"Do Pros Use Pro Gear?"
Jan 31, 2019 06:33:41 #
billnikon wrote:
The majority of PRO's who make 100% of their income from photography use professional equipment.
And they use cellphone cameras if they are involved in reportage and journalism. Or anything else that can record an image. At least according to a friend who is a retired NYT photojournalist when I asked her the same question last year. They also used Canon DLSRs. As was stated above, any gear a pro chooses becomes "Pro Gear." Just sayin'
Jan 31, 2019 06:41:54 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
Gene51 wrote:
And they use cellphone cameras if they are involved in reportage and journalism. Or anything else that can record an image. At least according to a friend who is a retired NYT photojournalist when I asked her the same question last year. They also used Canon DLSRs. As was stated above, any gear a pro chooses becomes "Pro Gear." Just sayin'
Journalist do not make 100% of their money from PHOTOGRAPHY.
Jan 31, 2019 08:34:27 #
Tomcat5133
Loc: Gladwyne PA
This is a strange question. "Do Pros Use Pro Gear?" The game is changing fast.
With the cameras today shooting excellent visuals can be done with an Sony a6500 or
a a7III. Or a nikon D850 etc. Specialists like payed sports sit forever behind a 20 grand lens
waiting for the pitch or slide unique capture. I far as I know their are much fewer pro studios
then their was in the past. Too expensive with todays market rates. Yes portraits and
weddings and events require require serious equipment.
I shoot and get paid for videos. Some I have to do pro bono to keep the game going.
I have linked it with content advertising and a genius digital marketing partner.
Not making enough money yet to be called pro. Maybe. The Panasonic GH series the
Sony a7 series etc pros are using these cameras in the field. The game is somewhat like
having a lot of gear to impress the client and justify a decent rate. I was in downtown
Philadelphia walking by and found out the last President in surprise visit.
Had a small Sony camera and the news guy with his big camera said that takes better video then this.
We had a laugh.
With the cameras today shooting excellent visuals can be done with an Sony a6500 or
a a7III. Or a nikon D850 etc. Specialists like payed sports sit forever behind a 20 grand lens
waiting for the pitch or slide unique capture. I far as I know their are much fewer pro studios
then their was in the past. Too expensive with todays market rates. Yes portraits and
weddings and events require require serious equipment.
I shoot and get paid for videos. Some I have to do pro bono to keep the game going.
I have linked it with content advertising and a genius digital marketing partner.
Not making enough money yet to be called pro. Maybe. The Panasonic GH series the
Sony a7 series etc pros are using these cameras in the field. The game is somewhat like
having a lot of gear to impress the client and justify a decent rate. I was in downtown
Philadelphia walking by and found out the last President in surprise visit.
Had a small Sony camera and the news guy with his big camera said that takes better video then this.
We had a laugh.
Jan 31, 2019 08:36:12 #
"Do Pro use Pro Gear?"
In general YES but the problem is really how do you define Pro and Pro Gear?
In general YES but the problem is really how do you define Pro and Pro Gear?
Jan 31, 2019 08:47:46 #
Morrison1116 is correct. "Oh, by the way, a pro is someone who earns their primary income performing a specific profession or function and is proficient in said profession." If you are a serious, especially outdoor Canon shooter, I would recommend looking for an L on the lens.
Jan 31, 2019 09:01:59 #
le boecere wrote:
... changing cameras would set you back a year—that is, it was a year before the new camera fully became second nature and you knew it inside out.
Set you back financially, maybe, but if it takes you a year to get used to a new camera, you should try a different hobby or job.
Jan 31, 2019 09:04:04 #
PixelStan77 wrote:
Define a Pro and define what is pro equipment. In the days of Ansel Adams it was a 8 x 10 View Camera.
Jan 31, 2019 09:53:54 #
Dikdik
Loc: Winnipeg, Canada
PixelStan77 wrote:
Define a Pro and define what is pro equipment. In the days of Ansel Adams it was a 8 x 10 View Camera.
I have one of them (8x10 Graflex)... but, don't consider myself a pro, or even a really good amateur.
Dik
Jan 31, 2019 09:58:46 #
Jan 31, 2019 10:11:49 #
What is the definition of a professional photographer? Someone who takes really good pictures? Someone who uses expensive gear to take pictures? Or someone who earns money by taking pictures?
