minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Our shooting services have already been provided by the time we add an image to an online portfolio or display it on a gallery wall. Our print services (or arrangement thereof) are still underway in most cases.

IMHO Ansel Adams was indeed a professional photographer. But I doubt he got calls to "go shoot me a nice image of Half Dome" and rushed out to fill the order. Folks purchased prints of the images he displayed in his gallery. Sports photos are often like this too. The photographer may go out and shoot a Red Sox game, and they go up on the Getty site next day, and can be purchased from there for a variety of purposes.

The services of a landscape/fine art photographer are delivered differently than those of a studio portrait photographer or a wedding photographer. Sports is a bit different from both. There's many different kinds of photo professionals.

asiafish Loc: Bakersfield, CA

Then you would be a "passionate" photographer.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Good job.

JustMePB Loc: Currently Indian Trail, NC.

I've called my self a "Freelance Photographer". After looking up the definition I should maybe stop that. I do not do photography to earn a living. I do it because I enjoy what I do. I take photos primarily for my local VFW and myself. I'm asked to do certain photos, random shots at different activities, and now do green screening. I take the photos and edit some. I then hand them out at the VFW. People keep asking me if I am a Professional Photographer and I say no, that I enjoy doing it and seeing their smile(s) when they get/look at the photos. I keep getting told that I do professional quality work. So, when asked, what should I call myself.... the VFW Post Photographer, a Hobbyist, or just someone who has expensive toys who likes the attention it gets? I do not get paid for what I do. When asked I say no charge. If someone wants to donate, I accept. The money I get just goes back for more paper and inks.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

For the most part, I like your definitions. I often call myself a "Non-commercial Photographer" in that I have made a living as a photographer in the past. But I went on to get a Ph.D. in another field and have been doing that for my income.

When I contact a model (I shoot a lot of things, but most often "artistic" nudes.) I try to distinguish myself from the "amateur" photographers, by referring to myself as a non-commercial photographer.

If you look at the ads on Craigslist, one distinction is that amateurs look for young women (and sometimes men) who have never before modeled and offer them a DVD with the images in payment. I look for professional models (Experienced but in the first year or two of work as I can't afford the $150-200 an hour of the higher tier.) I insist on payment--even if it is low--to honor their professional status and because modeling is hard work and deserves compensation. I think that is not amateur, but non-commercial.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Just as in categorizing athletes, one's category depends on money earned. Some places, if you have EVER received money for clicking the shutter or sold a print, you must put yourself in the "professional" column. It doesn't matter if it's only $1.

billwassmann Loc: Emerson, NJ

In my opinion, there is no difference between a snapshot and a photograph. A snapshot is simply a spur of the moment photograph. A highly skilled photographer could seen something that interests him and photograph it. He may describe it as a snapshot but it could be great photography.
Ergo, Joe Rosenthal made a snapshot of a flag raising on Iwo Jima.
The people on this site spend to much time such meaningless thoughts.

jrh1354 Loc: Dayton, Ohio

Just a thought - photography fits well into the old craft model where you have Apprentices, Journeymen, and Masters. This directly addresses the level of their skill set and the mastery of same to produce products that others admire.
I consider myself at the Journeyman level. I've studied the craft and demonstrated my skill level - but I still have a lot to learn. I was a Semi-pro for a while in the 70's. Never could make the transition from Semi-pro to Pro. Getting married created a vortex that sucked-up too much of my time. Not to mention the need to pay a mortgage, put food on the table, and cater to wifey's somewhat extravegant tastes.

I would remove novice from the list as it doesn't really line up with the other categories (if my suggestion of using craft levels were substituted).

Great post - lots of good ideas and intelligent discussion. Bravo Zulu

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

I completely agree with you Bill.

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO

Good definitions. Like this :)

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

You are an amateur photographer. That's the employment status sorted. The fact that you call yourself a freelance, implies (to me) that you would sell if you could, but controversially, when offered money, you do not accept it.
As your services are in demand, you must be a competent photographer in whatever field you have chosen, (I don't know what VFW stands for), so perhaps you should subscribe to the badge idea.

