There are numerous photographers and photography blogs in the world that will say over and over that you have to niche and specialize that you can not be a jack of all trades. Are they right? That answer is a little harder because what is right for one creative is not necessarily going to be right for another.

Specializing will make you an expert in your area, your images can and will eventually be top of the line and you will be worth every dime you charge for your expertise. You will have the ability to get comfortable in your style, area, and develop a long and potentially lasting clientele.

Yet jacks of all trades work in a variety of fields with a variety of specialities. They can one day be photographing new borns to the next shooting high speed action and events. No two days are the same for them and they thrive with the variety of experiences. The down side is they are not an expert in any niche, some they won’t enjoy or take on at all, and others they will salivate for.

Another downside is they may not have the most stable clientele since they are representing many genre’s within photography. That can make their business and income unsteadier than the photographer who chooses to niche and build a steady client base that knows they for their particular work.

I am definitely considered a Jscks of All Trades Photographer. I have worked in nearly all the niches, newborn, wedding, portraiture, sports, and events, etc. I have found I generally do not prefer newborn sessions, I love the feeling of creating so portraiture, studio, and modeling appeal to me, as does high action and event photography.

It’s why I have spent years traveling as a photographer doing different kinds of portraits and of course shooting rodeo action. As my work has continued I have bounced all over including commercial and marketing work which has lead me to develop an interest and additional talent for graphic design.

I do have a very diverse clientele and there are day’s I wish I had niched and had a consistent and expected clientele. Yet I wouldn’t give up the experiences I have had for the world. I have learned my style forwards and backwards, I have mastered my camera and I have worked in many challenging situations.

All the challenges made me a better photographer. Do I sometimes wish I had niched, occasionally but mostly I love that I haven’t limited the pool of amazing sessions. So much so I couldn’t even share half of what I have done it the images above.

No matter what kind of photographer you decide to be, be the one that is best for you. Do not let the professionals of the world tell you, you aren’t a real photographer if you do not specialize. Because after all ‘A jack of all trades is a master of none, but often times better than a master of one.’