Walking On A Tidal Flat

Do you have a superpower? Do you actively cultivate your superpowers? Do you even know what superpowers are? In his must-read book Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?
Seth Godin talks about superpowers, or the unique talents that you possess. He says

“when you meet someone, you need to have a superpower. If you don’t, you’re just another handshake”.

So what does “just another handshake” mean and how does it apply to photography?

Before we get into it, I want to remind you about Selina Maitreya’s The View From Here. Selina brings 3 decades of portfolio consultancy experience and wisdom to this MP3 series that’s a must-have for anyone either contemplating becoming a working photographer or professionals looking for a little extra inspiration. Normally $199, it’s available at a 50% discount using the code FOSCFI.

There are countless numbers of good photographers out there. Photographers who are capable of producing a well-exposed, technically correct photograph that follows all the rules. Are you one of them? Are you just another handshake? Producing an image of this type is something that anybody can do with a bit of practice. There’s no great secret to it. And everyday, photographers of all levels are producing images of this kind. Which brings us to the superpowers.

If hundreds or thousands or millions of photographers have the ability to produce technically correct work, how do you go about standing out from the crowd? This question is one that a wide variety of photographers should be asking themselves. Unless you have no desire at all for anyone else to see your work, you probably try to find ways to stand out from the crowd. The working photographer trying to differentiate themselves from their competition, the hobbyist trying to win a competition on Flickr or the fine art photographer searching for a gallery showing. All are looking to stand out and be noticed. It’s through your superpowers that you can achieve this.

Do you know what your superpowers are? If you can’t answer that question within 30 seconds, then you probably don’t know. It will be different for everyone. Some may have an innovative marketing approach, another might use technology (or the lack of) in new ways, still others may have a style that is instantly noticeable and distinctive. Whatever it is that applies to you, cultivate it with as much energy as you can.

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