What is a professional photographer
Jun 11, 2017 10:39:14 #
crazydaddio wrote:
A) Someone who gets paid by ( a non-relative :-)
B) Photography is main source of income
C) Is registered as such...
D) Has taken course and has madskillz workflow
E) Some/all of the above
F) other criteria
Probably been debated before but it keeps coming up in my circle of pro/semi-pro/enthusiast/wannabe friends.
My answer leans toward A) or B)
B) Photography is main source of income
C) Is registered as such...
D) Has taken course and has madskillz workflow
E) Some/all of the above
F) other criteria
Probably been debated before but it keeps coming up in my circle of pro/semi-pro/enthusiast/wannabe friends.
My answer leans toward A) or B)
professional |prəˈfeSH(ə)n(ə)l|
adjective
Defined as; "engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime":
I am a professional ( my profession) photographer for over a decade when I started my own photography business which I still successfully own.
It is a distinguishing term between a hobbyist and a career or profession. It does not mean I am better than anyone else. It means that I get paid to do a specific photography job. I don't take walks into the woods to take bird shots. For the type of photography I do, I have been successful at, but by no means can I compete with the excellent bird photography shown here by hobbyist. Camera and other equipment are tools of the trade. I have learned over many yrs how to use the right tools.
It seems to some that the term professional bothers some and infers "I am better than you" attitude, which is totally not true.
Jun 11, 2017 10:57:59 #
rjaywallace wrote:
The question may be relevant to this group, but it has been beaten TO DEATH.
A better question might have been "How can I increase the likelihood my work will be perceived as truly Professional?"
A better question might have been "How can I increase the likelihood my work will be perceived as truly Professional?"
Professional is not something "perceived" but based on training, education, income.
Perceive definition, "to become aware of, know, or identify by means of the senses". I qualify to be refered to as a professional because I spend yrs working in a studio with other professionals to learn my profession & has nothing to do with the senses. Its like Bruce Jenner that refers or "perceives" to himself as Caitlyn. I am sure that many works can be "Perceived" as professional, but it still remains the fact that perception has nothing to do with a profession.
Jun 11, 2017 11:30:27 #
Jun 11, 2017 11:47:12 #
crazydaddio wrote:
A) Someone who gets paid by ( a non-relative :-)
B) Photography is main source of income
C) Is registered as such...
D) Has taken course and has madskillz workflow
E) Some/all of the above
F) other criteria
Probably been debated before but it keeps coming up in my circle of pro/semi-pro/enthusiast/wannabe friends.
My answer leans toward A) or B)
B) Photography is main source of income
C) Is registered as such...
D) Has taken course and has madskillz workflow
E) Some/all of the above
F) other criteria
Probably been debated before but it keeps coming up in my circle of pro/semi-pro/enthusiast/wannabe friends.
My answer leans toward A) or B)
You are leaning in the right direction.
Getting paid means that you have good people skills, know how to market yourself using those skills, understand how to find out what people want and how to deliver, and that you do what you do well enough to sustain yourself, significant others and your pets.
If you think it is about getting a formal education in the creative arts, have a "registration" (whatever that means), or even taking really good pictures - two things are apparent - 1) you are not a pro and 2) you will never be a pro until you acknowledge that it's all about the client/customer and providing exceptional customer service is what actually distinguishes you from the others who believe C) and D).
To Steve Perry's point - we all know at least one photographer with modest skills that works a wedding (sometimes 2) every weekend or has some other gig that provides a good income. And we also know someone who we think is an outstanding photographer and can't seem to make even a modest living at it.
As far as A) is concerned, if you are able to get a relative to pay you for photographic services - that automatically makes you a Pro!!!!!!
Jun 11, 2017 11:50:13 #
Marionsho wrote:
Then there's problems that arise with that too.
Wal-Mart, among others, will try to tell you they won't print your pictures because you didn't take them.
You musta stole them from a "Pro" somehow.
More than one of my past classmates have had that problem.
It fits the "no good deed goes unpunished" phrase. The student strives to do better, then gets shot down in the end.
Wal-Mart, among others, will try to tell you they won't print your pictures because you didn't take them.
You musta stole them from a "Pro" somehow.
More than one of my past classmates have had that problem.
It fits the "no good deed goes unpunished" phrase. The student strives to do better, then gets shot down in the end.
Don't use Walmart, a quality image deserves a quality print. Use Bay Photo or one of the other pro printers available on-line.
Jun 11, 2017 11:55:47 #
crazydaddio wrote:
A) Someone who gets paid by ( a non-relative :-)
B) Photography is main source of income
C) Is registered as such...
D) Has taken course and has madskillz workflow
E) Some/all of the above
F) other criteria
Probably been debated before but it keeps coming up in my circle of pro/semi-pro/enthusiast/wannabe friends.
My answer leans toward A) or B)
B) Photography is main source of income
C) Is registered as such...
