Prove Your Niche
Photos That Define Your Niche
Welcome to This Week's Edition of The Carty Method Magazine!
This week, we challenged our photographers to prove their niche.
Why?
Because establishing a niche is a game-changer.
It’s how potential clients find you. It’s how collaborations happen. It’s how you stand out.
The market values specialists.
Those who master a specific style or industry become the go-to choice.
Trying to be everything to everyone?
That can limit your creativity—and make it harder to attract the right clients.
This week’s Photo of the Week winners didn’t just take great shots.
They owned their niche and showed why it matters.
Get ready to be inspired.
Let’s dive in!
Assignment Brief
CARTY gives a tight brief at the end of his photo review shows which tells us shooters what we have to shoot exactly for the following weeks review.
Here is this assignment exactly how he shares it.
“This weeks Assignment: Prove Your Niche”.
"Show me a photo so that I have never seen your photography. This photo would immediately tell me your niche.
Include your website or IG so that I can see that you’re shooting in your Niche.
The key to success in this assignment lies in creating an image that serves as an instant portfolio signature piece, making your specialization immediately clear to viewers."
Frank Thom
When selecting this image for the assignment, what made you feel it best represented your niche?
I selected the image because it was part of a series of musician portraits that I've been working on.
What specific elements in this image make it uniquely yours? What choices did you make that separate your work from others in the same niche?
I attempted to use shallow depth of field, and mix natural lighting with strobe lighting.
What is one key takeaway from this assignment that will impact how you shoot moving forward?
Don't use HSS; focus on slower shutter speeds and show the environment.
If a particular brand is shown (e.g. the Fender logo on a guitar) don't cut it off - include it so I can tag the brand.
Refine my niche; my website portfolio has too many confusing niches.
Shoot with editorial uses in mind (horizontal & vertical formats)
Rework my Instagram - WIP
How do you plan to refine and strengthen your niche in the coming months? Are there specific techniques, themes, or subjects you want to explore further?
Continue to use assignments to refine my work and narrow my niche.
Do you see this image becoming a key piece in your portfolio? If so, how does it elevate your body of work?
No, not this one. I think I could strengthen this image by incorporating the feedback into a new shoot.
Social Media Handles:
Website: frankthom.com
LaMont DeSal
Instagram: lamontdesal
Website: lamontdesal.com
Chris Foster
When selecting this image for the assignment, what made you feel it best represented your niche?
My niche is product photography and I intend to focus on luxury brands.
This watch is from one of my favorite luxury watch brands, Tag Heuer so it fit my niche exactly.
What specific elements in this image make it uniquely yours? What choices did you make that separate your work from others in the same niche?
Tough question as I’m still trying to find and define my signature style.
I would have to go with the clean lines and attention to and inclusion of the brand color scheme in this particular image.
What is one key takeaway from this assignment that will impact how you shoot moving forward?
My key takeaway is that while finding the right light in product photography is a unique challenge with every product, this assignment showed me that I really enjoy those challenges and creating unique product images.
How do you plan to refine and strengthen your niche in the coming months? Are there specific techniques, themes, or subjects you want to explore further?
I intend to take Carty’s advice and shoot the next one with strobes and to find unique ways to capture the essence of my chosen products with deliberate lighting techniques.
Do you see this image becoming a key piece in your portfolio? If so, how does it elevate your body of work?
I feel it’s a great start and looking forward to improving on this shot with what I’ve learned in the review to create even stronger images.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: chris_fosterphotography
Michael Stimatze
When selecting this image for the assignment, what made you feel it best represented your niche?
It has all the right elements of my niche.
I am an editorial photographer capturing the blue collar life.
What specific elements in this image make it uniquely yours? What choices did you make that separate your work from others in the same niche?
There are not that many editorial photographers making photos like this.
My style is simple lighting, real life scenario with little pretext.
Get it as close as possible in camera with minor post adjustments.
What is one key takeaway from this assignment that will impact how you shoot moving forward?
Aligning my online presence to what I what to be shooting.
I was inspired to get my website up and curate my socials to show who I am as a photographer.
How do you plan to refine and strengthen your niche in the coming months? Are there specific techniques, themes, or subjects you want to explore further?
I want to add more lifestyle and environmental work into my portfolio.
I will be adding more people using the tools and interacting with the environments that make up my niche.
Do you see this image becoming a key piece in your portfolio? If so, how does it elevate your body of work?
I don't think this one will be a key piece in my portfolio but I do feel this elevates my portfolio.
This week's photo will have a place in my book, but I know that it will be replaced as I make new and better photos.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: michael_stimatze
Website: michaelstimatze.com
Mats Karlsson
When selecting this image for the assignment, what made you feel it best represented your niche?
I like making these kind of portraits.
Pretty close-up, light and shadow, in this case Rembrandt lighting.
All these things makes this picture show my niche and style.
What specific elements in this image make it uniquely yours? What choices did you make that separate your work from others in the same niche?
I try to convey feelings in my portraits and to show the subjects personality and feeling in the moment.
No distractions in the frame to put the focus on the subject.
That might not be unique for me, but it's something that I aim for in my photos.
What is one key takeaway from this assignment that will impact how you shoot moving forward?
This assignment made me think about my niche and my style.
