’s not exactly easy.
I’ll get around to building a portfolio... I’m sure I’ll have a few opportunities at weddings in May...
Best, Jens

Jochen Petry 23.01.2024, 20:02 #26

@Jens Fischbach
If you’ve already completed three workshops, you should have enough photos to put together a first portfolio.
So go ahead and create one! Then make it available online, have it handy on your smartphone, and ideally also as a traditional physical portfolio.
Having relevant images to show significantly increases your chances of success.
Then reach out to the right prospects and expect about a 90% rejection rate—don’t let that discourage you. Good luck!

Jens Fischbach 23.01.2024, 22:04 #27

Thanks for the encouraging words! I'll give it a try and keep you updated.

Ulf Simon 23.02.2024, 22:42 #28

I have a somewhat different perspective on all of this. I didn’t come directly from photography but from the broader field of visual arts. Before I replaced simple point-and-shoot cameras with a proper camera, I was already working as a painter and in printmaking (etching). For me, photography is just another technique. Early on, I focused heavily on nude, portrait, and bodypainting work (also as a painter), and in the 80s and early 90s, I even had some success with exhibitions. Commercially, it was only enough to cover its own costs—at least expenses like analog film and model fees.

During my studies, I encountered architecture, and later, while working as an engineer, I explored the morbid side of things based on that, including during my travels. At that point, I no longer had time to work with models. Through my political engagement, I eventually moved into nature photography, and now (with a bigger budget) I’m also exploring macro and micro photography. But I don’t think I’ll ever commit to just one direction—at most, I set certain focuses for specific periods. Hopefully, when I’m semi-retired and have a bit more time, I’ll get back to painting more regularly.

Manfred Klimmeck 13.03.2024, 20:35 #29

I'm simply "style-less," and I'm perfectly fine with that. Of course, my photos aren't going to fill a gallery or create a photo book—but that's not my goal. I try to notice something that's not immediately obvious, capture it, and then share it. It could be an old truck, a withered flower, a puddle, a broken window pane—anything, really.

No matter which lens I'm using or how "boring" the place might seem, I always find something. If nothing else, it might be a manhole cover at night, specially lit up with my smartphone, or something else entirely.

Romano Engler 27.05.2024, 23:31 #30

Good question, but not an easy answer...
If you want to pursue photography professionally and make a living from it, I believe it makes sense to specialize—though not necessarily in a rigid way—in order to become one of the best in your chosen niche, especially for competitive reasons. However, it’s important not only to focus on WHAT you photograph but also on HOW you do it, cultivating your own unique style.
In more casual or personal photography, experimenting and trying new things outside your usual comfort zone can definitely be more enjoyable and help you grow.

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