What Constitutes Professional Level Photography???
Nov 7, 2017 15:41:34 #
tdekany wrote:
Btw, in case you missed it, the question was what makes a photo pro quality. How to define a professional photographer was not asked by the OP
Brings up an interesting concept... Is there such a thing as a " pro quality photo"??????
Nov 7, 2017 15:44:52 #
Nov 7, 2017 15:47:42 #
Opsafari
Loc: Roodepoort South Africa
Question: But what is professional level photography.
Very difficult to answer, so let me try. Professional in the sentence can mean; skillful, slick, sharp, finished, polished or a product of high quality that stands above the rest.
Level: matched, aligned to certain set of standards set by competition rules or accepted by the viewer or buyer.
Professional photographer is a person engaged or qualified in a profession or occupation and can specialize in either specific subject or various subjects. You get portrait photographers that does mainly studio work although he/she might have officially trained as a photographer at an institution, he/she might not have an eye for wildlife photography, action sport, motor sport, water sport, nature and I can go on!
A professional photographer is a person who makes a living from taking photos, this does not only mean taking the photo but also develop (today Photoshop) and present it. A lot goes on behind the lens, planning, research, marketing and meetings. Many photographers today are also active in providing lectures or writing books or contribute to websites. It’s an occupation in the world of art.
An Amateur photographer can shoot high quality photos that meets all the criteria that make his/her photo look professional. For this person it’s a hobby and he/she might meet all the qualities of a professional but does not do it as an occupation. This person has an active interest in the art, study it, read about it and follow courses.
The biggest headache for professionals is the wedding industry! I’ve seen some really awful work of pros (plus amazing work as well) and some great work of amateurs also some real awful work. It all boils down to the available budgets of the client and the region photographers operates like Hollywood versus small fishing village.
What bugs me the most is the term Professional Camera Equipment! My local portrait photographer retired a few years ago and I asked him about PCE and he said that it was important the strobes he used was of good quality that constantly can deliver the required light or strobes that he wants, a sturdy camera body and fast lenses! He mainly experimented with various film types and darkroom chemicals.
At one stage of my life I’ve been a Military photographer. My occupation was a services man with the task to take photos. I had to take: close-ups of various subjects, portraits, landscapes and action. No fancy studio lights, only reflectors and portable camera strobes. I also had to man the darkroom. Most of my images were not “competition” quality but many of them were published either in internal or public and international newspapers and magazines.
After my military period I was a newspaper photographer, it was my profession or occupation. I had to take various types of photographs and in my free time experimented with some art photography. Stock standard film camera bodies but with fast lenses. Then I left the newspaper and pursue a career in television as a video editor also another controversial industry; professional versus semi-pro versus amateur and freelance.
At the end of the day the end product must be accepted by the viewer and buyer and if you as a photographer want to make a living out of this art, you have to constant deliver. And my eyes there is no professional camera, it’s all about the person that can use and understand his/her tools. Lenses are more important!
Very difficult to answer, so let me try. Professional in the sentence can mean; skillful, slick, sharp, finished, polished or a product of high quality that stands above the rest.
Level: matched, aligned to certain set of standards set by competition rules or accepted by the viewer or buyer.
Professional photographer is a person engaged or qualified in a profession or occupation and can specialize in either specific subject or various subjects. You get portrait photographers that does mainly studio work although he/she might have officially trained as a photographer at an institution, he/she might not have an eye for wildlife photography, action sport, motor sport, water sport, nature and I can go on!
A professional photographer is a person who makes a living from taking photos, this does not only mean taking the photo but also develop (today Photoshop) and present it. A lot goes on behind the lens, planning, research, marketing and meetings. Many photographers today are also active in providing lectures or writing books or contribute to websites. It’s an occupation in the world of art.
An Amateur photographer can shoot high quality photos that meets all the criteria that make his/her photo look professional. For this person it’s a hobby and he/she might meet all the qualities of a professional but does not do it as an occupation. This person has an active interest in the art, study it, read about it and follow courses.
The biggest headache for professionals is the wedding industry! I’ve seen some really awful work of pros (plus amazing work as well) and some great work of amateurs also some real awful work. It all boils down to the available budgets of the client and the region photographers operates like Hollywood versus small fishing village.
What bugs me the most is the term Professional Camera Equipment! My local portrait photographer retired a few years ago and I asked him about PCE and he said that it was important the strobes he used was of good quality that constantly can deliver the required light or strobes that he wants, a sturdy camera body and fast lenses! He mainly experimented with various film types and darkroom chemicals.
At one stage of my life I’ve been a Military photographer. My occupation was a services man with the task to take photos. I had to take: close-ups of various subjects, portraits, landscapes and action. No fancy studio lights, only reflectors and portable camera strobes. I also had to man the darkroom. Most of my images were not “competition” quality but many of them were published either in internal or public and international newspapers and magazines.
After my military period I was a newspaper photographer, it was my profession or occupation. I had to take various types of photographs and in my free time experimented with some art photography. Stock standard film camera bodies but with fast lenses. Then I left the newspaper and pursue a career in television as a video editor also another controversial industry; professional versus semi-pro versus amateur and freelance.
At the end of the day the end product must be accepted by the viewer and buyer and if you as a photographer want to make a living out of this art, you have to constant deliver. And my eyes there is no professional camera, it’s all about the person that can use and understand his/her tools. Lenses are more important!