Putting a label on an engineer is easy; if he specializes in scaffolding, then he is a scaffold engineer; if he earns is daily bread by being a scaffold engineer, then he is a professional scaffold engineer. None of this tells anyone if he is any good at what he does, but every knows this guy works at being a scaffold engineer.

Linda is an amateur dancer. Linda dances, does not get paid for doing it, but is she any good? I can't tell from the label.

Linda dances full time, so where is her income. A few years ago she would not have an income from dancing, so would have to have a job outside of the theatre or an "angel" to keep her from starvation. Today she would have a sponsor, in return wearing Browns Dancing Shoes complete with logos, Linda would have an apartment, all the food she can eat etc,. but only if she is a good - competent - dancer.

In the world of Photography, I suspect its the IRS, local councils and State employment laws that define the parameters of Professional v Amateur, but its the professionalism that defines the photographer.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

I love the idea of using craft levels to define ability and capability. I would hazard a guess that most Pro Photographers who have studied the subject and been examined on their knowledge and skills by an officiating body do put their qualifications on business cards, letterheads, quotations etc.

True amateurs would not worry so much, but the ones hardest hit would be the Semi-Pro. In many cases this one is working for some else, perhaps in a totally different industry and becomes a Semi-Pro Photographer in his spare time. Possibly self taught, no formal qualifications and wanting to take that step into become self sufficient as a fully professional Photographer.

Lets say our hypothetical SP has the equipment required, the business acumen, the insurance, the trading license etc. he still has to prove his capability. With formal qualifications and a decent portfolio, maybe a few testimonials from previous sales, he still has to sell himself and that can't be achieved by simply labelling himself as "Professional".

OldEarl Loc: Northeast Kansas

A mediocre working photographer.

OldEarl Loc: Northeast Kansas

Could I possibly suggest that in this forum the distinctions of professional and amateur are not particularly relevant.

I studied for three of the classic professions: law, arms and clergy. I have certificates and licenses admitting me to practice of law. I have licensure in minor orders. I was deemed not qualified in the practice of arms which may explain while I am still able to write this.

I also studied for the semi-profession of educator and was licensed to teach various subjects by two states.

Without any certification I practiced the craft of photography for pay with remuneration for a number of years. Ultimately, time constraints indicated that I could no longer work full time at the job which provided insurance and 3/4 time at the job which, while remunerative, did not and still maintain a family life for my children and hypochondriac wife. So I continued to shoot occasionally for some clients but stopped hanging out a shingle.

I considered myself a working photographer but not a professional photographer. What body of knowledge did I profess and what code of knowledge did I possess in the craft.

I was always an "amateur" in the sense that I loved the craft more than the remuneration. I believe this would apply to many "professional" photographers as well. Being a professional lawyer or clergyman or physician or surgeon means you have completed the training and passed the test--the level of skill makes the reputation but all who punch the ticket are professionals.

As to the term "novice" I would point out that one high degree black belt I know wears a white belt whenever he takes up a new art. Another wears his original white belt and states that he is still a student. I teach use of force and eclectic combatives and consider myself an intermediate student.

And in photography, I am still learning. When I stop, someone else will have charge of my ashes.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

The Dictionary App in OS X barfs up this definition:

professional |prəˈfeSHənl|
adjective
1 [ attrib. ] of, relating to, or connected with a profession: young professional people | the professional schools of Yale and Harvard.
2 (of a person) engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime: a professional boxer.
• having or showing the skill appropriate to a professional person; competent or skillful: their music is both memorable and professional.
• worthy of or appropriate to a professional person: his professional expertise.
• informal, derogatory denoting a person who persistently makes a feature of a particular activity or attribute: a professional naysayer.
noun
a person engaged or qualified in a profession: professionals such as lawyers and surveyors.
• a person engaged in a specified activity, especially a sport or branch of the performing arts, as a main paid occupation rather than as a pastime.
• a person competent or skilled in a particular activity: she was a real professional on stage.

Your disagreement is agreed to by that last, minor, secondary definition.