The Niches of Photography

There are many different niches in photography that can all be attributed to marketing photography. To name a few: real estate,  portrait, wedding, graduation, and even food. These are all types/niches of photography. Personally, I don't think I've found my niche yet however there are many photographers that have and stick to their niche. In every niche, the overall goal of these photos is to advertise or market something. A question you might have is "How would wedding photography advertise?" Well, just because a client or individual isn't 'selling' a product, they are advertising the fact that they had a wedding in addition to having those keepsake memories. With all photography, a photo is advertising something: an idea, a person, a place, thing, or brand. Let's dive in to a few different categories and explore what they are and why people want these types of photos.

Image by Penh Alicandro

Wedding Photography

Probably the most fast-paced of all the niches, with wedding photography, photographers get one chance. When I say photographers get one chance, I mean during the ceremony or reception. Photographers can't say "oh could you re-do that pose/kiss?" That would interrupt the flow of the whole event. They are supposed to become a 'fly-on-the-wall' and be as least noticeable as possible. In almost every instance, photographers are asked to take photos before ceremonies and main events such as bride-maids photos, bride and groom photos, etc. These are not as fast-paced since they can be asked to switch poses and move around to get the right shot. Lastly, this can arguably be one of the best-paying niches.

Real Estate Photography

When you're selling your house, you want to showcase it in the best light (pun intended) possible. Real estate agents might take some photos on their iPhone to show clients quickly, but real estate agencies might hire photographers to showcase properties with their visions. This way, the properties can appear grander and more put-together than an iPhone could portray. Real estate photography includes, but is not limited to: photos of interior rooms like bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms, exterior images of sides of the house, and aerial images from the sky looking down to showcase the entire property.

When looking at photos of expensive properties or fancy houses, nine out of ten times these are going to be wallpaper-worthy images rather than something someone quickly snapped. Homeowners want the best listing possible so their house sells. Here, the ultimate goal of having quality photos is the sale of your house.

Pet Photography

Woof-woof! In my experience, people always want images of their pets. Not necessarily just iPhone shots of them sitting in bed, but well-composed shots in different poses and locations; almost like a graduation shoot for your pet. The only thing here is that a lot of people don't want to spend an arm and a leg on a photographer solely for their pet.

Portrait Photography

Lastly we have portrait photography. This includes but is not limited to professional headshots (think LinkedIn or other business photos), graduation shoots, or school (yearbook) photos. Even wedding photography can be classified as portrait photography. More often, this niche is considered a type since some shoots require more than just portraits. However, there are often a large need for portrait photographers. What goes into a portrait shoot would be poses, lighting, and color grading in post production. This all goes together to produce a well-thought out image that the client is happy with and can use in whatever situation they desire.

Image by Penh Alicandro