D) Has taken course and has madskillz workflow
E) Some/all of the above
F) other criteria
Probably been debated before but it keeps coming up in my circle of pro/semi-pro/enthusiast/wannabe friends.
My answer leans toward A) or B)
I had this same discussion with my insurance company representative, I insure my home with Triple A. I have a rider on my home policy for my photo equipment. My agent told me that "no one else we insure has this much photography equipment that is not a professional." I told her I was simply spending my son's inheritance and how I spent my money was my business. I said show me a written document that defines "professional" and I never heard back from her on that one! I think "professional" can be an ambiguous term and defined at the moment sometimes. In general, I believe that it is someone whose primary income is derived from photography endeavors of some kind and it is something they work at on a daily basis.
Jun 11, 2017 11:57:08 #
In my opinion the moment a person accepts money for their work they become a professional. They may not be a very good professional and they may need further training but they are a professional nevertheless. This is a personal opinion and open to disputation but it is my answer to the above question.
Jun 11, 2017 11:59:54 #
Gene51 wrote:
You are leaning in the right direction. br br Ge... (show quote)
I fully agree with you especially about A. If you can sell to your relatives and friends to make a profit you're a real Pro.
Jun 11, 2017 12:07:03 #
boberic wrote:
I think that anyone who earns a living as a photographer is a pro. But that definition says nothing about the quality of the work. There is also something called a semi-pro. I don't know how to define that, becuse I don.t know what a semi-living is.
I was making a "semi-living" at photography. I am retired, but as a "second career" have been operating a art photography business where I sell my images at art festivals. I have sold a significant number of pieces but by no means do I make a living that way. I'm really more an artist first, and photographer second.
I consider myself a "semi-pro" photographer in that 1) I don't depend on my photography to make my livelihood, although I do make supplemental income from it. 2) my skills as a photographer are limited to a specific area and lack the general overall mastery and breadth of knowledge I associate with a true pro. . I would fail miserably if i were doing portrait work, for example. I have zero interest there, and therefore have spent no time learning about lighting, posing subjects, etc. (I don't do weddings, I don't do portraits, I don't take pictures of people's cats!). I view "pros" as those able to move easily and with skill between photography situations with relative ease because their breadth of knowledge allows them to do so.
Jun 11, 2017 12:26:19 #
crazydaddio wrote:
A) Someone who gets paid by ( a non-relative :-)
B) Photography is main source of income
C) Is registered as such...
D) Has taken course and has madskillz workflow
E) Some/all of the above
F) other criteria
Probably been debated before but it keeps coming up in my circle of pro/semi-pro/enthusiast/wannabe friends.
My answer leans toward A) or B)
B) Photography is main source of income
C) Is registered as such...
D) Has taken course and has madskillz workflow
E) Some/all of the above
F) other criteria
Probably been debated before but it keeps coming up in my circle of pro/semi-pro/enthusiast/wannabe friends.
My answer leans toward A) or B)
F.
'Professional' is a much abused word. A 'professional' is a member of a 'profession'. Professionals are governed by codes of ethics, and profess commitment to competence, integrity, morality, and the promotion of the public good within their field of expertise . Professionals are accountable to their clients and to society.
Exercising a skill at a high level may make you a businessman, a craftsman, an expert or a master tradesman, but it is subscribing to a professional ethos that makes you a professional. Making money or a living out of photography is secondary. There are plenty of camera salesman, bloggers, writers, teachers etc who make a living out of photography, but are they 'professional photographers'?
For me, photography is a hobby that I do for fun and and as a creative outlet. I am strongly committed to learning the skills of my hobby. I hope some day to become competent and to produce work of a high quality and possibly find an audience who might appreciate my efforts. However, the day I earn a dollar from a picture will be the day it becomes work.
Jun 11, 2017 13:06:39 #
Jun 11, 2017 13:10:04 #
Jun 11, 2017 14:16:11 #
Probably will tick lots of you off . Just cuz you get paid or have thousands in pro equipment or been to school don't make you a pro . Your ability to access a situation and make the right decision to properly expose a photo is what separates amature from professional now don't cook me too hard cuz this is my opinion of a pro . And believe me after 29 years I am still learning so smile when I an voting for F
Jun 11, 2017 14:16:12 #
Probably will tick lots of you off . Just cuz you get paid or have thousands in pro equipment or been to school don't make you a pro . Your ability to access a situation and make the right decision to properly expose a photo is what separates amature from professional now don't cook me too hard cuz this is my opinion of a pro . And believe me after 29 years I am still learning so smile when I an voting for F
Jun 11, 2017 14:47:11 #
pstar wrote:
Probably will tick lots of you off . Just cuz you get paid or have thousands in pro equipment or been to school don't make you a pro . Your ability to access a situation and make the right decision to properly expose a photo is what separates amature from professional now don't cook me too hard cuz this is my opinion of a pro . And believe me after 29 years I am still learning so smile when I an voting for F
You are entitled to your opinion, even if you are wrong. Read Steve Perry's reply - he is spot on. Everything else is just noise.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.