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Archive 2009 · Hobbyist or Professional

rprouty
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p.3 #1 · Hobbyist or Professional

It's my job and it's fun..

Nov 08, 2009 at 01:44 AM

XsigmaSD
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p.3 #2 · Hobbyist or Professional

I like to equate it this way...
My neighbor is a master mechanic. By day he works at a dealership, repairs BMWs. Its a job, keeps food on the table, his kid in school, but not a lot of room for creativity. Nights and weekends, he uses the same tools to work on his body-off, painstaking rehab of a 69 Corvette. Same tools and techniques, different end product/goal/passion.

BTW the CABNET he stores his Snap-On brand tool collection in cost more than a new 1DsMkIII.

Nov 08, 2009 at 05:30 PM

mh2000
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p.3 #3 · Hobbyist or Professional

well I grew up too... and make a good living doing other stuff now... still work and show as an artist... just don't have to pin my meals to the dreams of "making it" anymore.

Gochugogi wrote:
Artist. Worst of all possibilities... sell little, show my work in small galleries, do not make a *living* off it.

Actually, half my musician and artist friends fall in that category, as did I until my mid-30s. After that I said the hell with it (grew up too middle class and needed to eat & drive a nice car, etc.) and got a job in academia: teach a few classes and do the artfart stuff on the side as professional improvement and brownie points towards promotion.

Professional hobbyist is also another common niche. I guess that's sorta in the realm of pro beer drinker, pro eater and all around journeyman slacker.

Nov 08, 2009 at 06:13 PM

garyroach
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p.3 #4 · Hobbyist or Professional

Photography has been my main hobby most of my adult life. When I was young I had thoughts of doing photography professionally, but quickly decided to pursue photography only as an amateur. Since then, it's purely been a source of fun for a lifetime.

Nov 08, 2009 at 09:47 PM

Lance Couture
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p.3 #5 · Hobbyist or Professional

David Israel wrote:
While we may be splitting hairs with semantics here, I consider myself more of an "enthusiast" than a hobbyist. I absolutely LOVE photography and think of myself as taking it more seriously than a "hobbiest would." No doubt, some people who consider themselves hobbiest will dispute this, hotly. That being said...

I have been asked many times by people if I ever inteded to sell my images (especially when I shoot HS sports). However, I would never want to rob the pleasure and joy out of my photography by turning it into a job.

Dave

Same here.

I sell enough work to very mildly subsidize my expenditures, but I'm still financially in the red from it However, in terms of what I personally have gotten out of it as well as shots for family and friends, I feel the "red" is a non-issue.

Nov 08, 2009 at 09:59 PM

Breitling65
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p.3 #6 · Hobbyist or Professional

To me photography is same as hunting or fishing to the other people. If I will start selling "fish" daily I will miss fun and enjoyments. But I will sell it if anyone suddenly like big one..

Nov 08, 2009 at 10:07 PM

Rich Swanner
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p.3 #7 · Hobbyist or Professional

I am ......The Timekeeper...........

Nov 09, 2009 at 05:13 AM

LightShow
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p.3 #8 · Hobbyist or Professional

Enthusiast, I keep flip flopping back and forth as to whether or not to start doing this for profit, I'm worried that if I start to do this for money I won't have as much fun.

Nov 09, 2009 at 12:17 PM

Dawud
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p.3 #9 · Hobbyist or Professional

As I have a busy shedule (sometimes I don't shoot a single picture in a month), I really can't commit myself to paid gigs or so.
I also don't like to shoot pictures when someone forces it on to me.

So I'm a hobbyist. (with an expensive taste in glass

)

Nov 09, 2009 at 12:43 PM

jkurkjia
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p.3 #10 · Hobbyist or Professional

Photography has been a hobby for over fifty years.

Regards,

Joe Kurkjian

Nov 09, 2009 at 12:58 PM

Psychic1
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p.3 #11 · Hobbyist or Professional

Professional-in-Waiting

I've been learning and saving all my work for the last 5 years without selling an image.

They will hang in my new shop in 2010.

Nov 09, 2009 at 01:19 PM

elader
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p.3 #12 · Hobbyist or Professional

Hobby turned into a part time event business. Certainly forced an alignment of my gear. I find if I don't make money with it, I sell it. What I miss is the days of shooting for fun. I have to work at rediscovering that.

went from one body with glass like the 35L and 85L to 2 bodies, 3 flashes, lenses that make me money, and a ridiculous number of AA batteries..

Nov 09, 2009 at 01:36 PM

mark fadely
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p.3 #13 · Hobbyist or Professional

Hobby or Business? I can say both. I have had two long-time hobbies that have turned into a combined business. Photography as well as model aviation have been passions of mine since childhood. Now I get paid to write and shoot for magazines in the R/C biz. I couldn't be happier. The business of shooting for pay has not taken any of the fun out of either of the hobbies. I feel very fortunate to be able to do this. The photo stuff is not my main income and I shoot professionally 12 weekends per year so it remains fresh and exciting. Shooting R/C is very much akin to shooting BIF, which I also love to do. I will say that my enjoyment level increased as my equipment was upgraded. The modern pro cameras and lenses make it a joy to shoot fast action.

Nov 09, 2009 at 02:54 PM

Scott Snyder
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p.3 #14 · Hobbyist or Professional

a passion. and selling the occasional photo helps defray the cost of my wife.

Nov 09, 2009 at 06:25 PM

well69
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p.3 #15 · Hobbyist or Professional

Hobby only - never sold a pixel.

Nov 09, 2009 at 06:34 PM

ChrisDM
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p.3 #16 · Hobbyist or Professional

I earn my living taking and making photos for other people when I'm not out taking photos for myself... And because of this I feel I am very, very lucky.

Chris Miller
www.imagineimagery.com

Nov 09, 2009 at 07:52 PM

raven4ns
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p.3 #17 · Hobbyist or Professional

Ahahahahahahaaha

Scott Snyder wrote:
a passion. and selling the occasional photo helps defray the cost of my wife.

Nov 09, 2009 at 07:55 PM

dmacmillan
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p.3 #18 · Hobbyist or Professional

Former pro, now happy enthusiast. I went back to school, got a second degree and entered a field that would provide me with more time a and money to pursue my photography. I enjoyed my work as a pro, I did a lot of commercial/industrial work. That appealed to my "how does it work?" curiosity.

I also enjoy collecting records, especially 78's. In addition, last year I built a dedicated home theater. My expenditures in both of these areas is relatively modest compared to some I know of. These are two hobbies that can consume large amounts of money. I know of people sinking 20, 30 or even 40k into their home theaters, and that's only for a mid level setup. How many of you have that kind of money tied up in photography?

Nov 09, 2009 at 08:15 PM


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