Ally and I went to IHOP this morning for free pancakes. It’s National Pancake Day so every visitor is offered a free short stack of pancakes. I don’t normally get pancakes because of all the calories, carbs and sugars, but since today is a special day (and now a tradition for Ally and I), I overlooked the unhealthiness of the meal.

(What in the world does this wedding picture have to do with IHOP pancakes?? Read on…)

IHOP is known for their pancakes. Whether they’re drenched in strawberry syrup or stuffed with cream and topped with chocolate sauce, they’re good at making pancakes and everyone knows it. While they do serve other things like bacon, eggs, salads and sandwiches, pancakes are their specialty…or their niche.

(Now what does this engagement picture have to do with IHOP pancakes?? I promise you, there’s a connection!)

Since I started my business in July 2009, I’ve taken pictures of just about “everything.” Families, babies, bellies, food, skiing and snowboarding events, weddings, couples, seniors, a birth, a bridal shower…I’ve tried it all! I feel like “everything” has been my specialty and maybe that’s ok because I was an excited photographer with a new journey. I just needed to develop my style and that meant lots of practice with lots of different subjects. But is shooting “everything” hindering growth in both my business and artistry? What’s my specialty?

(And now a maternity picture!?! The connection is getting closer…)

In the past few months, I realized that I really enjoy maternity and newborn sessions. I wasn’t a huge fan of either at first, but after a year of developing my style as a photographer and getting better and better in my shooting techniques, I’m finding that my maternity and newborn portraits are becoming standouts in my portfolio. I’ve been feeling so proud of my results so I started doing some reflecting. What was different about these maternity and newborn sessions? Why did I feel so good about the pictures I captured and the experiences I had with those clients? Why, when I looked back, was I not feeling the same about family and senior sessions? It was finally safe to say I was finding my specialty…or my stack of pancakes…or my niche.

 (And finally, a newborn picture! Pancakes, weddings, engagements, maternity and newborns…they’re all part of a niche!)

As an artist and business owner, I’ve vowed to only show my best work, just like IHOP shows their best work in pancakes. Recently, I haven’t felt like my non-wedding, non-engagement, non-maternity and non-newborn pictures are my best work. I’m not saying my clients didn’t do a great job during their sessions and I’m not saying those pictures aren’t good. I’m just saying, as an artist, I perform a lot better in other photographic situations and it’s time to start presenting that in my portfolio and business offerings. So with that being said, I’ve decided to temporarily concentrate on maternity, newborn, engagements/couples and weddings only. I was definitely hesitant about making this decision because I’m cutting out a huge chunk of my market. But recent sessions and bookings have proved that the market sees me as a valuable maternity, newborn, engagement and wedding photographer, so I’m reassured that at least for a short while, I can do what I think I do best as a photographer. So here’s to my new niche, my future sessions and weddings, and a big ol stack of IHOP pancakes! Because they’re all good. 🙂

P.S. If you’re a past wedding, engagement, maternity or newborn client of mine, I’ll make exceptions for you! I’d rather you have consistency throughout your images than find or settle for another photographer. Besides, we’ll already know each other and that’ll make picture-taking in the non-wedding, non-engagement, non-maternity and non-newborn situations a lot more comfortable and fun!