pjarmit Loc: UK, now in Texas

For years I have restored classic cars...mostly British cars.
At the local car shows there would be concurs cars, mostly shipped to the show in large transporters.
We restorers who do all our own work and actually drive the car to the show were 'dubbed' as "Amateur restorers"
We used to explain that the only difference between an amateur and a professorial restorer was.....One gets paid!

Xantoz Loc: Delaware

Dondog, I don't know - I have been shooting and getting paid for photos for 40 years. I try to blend in and not make a fuss. If someone asks if I am a pro, I just hand them my card and let them figure it out. I just say I am a photographer.

krgatlgm Loc: Las Vegas, Nv

I have been asked and my response is usually to laugh. Takes all the pressure off. Seldom asked to take a photo with my camera but I will go out of my way to volunteer to take family or couple photos of people that I see taking photos of each other because I have hundreds of photos of my kids and of my wife and my wife with my kids but very few of me with my wife and kids! so I always make the offer and most seem to really appreciate it. :thumbup: :thumbup:

skidooman Loc: Minnesota

My response is "you haven't seen the photos yet" coupled with a laugh. I always set my stuff down and accommidate any requests to take someones pic with their camera. Goes a long way in promoting yourself positively. You never know, your next potential client may be the one asking.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

If you love what you are doing, you are an "amateur" whether you are getting paid for it or not, and those with a true love and passion for what they do are usually the best as well!!

RLS Loc: Georgia

I also photographed for money for over 40 years (47 to be exact), but I never turned down a request to photograph someone with their camera, except in my studio!!!
RLS

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

professional rabble rouser and grump, Yes. photographer no but I play one on tv!

bludogge Loc: Planet Earth

Technically speaking if have sold any of your work you could be considered pro.

brokeweb Loc: Philadelphia

I am an amateur. I need to get paid for a couple gigs so that I can justify the expense of purchasing professional gear.

skidooman Loc: Minnesota

Sounds like something my wife says to me. Every piece of gear I get, she asks me if it will make us more money.

brokeweb Loc: Philadelphia

Hey! Did you steal my wife?

skidooman Loc: Minnesota

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Scoutman Loc: Orlando, FL

It appears that Kraatz was quoting someone. I looked for it - thanks, because I discovered some additonal resources for quotations on photography - but could not find the source. I didn't want to ask, if it turned out to be easily found. But now I will.

Who is the source? Where can it be found? Who is going to be acknowleged?

Curious, because I would like to add it to my own collection, but not without attribution.

Thanks.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Check here, second one down:

http://www.photoquotes.com/showquotes.aspx?id=179

Jim D

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

That goes to show you how well Nikon's marketing efforts have achieved name recognition. Hang any Nikon dSLR on you and you're a pro! Add a Nikon flash with coil cord to the hot shoe sitting up high on a big pistol-grip flip bracket attached to your D5100 and you'll be treated like a rock star.

Wear black pants, a black turtleneck sweater, a corduroy jacket with suede patches on the elbows, and carry a pipe in your mouth (not corn cob). Cup your 45-degree-bent palm under the 8" long lens mounted to your D5100 while ignoring "the little people" and never make eye contact unless it's to imply but not say, "Get out of my way you insignificant worm. I'm the professional here."

If asked to shoot some "little people" with a P&S they hand you, use a condescending tone of voice as you explain that a P&S isn't really a camera but a hunk of cheap plastic that you won't operate unless you wear gloves to keep the P&S anti-creativity snapshot juice off of your pure and delicate dSLR-only highly-trained fingers. Someone else will have to push the shutter button unless they're willing to sign a contractual agreement and pay a minimum $150 charge for your services if you push the button to acquire "an exposure" that is legally yours and you'll sue if anybody tries to print it.

Consistently act like you hate being where you are and that you have somewhere far more important to be at the moment. Always appear to be looking at the hair on the butt of a fly sitting on something far away and make a habit of suddenly bringing your D5100 viewfinder to the bridge of your nose every 3 to 4 minutes while walking around softly in your brown Hush Puppy shoes with your shoulders slightly hunched. You'll start having so much high dollar referral business coming to you that won't be able to keep up!

Sparingly give out gloss black business cards after analyzing the manufacturer and price range of the clothing the person requesting a card. Have your name in the middle and "Professional Digital Imaging God" below that and your cell phone number split by "." periods instead of "-" dashes to appear ultra sophisticated and international - even if you've only ever been outside your city limits to have prints made at WalMart.

Randomly pick obscenely high rates out of thin air when asked and make a face like they're a used litter box if they complain - but they'll pay it anyway! Those who refer you to their friends and relatives won't know why they did because they never seen your work but you've got the look happening so you must be exceptionally professional.