It made me think about how to develop my work to make my photos different, but still keep my style.
How do you plan to refine and strengthen your niche in the coming months? Are there specific techniques, themes, or subjects you want to explore further?
I would like to explore my niche by trying more environmental portraiture.
I want to make portraits inside nice spaces as I also have an interest in interior design and architecture.
I would like to try combining portraits and architecture.
I will also do more outside nature and urban portraits as spring arrives.
Do you see this image becoming a key piece in your portfolio? If so, how does it elevate your body of work?
I will keep this in my portfolio to start, as a typical portrait made by me.
I update my portfolio rather frequently, so we will see how it manages to keep a spot as I produce more photos in the coming months.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: matskarlssonphotography
Website: matskarlssonphotography.com
Best In Show
Ian Martin
Website: ianmartin.photos
Instagram: ianmartin.photos
Mike Morrison
When selecting this image for the assignment, what made you feel it best represented your niche?
I felt a motorcycle with no distracting background elements would leave no doubt I'm in the automotive niche.
What specific elements in this image make it uniquely yours? What choices did you make that separate your work from others in the same niche?
The 2015 Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited was light painted with 30 second exposure using 3 stacked images.
Light painting is like adding a fingerprint.
It makes the image unique and it pops.
What is one key takeaway from this assignment that will impact how you shoot moving forward?
I used a 10 foot wide cloth back drop that used a lot of space and still didn't cover the entire bike.
Moving forward I need to work on this process.
How do you plan to refine and strengthen your niche in the coming months? Are there specific techniques, themes, or subjects you want to explore further?
I'm looking for locations.
Florida has a flat mostly boring landscape.
Rural buildings make an ugly background.
There are limited beach vehicle access points.
I'm using Photopills app, google maps, and following other local photographers to scope out areas and just continuing to refine.
Aside from that I am heavily involved in motorsports and working on outreach with media/magazine providers.
Do you see this image becoming a key piece in your portfolio? If so, how does it elevate your body of work?
Yes, the work from this image went into my portfolio immediately and I removed some older images as a result.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: morrisonautophotography
Facebook: morrisonautophotography
Website: morrisonautophotography.com
Charles Fortin
When selecting this image for the assignment, what made you feel it best represented your niche?
I'm in Nicaragua at the moment, and therefore don't have access to shooting my main niches (ie. ski mountaineering and climbing).
I wanted to create an image that still carried an adventurous vibe.
I opted to shoot silhouettes of hikers against a stunning sunset to add a dreamy mood, and keep the visual location hints minimal.
Making sure to include my niche, I geared up the hikers with adventure hat and huge backpacks.
What specific elements in this image make it uniquely yours? What choices did you make that separate your work from others in the same niche?
The details of the gear of the hikers in their silhouettes and keeping the horizon line as low as possible in the frame.
What is one key takeaway from this assignment that will impact how you shoot moving forward?
Timing your shot with the steps of the subjects, specially when you're shooting more than one at the same time, can be particularly tricky.
I had to direct the models in synchronizing their steps to hit the perfect timing.
How do you plan to refine and strengthen your niche in the coming months? Are there specific techniques, themes, or subjects you want to explore further?
I want to explore different perspectives, like drone photography or different camera angles.
The key in my niche is the location I shoot in, so keep exploring and finding those hidden gems!
Do you see this image becoming a key piece in your portfolio? If so, how does it elevate your body of work?
Yes absolutely.
To me, this image leaves a lot of breathing room for the imagination while being explicit enough.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: theroamingbull
Website: Charles.Fortin.com
Do you want to have your work reviewed by a 34-year pro?
Subscribe to CARTY on YouTube
Join the Carty Method Photo Reviews
If you're ready to elevate your photography skills, cultivate a winning mindset, and become part of a vibrant, supportive community, subscribe to CARTY on YouTube, go to TheCartyMethod.com, and join the Carty Crew Community.
For those looking to submit their work and receive professional feedback, Carty’s Photo Reviews is the perfect opportunity.
New to what CARTY is doing?
👉🏾 Carty a Pro Photographer, Director, and Educator based in Toronto, CA.
His goal is to educate and connect a global network of visual creators.
👉🏾 Mindset Shifts and Immersive Pro Education on YouTube 👈🏾
Learn more about CARTY and see his work at 👉🏾 SteveCarty.com
Join his photographer’s community 👉🏾 TheCartyMethod.com/community
Work with him 👉🏾 theCartyMethod.com
Book a Free 15-minute Zoom Chat
Subscribe to The Carty Method to see the best new photographers from all over the world level up right before your eyes. Weekly photographer transformations are happening right now.
Become a smarter photographer in 5 minutes a week by Subscribing to CARTY on Substack.
Watch the live replay of this photo submission
Carty is a Pro Photographer, Director, and Educator based in Toronto, CA.
His goal is to educate and connect a global network of visual creators.
👉🏾 Mindset Shifts and Immersive Pro Education on YouTube 👈🏾
Learn more about him and see his work at 👉🏾 SteveCarty.com
Join his photographer’s community 👉🏾 TheCartyMethod.com/community
Work with Him 👉🏾 theCartyMethod.com
The Carty Method Instagram @TheCartyMethod