Nov 7, 2017 15:48:10 #
I have used everything from simple point and shoots to bridge cameras to shoot my photos. I have sold two photos and the rest I have in the creative common license in flickr. Many of my photos have been used in many websites. So, in a way I can say I am a published author but not a paid one. Would that still consider me not a professional? I have a feeling that in this day and age the term professional has become a loosely coined term at least in the photographic world. In time, terms change their meaning as technology improves and photography has been the purview of a few, now many can join the ranks of photography. Some take better photos; others, well, nice as they can be probably would not be used or considered by an editor. The choices today are enormous and everybody has a chance to sell something and make money.
Nov 7, 2017 15:50:48 #
tdekany wrote:
Ok, we are making progress (jeees, I feel like SS).
So we have a photo that would be considered pro quality. What makes it so?
So we have a photo that would be considered pro quality. What makes it so?
I don't feel there is such a thing as a PRO quality photo! Its a made up misnomer. no such thing exist. Its a matter of who took the picture, and has nothing to do with if someone makes a living doing it. Two separate things.
Nov 7, 2017 15:51:53 #
Nov 7, 2017 16:02:18 #
Pro quality is any image you can make that will entice enough of the public to buy same imagines you make for a profit that will
Substan you in the life you have chosen ,failing that you may never be called a pro . We all knew the kid in grade school who could
Draw boats , deer, horses , like a true Bateman doing a print , a camera is the same for some people , they just see more than most people can see , most of us will never reach that stage , you have it in your make up at the get go. Sure you can get a little better .
But if you can't paint or draw , you will go through life not improving much at all , it's the same as taking photos, you have the gene
In you or you don't. Have you ever been shooting someone ,and seen the shot , but she changed her face just before you snapped
And you missed it I did ,and could never get that same look again. And it was my wife in 1965 , I believe the true pros. see this in
A lot of there frames , and can catch it , it's that split second thing that is hard to get .
Substan you in the life you have chosen ,failing that you may never be called a pro . We all knew the kid in grade school who could
Draw boats , deer, horses , like a true Bateman doing a print , a camera is the same for some people , they just see more than most people can see , most of us will never reach that stage , you have it in your make up at the get go. Sure you can get a little better .
But if you can't paint or draw , you will go through life not improving much at all , it's the same as taking photos, you have the gene
In you or you don't. Have you ever been shooting someone ,and seen the shot , but she changed her face just before you snapped
And you missed it I did ,and could never get that same look again. And it was my wife in 1965 , I believe the true pros. see this in
A lot of there frames , and can catch it , it's that split second thing that is hard to get .
Nov 7, 2017 16:02:19 #
gsmith051 wrote:
The PPA defines a professional photographer as one who makes their living in the Photography industry. You could work in a camera store, shoot weddings etc. By that definition selling one picture would not make you a professional, just lucky. 😃. /George
I wonder, does the PPA define a professional photograph?
Nov 7, 2017 16:03:01 #
My profession is a full time photographer. Therefore my photos are pro photos. The ones that suck are still PRO photos but sucky quality. However, I edit out the bad ones and SELL the keepers. The keepers would then be PRO quality. This is what I do for a living!
A hobbyist take Hobbyist quality photos. They may sell them or not. Both photographers have taken QUALITY PHOTOS..... Perhaps taking out the word PRO would be a good idea and concentrate on the QUALITY, not who took it. Because I take photos for living does in way make me better than any other photographer.
A hobbyist take Hobbyist quality photos. They may sell them or not. Both photographers have taken QUALITY PHOTOS..... Perhaps taking out the word PRO would be a good idea and concentrate on the QUALITY, not who took it. Because I take photos for living does in way make me better than any other photographer.
Nov 7, 2017 16:09:16 #
d3200prime wrote:
This post has brought out all the Greeks from ever... (show quote)
Funny that you should mention Greeks. My initial thought was leant towards Cretans.
It IS NOT a subjective question.
It is however being presupposed as a subjective issue by Sharpshooter;
Sharpshooter has categorically rejected the listing and description offered by CJ canon:
which listed and described attributes of stock image photographs which could adequately be ascribed to professional images as well.This did NOT satisfy
the presupposition of sharpshooter regarding the seemingly more artistic elements apart from technical competence which does in fact markedly reflect qualities present in professional quality works and lacking or otherwise not fully present in numerous amateur works.
Sharpshooter appears hellbent on belaboring
the presence of artistic, aspects apart from technical,competent image execution and production..
Nov 7, 2017 16:14:22 #
tdekany wrote:
SS is asking about pro quality work, not what a professional photographer is.
Thomas, I think his initial post conflates both ideas, and may equate image quality with ability to make a living at it. They are not one in the same . . .
Nov 7, 2017 16:15:06 #
tdekany wrote:
You would think people who can read the OP would be able to comprehend it.
Regarding the readership of UHH. There is an significantly alarmingly high incidence of readers/members who demonstrate a dearth of high school reading comprehension level.
There is also an unusually large amount of left -brain dominant members ,for which, words can only have a singular, rigid meaning.
Nov 7, 2017 16:16:51 #
wham121736 wrote:
I wonder, does the PPA define a professional photograph?
Not really. But they do have an extensive training and judging program to help photographers be "better" photographers. They also have some instructional materials that can help someone become more "professional" or business-like. They really are two different concepts.
Nov 7, 2017 16:17:37 #
Nov 7, 2017 16:18:47 #
Billynikon
Loc: Atlanta
I take real estate photography for many brokers and they keep on calling me back because they like my work and they think my pictures help them sell real estate. I have also shot weddings and get other jobs from satisfied brides. Pays the bills, not rich at it but I think it gives me some cred as professional.
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