It took a long time to get the formula right-- to budget my shoots and come home with a profit. A great deal of my livelihood is due to the fact that I signed with an agency in 2009.
The only professional advice that comes to mind is to cultivate your own style and craft. When any artist starts out, they tend to mimic what they like. Over time, I think, it turns into their own voice. But what the hell do I know?