Jan 31, 2019 10:12:31 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
Kiron Kid wrote:
Pro’s use Nikon F3 and FE-2 bodies.
HA HA HA, Yes, 40 years ago, you would have been correct.
Jan 31, 2019 10:15:03 #
le boecere wrote:
In today's post, Mike Johnston, The Online Photographer, wrote:
Final thought: in the art-photography world I came up in, it was said by some that changing cameras would set you back a year—that is, it was a year before the new camera fully became second nature and you knew it inside out.
I don't know how long it takes to get "the feel of the wheel" with a digital camera, but I'm betting it's a year or two longer than people typically keep them. Just kidding. :-) _mj
Final thought: in the art-photography world I came up in, it was said by some that changing cameras would set you back a year—that is, it was a year before the new camera fully became second nature and you knew it inside out.
I don't know how long it takes to get "the feel of the wheel" with a digital camera, but I'm betting it's a year or two longer than people typically keep them. Just kidding. :-) _mj
I think that getting the feel would be fairly quick. The big change would be if you went from one brand to another, but even there, when I have rented, I find the menus are still navigable, and the learning curve is not steep.
My worst experience was in the film days when I switched from Miranda to Canon, but also switched from my 2 prime lenses to a Vivitar zoom lens. I lost so much ground with that lens that it was a year before I got comfortable with it.
Jan 31, 2019 10:18:22 #
billnikon wrote:
The majority of PRO's who make 100% of their income from photography use professional equipment.
I've been a pro photographer for over 40 years and while I used pro models in film days, I've only owned one pro digital model DSLR, a gifted Nikon D1. Also I've known few pros who used pro digital because the constant advancements in technology often leave the pro models in the dust. I use Nikon D810s, Canon 5D lll and lV, and Sony A7 models, along with lots of less expensive models. Some would call these pro models, but with Nikon and Canon the pro models sell for twice the price of the prosumer models and are often surpassed in technology within a year or two. The people I see using the top of the line models are usually photographers who run through huge numbers of shots and have equipment supplied to them by the people they work for...like news photographers. Quality lenses have a longer useful life span so that's where I invest. Because I also teach digital photography I have to stay current with equipment so I buy, sell and trade constantly. I'm not a wealthy guy, but photography is a priority in my life. Cameras are tools, and a point n shoot may do some jobs as well as really expensive models so I use them also. I've recently been testing old lenses from manual focus film cameras and love the quality and character of some 30-50 year old lenses when adapted to new mirrorless cameras. I'm concerned only with the images I get, not the brand name or status of certain models. I usually take an older model to class so students won't think they have to have the latest and bestest. The shots were done with 2.7 mp Nikon D1 and are printed 24X36 and hanging on my school walls.
Jan 31, 2019 10:32:27 #
bpulv
Loc: Buena Park, CA
By the original definition of "profession", photography is not actually a profession. The fact is that a professional was never defined by the equipment he used until it became popular for marketing people to attach the "professional" label to their products. Also, level of income was never a determinant of the application of the term "professional" although it was always presumed that professionals had a higher potential for income than the typical non-professional.
"Pro gear" is a marketing term made up by some Madison Avenue marketers many years ago to make certain products more desirable to general consumers since professionals used whatever they thought was best suited to their purpose regardless of label. The original definition of "professional" was confined to white collar occupations that required a college degree (often advanced degree), licensing by the government or the recognition of certain highly recognized professional bodies, adherence to specific codes of conduct, and so forth. That limited "professions" to doctors, lawers, school teachers and college professors, engineers, architects, scientists, etc. At that time, photographers no matter their skill, fame or income were considered to be in a volcation.
Sometime in the early post-WWII period, people in other occupations realized that by attaching the label "professional" to their occupation, it could raise their prestige, income and self-confidence. From that point on the popular definition of "professional" has expanded until today when even your janitor, excuse me I mean building maintenance engineer, considers himself a "professional".
I, therefore consider myself a professional photographer and a professional retired person and a professional husband and a professional father and a professional grandfather.
