simplypictures Loc: Nacogdoches, TX

I know there has been a lot of discussion on the topic of being a professional photographer. I have not read all of the discussions and this question may have been discussed. If so, I apologize for bringing it up again.

What are your qualifications for being a professional photographer?
I have seen a lot about what is NOT but not much about what IS.
Thanks!

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

visit the ASMP website: www.asmp.org

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Taking pictures that people want to pay for, and being able to run enough of a business to sell them.

I'd be interested to hear of a better definition.

Cheers,

R.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

What Roger said.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

The problem is that because no license in required anyone can label himself a professional. No checks and balances lead to a good many problems and issues as you can consistently read on this forum. I don’t have the answer but it’s pretty much a “buyer beware” field. I do think it’s too bad that the real professionals don’t have any way to protect or control their profession.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Yes, in some ways it is. On the other hand any kind of licensing gets the government involved and That means all kinds of things - none of them good.
In my case, I am a CPP - Certified Professional Photographer. That is done through the Professional Photographers of America - although by an independent certification organization. It requires passing a comprehensive written exam and having 20 images depicting various lighting and posing styles approved as meeting quality standards. However, the public does not care. I did it as a self-improvement goal - more of a case of proving to myself I could do it.
It is nice to be able to tell people that I am one of just 1700 photographers in the world that have passed this evaluation.
To be honest, there are TONS of incredibly talented and successful photographer who have never bothered to become certified, so I am under no delusions that I am better than those folks. Far from it.

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

I would like it if you had to do an apprenticeship of sorts for at least 2 years before you could hang your own single. (I would sign up for it in a heart beat).

I look around my area and see some of the people that are taking on paying clients and my left eye starts to twitch my blood pressure spikes. Drives me crazy.

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

Does that mean they're a bit west of where you are ?? hehehee
Are you in RI and dealing with people in CT again?? :P

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

lmao :thumbup: I wish I was in RI or CT I'm miss the 4 seasons, in Texas we get Mild, Hot and holly crap I'm melting.

1eyedjack

You also need to be a good manager and salesperson to make a
living wage..

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Would you mind sharing how much time, effort and money this certification cost you---realistically, of course.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

No, mdorn, I don't mind, but it is hard to quantify. I have been involved with photography since college - not professionally, but as a hobby. That was back with all manual SLR's (a Nikon F that still works 45 years later).

I have been shooting professionally since 2004 and took the test and submitted the images in 2010. The test has dropped virtually all the film-based questions, but is pretty heavy on the math of photography, all the lighting styles, lighting ratios and on color (you gotta know the color wheel!).

Many new photographers have tried to get certified but cannot pass either the test or the image submission - it has to be 20 images from 20 DIFFERENT paying clients. It is really meant for people who have been shooting clients and that have been in business for a few years. There were questions on the test I have no idea how anyone could answer except by one's experience.

There is a book around which much of the written test is based:
http://www.amazon.com/Photography-10th-Barbara-London/dp/0205711499

So in general terms - at least three years professional experience and all the thousands of $ that takes. Then the workshops, seminars, etc., to learn all this stuff because regardless what people say about YouTube, you CANNOT learn lighting and posing in any other way than hands-on instruction and practice - and brutally honest critique. I have been entering monthly print competitions since 2003 and few things have been more helpful than critiques by people who don't care if they bruise my ego.

Oh - there is a fee to take the test. If you are a PPA member it adds (I think $50/yr) to your membership. If you are not a PPA member, there is a much larger one-time fee, I believe. It has to be renewed every 5 years.

simplypictures Loc: Nacogdoches, TX

Where do you enter the contest?

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Who/what are you addressing? If you use the "Quote Reply" we will know.

simplypictures Loc: Nacogdoches, TX

I have been entering monthly print competitions since 2003 and few things have been more helpful than critiques by people who don't care if they bruise my ego.

I am referring to this statement.
Thanks!!