Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

PS I still done call my self a pro as they make a living off the camera.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

By that definition Tiger Woods would not be A professional golfer. Only a small amount of his income is earned on the golf course. His real income is from his indorcements. Woods is a pro indorcer and a part time golfer

Gourmand Loc: Dallas

Hmmmm... As a photographic artist (these days), I shoot for my own pleasure and sell prints on occasion through a gallery, but have not accepted any assignments in about a decade (having previously shot free lance for magazines). Photography was an avocation for the years I did magazine work, but you know what happened to magazines. Even teaching a photography course once a year at the college level would never cover my cost of living. Did the work I performed as an avocation make me a pro? I never worried about it. Calling myself "an artist" was a much more significant hurdle.

Photocraig

Which if applied across ALL the professions, short of egregious criminal activity, the "Professional" ranks would be severely thinned.

I wish, along with you, that there were Professional Standards to all that are really enforced. To my mind, teh practitioners or teh Legal Arts, have eternally stained that "Profession" with bad behavior, outright false, confusing and vague language and acts. It is compounded by Attorneys in Public elective and appointed and Public employment.

With other "professions" with required licensing like Public Accountants, Real Estate and Insurance Agents, Land Surveyors, etc. there really is something at stake for serious breeches of Professional conduct. Unfortunately, Photography, like Sex and Golf allow the practitioner the freedom to practice and even charge for activity without the requirement for being any good at it. Except got the PGA certification, nobody will revoke your license and freedom to do any of them.

It goes with being a Gentlemen or Lady. A polite characterization or salutation, on the surface. But STRICT behavioral constructs attached to each.

I often wish when The Lord was dictating and laser writing on those Tablet on the Mountain, There would have been a more specific summary something like Commandments 1-10 means "Thou shall NOT be an A** H***! Alas, he underestimated the Flock.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

I used to do part time weddings, portraits and industrial photography earning between $15,000 to $20,000 a year while fully employed in the IS field. I belonged to the PPA in the late 60's through the 80's, the IRS and state counted me as a professional and I had to pay taxes on that income as well as my IS employment. I think it is subjective, I went through Little Falls School of Photography (of course back then it was film). Everyone has their own definition and for me, my definition is contracting and making money selling goods and services. The same can be said for my 45 year computer career (yes I have a college degree in that) but I was selling companies my services in exchange for pay (not my only source of income).

aellman Loc: Boston MA

Federal, state, and some local governments will take advantage of ANY opportunity to tax you. My friend who lives in CT and works in NY City, has to pay tax to CT, NY state, and NY City.

10MPlayer Loc: California

Not really, unless you're a comic character in a home security ad on TV.

As I understand it, an older definition of a professional is a person with skills and knowledge, in his/her given field of endeavor, going beyond those of a layman. At least that is the definition I learned when studying to become a professional land surveyor. The definition has changed and broadened over the years to include adhering to the ethics and standards of behavior expected in their field of expertise.

Anyone can pick up a camera a take pictures but a professional possesses the skills and knowledge of the field beyond what a lay photographer does. At least that's how I was taught to understand it. I'm sure taking money for your work is a part of it too. Hence a professional football player vs. an amateur. I guess the point I'm driving at is that I don't believe just earning money for what you do makes you professional. It's about that plus having deeper knowledge and greater knowledge about what you do.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

This reminds me of a musicians joke from years back. Two friends were talking one was taking guitar lessons the other bass lessons. Guitar gal says “I had a great lesson, Today I learned the major scale” bass guy says “me too”. The next day they talk again she says “todays lesson I learned the minor scale”. Bass guy says Me too. She says, “next we are moving on to cord structure and timing. What are you doing?” Bass guy says “I’m done with lessons, tomorrow I got a gig”.


*ITS A JOKE. Dont’ give me crap about being insensitive to artists, all that. I played bass in a band(s) for a period spanning about 20 years when I was younger. If I can laugh at it, then so can you.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

I used to live in NJ and work in NY and had to pay tax to both states and file for some taxes back so I just paid the city tax.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

There are some amateur photographers with more skill and knowledge than some professional photographers, and nothing to keep those professionals from calling themselves professional.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

That definition in a lot of trades defines a Master or sometimes Expert. Of course, like you mentioned, definitions change over time and even across individual career fields.


Money or not, I would assume that whatever someones profession is, that would make them a professional. An electrician at apprentice, journeyman, or master are all in the same profession, just at different levels of knowledge/experience.

KimberlyF Loc: Corpus Christi, TX

I know others have mentioned this in the responses, but I thought I'd also credit the PPA with high standards. Granted, I'm new to PPA, but in going through the process to become certified by them, I find it to be quite comprehensive. Someone who has all the knowledge required to earn this certification, certainly could be considered a pro. Whether or not they earn a living at it, is another thing. I encourage you to check them out. One more thing, their district and international contests require great photography to merit. I think it is another way to prove proficiency (at least in the area you are competing.)

rfbeams Loc: Stanwood, Washington

When I made my living with my cameras, I was a professional.

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

Skill level and professional status are two separate things for me. Here’s an online dictionary’s translation.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

About being a professional.

1. Is there an admission requirement to enter your profession? Doctors, lawyers, architects and many other profession have a requirement of advanced study and then passing "boards" and beyond that.

2. Is there a requirement for continuing education classes to keep you upto date with changes in your profession?

3. Are there yearly fee requirements that members pay to help with the administration of their profession?

4. Is there an established body of ethical behaviors or requirements that members of your profession is expected to adhere to subject to censure, suspension or removal for violation of the rules of the profession. An example of this would be a lawyer commingling his clients money with his own.

5. Concerning #4 above, is there an enforcement arm of your profession that has the authority to remove you as a member of the profession and under penalty of law prevent you from holding yourself out as a member of the profession and certainly take legal action against you if you take money for services that you are not entitled to charge money for performing.

The above are some of standards of conduct professional organizations follow. Does a professional photographer have to adhere to any of the above requirements?