"Pro gear" is a marketing term made up by some Madison Avenue marketers many years ago to make certain products more desirable to general consumers since professionals used whatever they thought was best suited to their purpose regardless of label. The original definition of "professional" was confined to white collar occupations that required a college degree (often advanced degree), licensing by the government or the recognition of certain highly recognized professional bodies, adherence to specific codes of conduct, and so forth. That limited "professions" to doctors, lawers, school teachers and college professors, engineers, architects, scientists, etc. At that time, photographers no matter their skill, fame or income were considered to be in a volcation.
Sometime in the early post-WWII period, people in other occupations realized that by attaching the label "professional" to their occupation, it could raise their prestige, income and self-confidence. From that point on the popular definition of "professional" has expanded until today when even your janitor, excuse me I mean building maintenance engineer, considers himself a "professional".
I, therefore consider myself a professional photographer and a professional retired person and a professional husband and a professional father and a professional grandfather.
Jan 31, 2019 11:02:44 #
lots of very interesting opinions on "Professional Photographers"
Albeit Photography is decidedly not a "Profession" in the true sense of the term...
It neither requires academic credentials nor licensing by a controlling authority.
That said what I believe most on UHH hold is that a "professional" is engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime.
In order to bring some semblance of agreement into this discussion I would suggest using the term "Commercial Photographer" instead.
btw, in order to qualify for membership in Nikon's Professional Services there are very specific criteria... https://www.nikonusa.com/en/service-and-support/nps/become-a-member.page a quick review will allow you to see if this is merely marketing hype or not... However I have assisted those who are members of the aforementioned...
Personally I am NOT a "Professional Photographer" in as I do not support myself solely by this "craft"
I am however a licensed professional makeup artist... This required meeting the criteria of a state cosmetologist licensing board (training etc). This license allows me to apply makeup product to clients (for hire) in a commercial establishment... i.e. Beauty Salon... and also helps me to "close" my bridal clients...
As for "Pro Gear"? I shoot soccer commercially as such I must shoot in pouring rain... so yes I have what Nikon deems as professional kit... their AFS 200-400mm f/4 IF ED VR (weather sealed) and a Nikon D3 and D3x (weather sealed)... while I have a D810 I don't consider it as a professional piece of kit... its weather sealing simply isn't at the same level of the above mentioned... but it's a delightful "fair weather" piece of kit... lol
Hope this helps... or is at least food for thought....
btw, I also have assisted an "Explorer of Light" so I'm certainly not a fan boy of any particular vendor.
It just worked out that I work with Nikon kit exclusively... (as a commercial photographer)
I wish you all commercial success on your journey...
And more importantly... good health and happiness
Albeit Photography is decidedly not a "Profession" in the true sense of the term...
It neither requires academic credentials nor licensing by a controlling authority.
That said what I believe most on UHH hold is that a "professional" is engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime.
In order to bring some semblance of agreement into this discussion I would suggest using the term "Commercial Photographer" instead.
btw, in order to qualify for membership in Nikon's Professional Services there are very specific criteria... https://www.nikonusa.com/en/service-and-support/nps/become-a-member.page a quick review will allow you to see if this is merely marketing hype or not... However I have assisted those who are members of the aforementioned...
Personally I am NOT a "Professional Photographer" in as I do not support myself solely by this "craft"
I am however a licensed professional makeup artist... This required meeting the criteria of a state cosmetologist licensing board (training etc). This license allows me to apply makeup product to clients (for hire) in a commercial establishment... i.e. Beauty Salon... and also helps me to "close" my bridal clients...
As for "Pro Gear"? I shoot soccer commercially as such I must shoot in pouring rain... so yes I have what Nikon deems as professional kit... their AFS 200-400mm f/4 IF ED VR (weather sealed) and a Nikon D3 and D3x (weather sealed)... while I have a D810 I don't consider it as a professional piece of kit... its weather sealing simply isn't at the same level of the above mentioned... but it's a delightful "fair weather" piece of kit... lol
Hope this helps... or is at least food for thought....
btw, I also have assisted an "Explorer of Light" so I'm certainly not a fan boy of any particular vendor.
It just worked out that I work with Nikon kit exclusively... (as a commercial photographer)
I wish you all commercial success on your journey...
And more importantly... good health and happiness
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