Searcher Loc: Kent, England

There is a lot of hype surrounding the definition of a photographer, so I have compiled a list of definitions made up from English and USA dictionaries and my own interpretation.

Professional Photographer: One who’s income is mainly derived by selling his/her services as a photographer. He or she may or may not be very proficient as a photographer, but if his/her main income is by selling himself/herself as a photographer, then he/she is a professional.

Semi-Professional Photographer: One who’s income is supplemented by selling his/her services as a photographer. He or she may or may not be very proficient as a photographer, but if his/her income is supplemented by selling himself/herself as a photographer, then he/she is a semi-professional.

Amateur Photographer: One who’s income is not derived from selling himself/herself as a photographer for monetary gain. His/her proficiency may be very low or very high, or anywhere in-between, but his/her status as an amateur is defined by having zero monetary gain from his or her photography endeavours.

Novice Photographer: One who’s knowledge or execution of the skills of photography are low. A novice photographer is one who is learning and has not yet reached the stage of being an accomplished photographer.

Professional Level Photographer: One who has reached a high standard of skills in photography. He/she may be a Professional, Semi-Profesional or an Amateur Photographer (these “rankings” are defined by monetary gain).

Amateur Level Photographer: A meaningless definition.

Photographer: One who is pressing the shutter release button. He/she may be a professional, Semi-Professional, amateur, novice or even someone who has simply been asked to take a picture. (Similar to someone in a car who is causing the car to move by virtue of using any of the controls – this person is the driver regardless of his/her proficiency.)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Very good. It looks like your brain is firing on all cylinders.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

I wish it would stay like that all day.

I read a topic this morning where these definitions were being made up to suit the purpose of the post, hence this thread.

Singing Swan

Very succinct and proper. I think Webster's should hire you.

Just one thing....shouldn't Amateur Level Photographer include the word 'snapshooter' somehow ? :) :) :)

Nah, never mind...I see that is covered in the last definition of Photographer. My bad.

ValliPride Loc: Lost in Florida

Thank you for making it clear. Photography is my Passion.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

I thought I had covered that in Amateur Photographer: "His/her proficiency may be very low or very high, or anywhere in-between"

Defining a "snapshot" versus a "photograph" is a whole new ball game. Most photographers take snapshots at some time or other.

I can browse through my images and say with some degree of certainty "Snap, Snap, Snap, Snap, Photo, Snap Snap" etc. but my labelling would be highly subjective. My best shot (label=Photo) could easily be verbally torn to shreds by a better photographer than me and relabelled Snap.

Who can define a snapshot, the dictionaries don't help a lot, and the professionals are biased.

I spent a few years as a Semi-Professional recording medical images. I was very good at this, a professional level was attained, but if a really good portrait photographer were to view these images, in his eyes, they would probably be snaps. (Lighting, pose, lack of finishing (retouching) etc.)

It will take a braver man than me to define "snapshot v Photograph".

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

Agreed! :thumbup: :mrgreen: :thumbup:

Singing Swan

You did...see my edit??

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

Why care about this. Van Gogh never sold a painting for cash.
Good images and creativity come from all of the above classifications. I had lunch the other day with an accomplished pro photographer who has had studio's in NY and now PA.
His pro work dried up and he rents his space to survive. He is good and proficient at PP. So is he no longer a pro photographer?
The culture and marketplace does not pay often anymore for a studio full of pro lights and equipment. I have been shooting video. Some paid and some charity. I am a producer that has run out of work after many years of corp. production success. I am amused that pro's are forced to use big obvious camera rigs to authentic their pro status. It is just the business.
We now have camera's for stills and video that has encouraged a new generation of enthusiasts to break the rules and create
imagery that tells stories and entertains. Are they proamnov's.
Good luck.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

The whole point of the thread is to separate imagined status from reality.

An offshoot from photography includes Post Processing (for gain), framing etc., your unfortunate friend is now a professional PP artist, I sincerely hope that it all works out for him.

As I am not entirely sure what a film producer does, (I do know they are important in the film industry but I don't know why), but you are now shooting video (some paid and some not). If you are the one behind the camera, then you must be a Photographer, if you earn your living doing that, then you are a professional, if you are any good at it, then you have achieved a professional level of proficiency.

Van Gogh: if he never sold a painting, then he must be an amateur who achieved a professional level.

The desire to sell and the ability to sell are two different things.

I do care about this, not because of my status or lack of it as a "photographer" (I push the button), but because the word "Amateur" is being banded about in a derogatory sense and should be used not as a description of ability, but to indicate employment status.

Edit: I have looked up "Film Producer" and from the description recognise a "Project Manager."

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Excellent descriptions - especially the definition of "Amateur".

Ol' Frank Loc: Orlando,

Great! I be glad to know I are a photographer since I can push the button.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

You are in my club then.

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

So let me understand this. Money payment makes a professional. Skill and talent are not the measure of a person.

You probably know that fame, social networking, and mixing with influential people has created some famous photographers.

I was not a film producer. I produced huge stage shows at sales meetings and many video productions for corporations. Before that I was an award winning Art Director in advertising and also had my own graphic design company. I survived in all these
jobs don't know if I was a professional or....

Many very talented artists I know have created art for years.
Many have not made a decent living but have continued to struggle and keep their passion going. Would they be professionals? Or...

I here what you are saying about classifications of skill. But I worked in the creative businesses for years. And the money people made was not necessarily related to the level of talent and knowledge of visual communication.