Must-Have Skills For Photographers | Productive And Free

In 2023, a whopping 53,630 photographers were employed across the US. It’s clear that this profession is popular and that a vast number of people make their living from having a good eye for images. However, while a good eye may be essential to producing compositionally balanced photographs, it’s far from the full list of skills needed in today’s increasingly competitive and saturated creative arts landscape.

In addition, great photographers must be able to navigate the world of independent online marketing, industry networking, and crafting visual narratives that stand out among the crowd of other creative professionals.

This post will explore what makes a good photographer great and what other skills beyond a good eye are necessary for helping a career within it thrive.

What Is A “Good Eye” In Photography?

Having a “good eye” simply refers to the talent for spotting balanced compositions, color combinations, and moments in time. Someone with a good eye can see photographic or artistic potential where others can’t, giving them the unique ability to capture original and maybe even extraordinary moments.

A good eye is crucial for a successful photographer, but it isn’t everything. Without the technical and practical skills needed to capture and refine those unique moments, even photographers with the most exceptional creative visions will struggle to bring them to life—or to package them in a way that their audience sustainably responds to.

Skills Beyond A Good Eye That Every Photographer Needs

The more sustainable and profitable you want your photography business to be, the more skills you will need to develop—and the wider that skill set will need to be.

There are many practical, technical, and soft skills associated with great photography that can help you gain a more thorough repertoire as a creative professional. Here are six of them:

#1. Storytelling

As a photographer, you almost undoubtedly know how to take a compositionally good picture. But does it tell a story? And if so, what kind of story does it tell? In a world where visual storytelling has become so crucial for connecting with audiences, photographers who can harness this form of creative expression will find it much easier to produce compelling work.

A beautiful photograph without some element of storytelling or narrative can feel flat and lackluster. By incorporating a visual narrative, more powerful photography can be achieved.

#2. Experimentation

Great photography requires an attitude of personal development and a spirit of experimentation and creative exploration. Repeatedly doing the same thing will not only hinder your creative process but also make your work less compelling to its greater audience and harder to stand out.

Even the most expertly produced photography can struggle to get off the ground without that essential quality of experimentation. It will also keep your work fresh and ensure that “average” is a word no one will ever associate with your career.

Don’t be afraid to try something new, but accept that not everything you try will work. It’s what does work that counts,

Technical and digital prowess | ProductiveandFree — Pexels

#3. Technical and digital prowess

What good is a great eye if you haven’t mastered the tools needed to capture what it sees? Vision without the capability to bring it to life is a frustration no creative professional should endure—especially when there are so many tools available today to help.

Being able to navigate emerging technologies like HDR, focus tracking, 360-degree views, and even drones are all examples of contemporary photography technologies that can be used to advance your repertoire.

By cultivating an understanding of how these tools work, you can bring even the most ambitious of photography projects to life.

#4. Creative problem solving

Not all ideas work out for the best, and that’s fine. But sometimes, the solution to a problem is staring you in the face, and the only way to get around it is to use your creative or critical thinking skills.

Knowing how to creatively problem solve forms a huge part of what makes great photographic work, as any seasoned image-maker will tell you.

Great photography needs creative problem-solving to support the skill of having a good eye so that no fixable issue is the reason for a failed project. From knowing how to fix lighting issues to helping models relax in front of the camera, creative problem-solving is a must-have skill.

#5. Collaboration

Two heads are better than one. Sometimes, the quality that a photograph lacks is inspiration or collaboration from another source. There’s a time for solo creative visions, but isolating photographic projects can present missed opportunities for even better outcomes.

Great photography is often made great because multiple creative influences help bring it to life. Many photographers' bodies of work can benefit from a more collaborative approach. The ability to share ideas, work with other creatives, and step out of your comfort zone with someone else is a skill that pays dividends.

#6. Brand development and marketing

You could be the most talented photographer in the world. However, achieving your ambitions will be challenging without the ability to market your work online.

Mastering the art of brand development and digital marketing means that photographers of all kinds can find the right clients, share their work with the world, and support their careers sustainably. From creating product photography portfolios to building social media pages centered on street art or portraiture photography, the options for exposure are myriad.

Developing a brand and marketing work online also creates the opportunity to create other types of usable content, such as business cards, website content, social media infographics, and even educational workshop material that can further push their careers forward. A strong identity paired with a good eye results in an unstoppable creative force!

social media infographics | ProductiveandFree — Pexels

Final Thoughts

Great photography requires more than a good eye because the photography industry is changing, and so are the tools and technology within it.

The culture surrounding photographic collaboration and networking is evolving, too, requiring photographers to expand their range of soft skills to assimilate with the creative sector more effectively.

Storytelling, digital prowess, networking, and personal branding are just a few examples of essential skills needed for producing great photography that have become more prevalent in recent years.

By adopting and refining these skills, you can become a more adept creative professional while conceptualizing and outputting work that resonates with your target audience.