BigDaddy wrote:
To me being a professional generally refers to earning a living at something. It does not mean you are really good at something, just good enough, or a good enough salesman to earn a living at it. It does suggest you're good at whatever it is people are willing to support you to do it for them. Plenty of amateur photographers are good enough to be professional but choose not to for a variety of reasons.
Some professions require a license and/or a degree to earn a living it. Earning a living as a Doctor or Lawyer requires being licensed. Far as I know you can earn a living as a photographer just by earning a living doing it. You may be a better salesman than a photographer, but you're still a professional photographer. You may be a lousy doctor, lawyer, or photographer, but if enough people are willing to pay you enough to support you, you are still a professional.
To me being a professional generally refers to ear... (
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Comparing professional photographs to health, legal, and financial professionals and certain licused trades, specific affiliations, and licensing as a matter of health, safety, and public protection. If a photoghrpaer produces sub-standard work nobody gets sicker and dies, goes to prison, goes bankrupt, or has their house burned down due to shoddy workmanship. Of course, pro photograhers, all retailers, and all commercial entities are subject to consumer protection laws,
and civil lawsuits.
There are professional photographers' associations that have codes of ethics, and standards, and issue degrees a various levels of competence and performance, however, membership is voluntary and NOT mandatory.
In today's market environment, it is doubtful that a truly inferior photographer can sustain their business for a very long time. Neighborhood brick and morter walk-in studios are disappearing and pro photoghaers are depending on good word of mouth and referrals for business longevity. The hacks and charlatans will fall by the wayside in this environment. In the retail sector." buyer beware" still applies. If folks opt for an unknown quantity rather than a reputable professional they may be subject to disappointment. In the commercial sector, publishers, art directors, and ad agency account executives are more discerning and people producing poorly crafted work will not survive in this market.
Even if a photographer is artistically and technically talented, there is no guarantee they can be successful without business acumen. The concept, however, that a "lousey" or mediocre photoghaer can prosper if that is a "good salesperson" is becoming more of a myth every day. Most folks are not sight-impaired or stupid- they are exposed to good images every day on TV, in movies, magazines, posters, advertising, packaging, art museums, and galleries.
My first employer and mentor in this business told me an important philosophy on day one. There are "photoghreers" who TALK a good job and photographers to DO a good job- they are seldom the same "photograher"!
Any of y'all can get into the entomology of the word "professional" all day long. For me, "gettg paid" is not the definition of true professionalism. Money is the reward for good work.