What photographers want vs. what the public wants.?

In regards to portraits what are your opinions on this statement:

"Most photographers want to be distinctively different from their colleagues in the products they offer the public and they want to be highly creative. At the same time, the public wants distinctive new ideas in the professional photography they purchase. They don鈥檛 want yesterday鈥檚 photography today."

Personally I like the highly stylized B&W and the super shallow depth of field. I also believe the public wants to be happy with the results and don't much care about the style (in general).

Here's what I'm talking about.
http://www.hurrellphotos.com/hurrell_hom...
And of course it helps if you have a great subject.
http://www.guillermito2.net/archives/200...
Thanks in advance.

I'm a fan of stylized portraits myself, especially those done in the black and white medium. But as far as my opinion on what photographers want vs. what the public wants, I think that if you're in the business of satifying public demand, what you as the photographer wants generally takes a back seat. Now if you sell your work for what it is, you're likely not worrying about the public. They will either want to buy it or not, but in the highly competitive world of mainstream photography (i.e., portraits, graduations, weddings, and the print ad industry), it is your job to give the client what THEY want, not what you want to give them. People want what they want. From a business standpoint (incidentally, where most photographers fail), client satisfaction and the ability to come to a creative consensus is what secures success, not the actual photographs that are being taken. On the other hand, if you can make your client believe they are getting what they want, then it doesn't matter. You're selling your creativity. But in the end, as Ken Rockwell puts it in his article on "How to go Pro", a business in photography is 90% business, marketing, sales, and finance; 10% photography. I think there is a difference between photographers' want to be creative and those who want to be successful. That difference being what the industry (clientel) want vs. what they want. There are those who can do both, of course but for the vast majority of pro photographers out there the demand from the client is what drives their success, not neccessarily their distinctiveness. Yes, it is quite the quandry indeed.

I think it depends on the client and well you want them to be ultimately happy yet still retain your artistic integrity by putting your style into each photograph you make. I know that some people can be very demanding and want what they want and will take no constructive criticism from you. And there are going to be those that put there full trust in you to do what you do best and will trust he or she holding the camera. Art is very subjective and there are many different forms of it that will yield different thoughts and criticisms which ultimately will depend on your audience and who you are trying to extend to.

I really think it depends on who your'e marketing towards. If you don't want to do the publics perspective of a portrait - then don't (unless you're strapped for cash, been there done that)

I personally HAVE to be different. I love portraits. Its my passion but I'm not your everyday portrait gal.

http://www.myartspace.com/viewer/gallery...

I like traditional photography... but I love to break the rules! I want my photographs to look different... and if no one ever broke the rules then everything would stay the same.

You're right, the public doesn't really care about style... that's why a lot of people would rather go buy a cheap point and shoot than pay a professional to take their picture... so sad!

ESP - Expression sells pictures. Most customers are visually illiterate. They don't want a work of art, just a good expression. Then there are those very FEW discerning customers who are a joy!