Stacking Creative Skills for Professional Success

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that being a photographer and creative today is significantly different than it was several years ago. The advent of smartphones democratizing photography and leveling the playing field is a familiar story, as is the proliferation of social media in tandem with the decline of once dominant print publications. But there’s something else, arguably just as revolutionary at play recently…

Why Versatility Wins in Today’s Creative Market

Economic uncertainty, mass layoffs across all creative fields, and the ubiquity of artificial intelligence being injected into nearly everything we interact with are all dogs of industry biting at the heels of our artistic professions. While there will always be a small market reserved exclusively for the highest end niche photographers, for many of us, being focused solely on one area of expertise simply isn’t enough anymore. It’s increasingly difficult to stand out in an oversaturated market where everyone is great at what they do and audiences have limited attention spans.

So how do you set yourself apart and create tangible success that is uniquely yours?

As a creative, at some point you’ve likely been told that specializing in one area is the best approach to attract clients. That may have been true in a different time, but our world today has us living in a different reality. Ours is one where brands are aggressively striving to do more with less, and the market now rewards the versatility of an artist who’s equipped with a broad set of complementary skills at their disposal.

Traditionally, the most logical jump for photographers looking to bolster their capabilities has been to add video services to the equation. Without question, those who incorporated motion into their toolkit back in the early 2010’s when DSLRs first gained usable video features reaped the benefits of a much larger, and arguably more lucrative client base than those who remained shooting stills alone. While this is wise advice, it’s far from the only way to grow a multi-faceted business.

How to Discover and Build Your Skill Stack

Tap Into Your Existing Passions

You aren’t one-dimensional in your interests, skills or natural gifts, I’m proposing you use this to your advantage. You aren’t just a photographer, cinematographer, or painter–you may also be a writer, designer, musician, city guide, or event planner. As a multi-skilled creative, what if you were to combine two or three of your natural creative talents and focus them towards a more robust product or service offering?

This would instantly make you stand out while simultaneously reducing your competition, because there’s no one else out there with your specific set of traits. In other words, you alone already have the skills to create something that would otherwise require a team of people. To ground this theory in reality I’ll use myself for this first example.

How I Expanded My Client Base

Although I’ve been a photographer for nearly 20 years, the career traction I was looking for only came when I decided to combine my love of creative writing, editing, and photography; putting them all into producing a digital magazine. I’ve always known that writing came naturally to me, but I purposely avoided practicing the craft in pursuit of becoming a professional photographer. 

I recognize now how restrictive and self-limiting this type of thinking is. We can make more opportunities for ourselves in life. It was only when I finally embraced all of my creative passions wholeheartedly that doors started to open, and brands started to reach out to me.

A Creative Industry Example

Another compelling case for stacking your skill set is the production of the 1998 motion picture Following. This 35mm black and white film gave one of the greatest directors of our generation, Christopher Nolan his first big break. He single handedly wrote, produced, directed, photographed, and edited the film all on a shoe string budget. The film subsequently received critical acclaim and, soon after, provided Nolan the access and means to become one of the most influential and commercially successful storytellers in Hollywood today.

This way of thinking can extend not only to our natural abilities but also our diverse interests. This viral Cars in Japan on VHS video is another instance that reinforces this notion of why aggregating your passions as a powerful strategy. Who would’ve thought that filming supercars with antiquated video technology would be such a hit? The truth is, we often don’t know what’s going to pop off and resonate with an audience. It was unexpected, novel, and that’s precisely why people loved it (just look at the comments section).

Turning Hobbies Into Professional Services

Stacking your skills as an artist doesn’t need to be limited to one distinct finished product as we saw in those previous examples either. I’ve primarily been a portrait photographer for the bulk of my career, but out of necessity in my writing work I began integrating product photos to augment my articles. As a by-product, these images were then added as a new section to my Format photography portfolio as well. The reality is that I’ve always known that I was a competent product photographer, but nobody else did because I hadn’t yet demonstrated it in my portfolio.

Steps To Expand Your Portfolio

As a direct result of adding a new product photography section within my existing Format portfolio, in openly expanding my services and demonstrating my skill, I have seen inroads with companies that would previously have been out of field.  I’ve seen more connections, income, and opportunities come my way lately than I did when I branded myself exclusively as a portrait photographer.

Calculating the Return on Investment (ROI) of New Skills

Expanding your skill set where it makes sense and feels organic is often worth the additional investment when you consider the clients and business you could be bringing it. Although it can seem daunting, you may find it easier to break into a new market by taking on small personal projects to showcase the type of work you’re looking to get hired for on your website. And if you’re not sure where to start, our comprehensive guide on How To Get Into Real Estate Photography is a great resource that will stimulate your creative ingenuity, or if you have wanted to expand into portraiture or take on headshots, we have a guide on posing your models for the most compelling compositions.

Your Portfolio as Your Brand Hub

You might not know right away which skills to stack.. It may take a period of self-reflection, market research or, as it did for me, removing any existing mental barriers you may have put in place–impostor syndrome and perfectionism can keep you from putting yourself out there, but you can learn, and teach yourself, on the job. Ideally, you’re going to have a lot of them.

Once you’ve determined your multidisciplinary strategy going forward, what’s the best way to showcase your work?

Why a Custom Portfolio Matters

A clean, professional website is the modern day business card. It proves that you’re serious about your craft, and unlike the uncertainty of social media algorithms, is a platform that you own and have full control over. What you want to avoid are run-of-the-mill, cookie cutter templates, and that’s where Format can help.

Leveraging Format’s Features for Multi-Skilled Creatives

Format’s designed templates have been created for artists by artists across a wide range of disciplines. With websites specifically tailored to everything from photography & video, to fashion & illustration, you’ll find inspiring and intuitive designs at your fingertips. 

It’s not just about the intelligent aesthetic either. Format offers an assortment of creative tools; you can control how your audience  interacts with your work and use it to tell the story of your practice and the services you offer. Separate galleries can highlight your various specialities while maintaining a cohesive vision. Blogs are the perfect medium to showcase your personality or to document your behind the scenes process. Add hosted video for a dynamic experience that can only be found on your website.

Something that you quietly excel at could be the crucial piece that you’ve been missing. 

Don’t bury your neglected talents like I initially did, nurture and embrace them now, stack them and see yourself thrive. 

Takeaways for Stacking Your Skills

• Tap into existing passions: Identify your natural creative talents and hobbies beyond your main discipline.
• Look for new opportunities: Pay attention to what your clients need. Maybe they hired you for photography, but they also need product shots for an article—that’s a new service to add.
• Start small with personal projects: Don’t wait for a client to get started. Create projects on your own time to build a portfolio for a new skill.
• Update your portfolio website: Once you have new work, showcase it on your website. Create separate galleries to highlight different specialties while maintaining a cohesive brand.
• Remove mental barriers: Don’t let perfectionism or imposter syndrome stop you from putting your new work out there. You can learn as you go.