You’ve dreamt of becoming a successful professional photographer. The probably is that so have many other amateur photographers. Take a quick search of the professionals available in your area, and you’ll quickly see that it’s not like there’s a shortage. While it’s easy to become disheartened by your chances, don’t fall into the trap of thinking it’s an impossible dream. It’s not. But you will have to find a way to stand out from the crowd. Below, we take a look at five ways to give yourself an edge.

Bring Your Warmth

There’s definitely room for those moody, brooding artists in the creative world, but it’s not a recommended path to take. If you’re interacting with other people, then bring your warmth. You can be difficult to work with once you’ve established yourself a photography superstar. Up until that point, it’s all about showing your personality. When you’re photographing others, they’re the star, not you. Treat your clients like a superstar, and as a friend. You’ll also get much better shots if your clients feel comfortable with you. If you don’t like hanging out with people, then you might have to find a way to break into the nature photography game.

Unique Angles

If you want to stand out from the crowd of photographers, then…you’ll need to have something that makes you stand out from the crowd. For your business, find a unique angle. Marie Vanderpool Photography doesn’t just shoot weddings; she shoots elopements. How cool is that? There are a million and one photographers who turn up at a wedding and shoot the same shots over and over again. Get creative, come up with something you rarely see, and get your name out there. If it’s a good idea, then people will approach you.

Say Yes

Everyone has to pay their dues, and especially when it’s a creative endeavor. When you’re just starting out, say yes to all paid opportunities. Whether you have the opportunity to photograph Domonique Rogers NC State or a local wedding, say yes! Notice that we said ‘paid opportunities’ there. There’ll be plenty of clients who want free labor; leave them to other people. They’re overrated. You might have to work hard if you’re saying yes to everything, and it might not always be the most interesting work, but you’ll be diversifying your portfolio, and jobs have a habit of snowballing into more jobs.

The Power of Social Media

When you take a job for a client, your work is going to be seen by…you, the client, and whoever they show the photos too. Not many people, is it? So leverage social media. Post your best work, and make sure it gets seen by as many people as possible. If people like what they see, they’ll contact you, even if it’s cross-country.

Be Damn Good

Don’t forget: there’s no substitute for talent. Work on your skills, invest in the best equipment, and view every job as a learning opportunity. So long as you continue to develop, your photographs will become more and more interesting over time, and you’ll be ahead of the others out there.