If you want to call yourself a pro , you are a pro, I am not going to to an audit on you just be sure...Just like any other job that has no requirements or licensing or qualifications. If you want to call yourself a policeman or a doctor, you will run into legal issues. not so much with being a 'pro photographer'.
netminder0 wrote:
In the end, does it really matter?
The only times it matters are for professional jobs, or jobs that require a certain level of education or accreditation. This includes, but is not limited to, Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, Architects and a few other jobs that require certain skills to be considered a professional.
Otherwise, people use the term "professional" to denote that they get paid, typically as a means to brag. That is to say "I'm so good at XYZ, people pay me to do it!". At which point it can degenerate into nit picking and grades of professional, none of which is important to the trade or the skills thereof. I derive a monetary gain from some of the photos I take, but it doesn't matter one bit if someone considers me professional or otherwise.
i have met photographers around the world that display skills so honed and precise in their particular specialties i dare not call them amateurs. they are so skilled in their craft their work is so good that its professional in every aspect eg. aviary photographers some on this very forum. because these photographers don't get paid thus by most standards they are classified as amateurs.
to the OP i say other. their work stands as testimony in and of itself of their professionalism. when one has acquired the skills of a master photographer you have earned the right IMHO to be called a professional photographer.
since this is a gear forum, shall we assume that the professional photographer has also acquired the essential tools to capture the image.
Why not apply the actual definition to the term 'photographer'.
1 a: of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession b: engaged in one of the learned professions c (1): characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession (2): exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace2 a: participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs <a professional golfer> b: having a particular profession as a permanent career <a professional soldier> c: engaged in by persons receiving financial return <professional football>3: following a line of conduct as though it were a profession <a professional patriot>
As you can see being a professional is not as clear cut as many make it seem.
Defintion a professional as a noun (as in someone who is a professional): (Websters)
"a: participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs <a professional golfer> b: having a particular profession as a permanent career <a professional soldier> c: engaged in by persons receiving financial return <professional football>"
Definition of a professional as an adjective (as in someone who conducts themselves as a professional): (Websters)
(1): characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession (2): exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace (3): following a line of conduct as though it were a profession"
A professional photographer would therfor most likely be defined as someone who makes most of their living with their camera, and would enter "photographer" when answering the question "what is your career?". The gear would not matter, nor how they conduct themselves.
An amateur would most likely be someone who makes their living primarily by another profession, but derives some of their income from photography. Again, gear and conduct would not matter.
I define myself as a "hobbiest", even though my images are sometimes used in brochures, catalogs and a website. I earn no money with my gear.
My great aunt ran a bordello near Colorado Springs in the early 1900s that was literally burnt to the ground by torch-wielding townsfolk. My cousin has one of the few remaining relics, a sign that was damaged but not destroyed. It's long and looks like it probably hung over a doorway. The hand-painted lettering reads (and I'm editing for those with more delicate sensibilities):
An amateur will (have sex with) you for free
A whore will (do it to) you for money
A professional will make you feel like it was money well spent!
There's a fourth line, gone forever, that's the subject of much speculation in my family. Only the tops of two letters are visible, a B, R, or P, and an E. Anyway, that's what always springs to my mind when I think about the difference between an amateur and professional (and that ugly middle ground no one likes to admit to, but we all fall into on occasion).
According to some, "professionals" are those of us who actually use tripods. To others, it's the size of your equipment that matters (take that one where you will). With all due respect, I think these definitions are at least as poor as "you get paid for it."
Should we require entrance exam scores? Multiple degrees and certificates? Periodic reviews of your body of work to retain your "professional" title? I think most people would insert an expletive before the word "no" when they respond.
Although I've wondered about the definition before (some places don't want "professional photographers" to shoot; other places or services require you to be a "professional photographer"), I've come to the conclusion that in this case, you can be everything that you want to be simply by declaration. That's one of the beauties (and at the same time, one of the pitfalls) of art, is it not?
to the OP i say other. their work stands as testimony in and of itself of their professionalism. when one has acquired the skills of a master photographer you have earned the right IMHO to be called a professional photographer.
I'd rather call them a master photographer. Professional often implies less mastery but more business sense. It's the same way in the music word. The finest artists are not professional and many of the professionals are not artists.
John Power wrote:
What defines "Canon Gear Forum"?
"Canon Gear Forum: noun; 1. a bulletin board for the discussion of camera
equipment manufactured by or for the Canon camera system; 2. an online community
in search of boxes for the Canon EF 50 f/1.0L lens."
Profess - to claim
"He professes to be a liberal, but everything he does is up-tight conservative."
Professor - one who professes
"My professor lectured us on the Amazon basin today, but quite frankly I don't think he has ever been outside of Hoboken."
Professional - the product of what someone has professed
"I thought I was paying for professional work, but all I've got here is a hack job."
...at least you know that a photographer is one who takes photographs.
Grognard wrote:
What defines a professional photographer? Is it:
1) 100% of your income from photography?
Sure...
2) Any paying gig you can get?
Not necessarily...
3) Use of "Pro" equipment?
Nope
4) Selling a photograph?
Nope
5) Attitude, marketing, and more attitude?
I don't know about attitude... but marketing and commercial skills... for sure
6) Amount of gear?
Nope
7) People pay you for THIS?
Yep
8) Or something else?
Well... when looking at it commercially... it is about: earning a living from it, having clients, running a business, marketing, survival, competition, etc...
When looking at it artistically... even a pro can produce shit... and even an amateur can make brilliant work
