Well, last weekend I went to the National Zoo here in Washington DC, I had two gentlemen walked up to me and asked "Are you a professional photographer? wow...look at that big camera!" I quickly told them no i ain't, then thank them for the comment and walked away. So, it got me thinking, since I am a dedicated photographer hired by one of our local private preschool, and I sell prints, and my clients love my work, does that make me a pro? So, if one day I decided to end the business simply because I don't have time to do it anymore, what does that make me then?

Not that it matter to me, but it's kinda funny whenever I hear people labeled themselves as pro, so...if you work at the local studio for 20 years, and have a huge customer base, but in my eyes your work are mediocre and uninteresting, does that make you less of a Pro? On the other hand, we have someone who only take photo for pleasure and have no desire to get into this business, but have the ability to produce stunning result, do they fall into the Pro category? So my question is, at what point do people actually earned the "Pro" title? I'm just curious is all, no pun intend...

In my opinion, you're a professional photographer when you do jobs, and collect a paycheck from it. Say if you have a business, and do jobs. You're a pro!

I think being a Pro is when you start to live Photography, when it takes you over and you start to touch people inside with your work. The pictures become your mind put forth for the world. Getting paid is good, but a professional Photographer can also do nothing but weddings, babys or High School sports....all fine and hard to do. The Pro part is when you lose your Soul to it, and when others know what you do is worthwhile..........Rich

my two cents...I compare it to golf, there are a lot of pro-golfers, guys on mini-tours struggling every day and they are "pros" because they earn income from playing golf. But, only a few pros will reach the elite range like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have. Additionally, there are some amatuers who can outplay some of the pros, particularly on one or two holes, or maybe even a round. However, most pro golfers will beat most amatuer golfers day and and day out. It is the fringes (the bottom tier pros and the top teir amatuers) that the line between pro and amatuer is blurred.

In short, a pro is a pro because they earn income from shooting. But, just because someone is pro doesn't mean they are always better than a "non-pro" it just means that they can consistently produce images worthy of selling, and they choose to do that. Being a pro or a non-pro does not guarantee a certain image quality one way or the other. But, it does increase the chance that a person will produce a saleable image. I hope that makes some sense....

Being a pro means you earn an income from photography. It has little to do with photographic talent. Of course, when you don't have talent, people won't be interested in your work, so...

If you are a freelance or having your own company, commercial and networking skills are just as important as artistic skills IMO.

I've seen lots of pro's without talent in many parts of the world -
Being a pro is one thing, redefining photography, getting the extra ordinary from the ordinary into the frame, however, is the real art of photography -

if you can make a living with photography and - as in some european countries - have a licence to be a pro, then consider yourself as a pro

You are a Pro when you live from photography. It has got nothing to do with quality of the job - just as in any other business.

I guess everyone has their own opinion as to the definition of a "Professional Photographer" For me it's a photographer whose main or sole source income is derived from photography and someone who devotes the time and has all the necessary skills and equipment to provide him or her with adequate income to support a family.

I have been into photography for over 45 years and have had great success with my work but it has never been a major source of income for me and I do not consider myself a pro.

When I bought my first L lens.

I have 4 L Zoom lens, and 1 L prime to put on 2 bodies. I am still not a pro since I make not a penny from photography. That is the definition of a professional.

Once you can make a decent living out of photography only.

Gear doesn't come into the equation.

well, if you want a definition... use a dictionary...

• a person engaged in a specified activity, esp. 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.

I can't think of a good reason why this word would have any different meaning when it comes to a professional photographer than any other profession.

When I get that question I answer "What do you mean?"

Depending on their answer I reply yes, no, dunno or maybe.

You can't make everybody happy.

Some kind of training and practical experience prior to declaring oneself a professional is a good idea. Working as an assistant to a professional used to be the frequent route - and a very good one. Surprising what you will learn spending a couple of years acting as a general dogsbody to a busy professional.

In this regard, one would be justifiably wary of employing a plumber whose only professional qualification was that he had bought a big bag of spanners.

Edited by Kevin M on May 09, 2008 at 08:54 AM GMT

What made you think you're a pro?

The moment I didn't have to reply to that question anymore
Darn... I just did.

Rely on language during situations like this, nobody argues against a dictionary.

Pro = professional = of profession

So technically you are a "pro" when it is your profession. Simple enough?

Nothing to do with quality.

Agreed, once you make money from photography, once your work is published, then you are a professional photographer.

obroni wrote:
You are a Pro when you live from photography. It has got nothing to do with quality of the job - just as in any other business.

That definition still leaves areas uncovered.

What if you do photography as a part-time thing? I know of several photographers who have a regular day job and, while they could live without the additional income of their photography work, generate a sizable extra amount of cash. And they do have the professional attitude towards it too.

In my eyes you're a professional when you do paid jobs on a regular basis, in a way that it constitutes, or becomes a significant part of, your income. Full-time, part-time or free-lance, doesn't matter.

You are a professional photographer the very first time you do a paid job, and thereafter. If you never do another paid job again, you are a retired pro. If you do paid jobs frequently, and it's your main source of income, you are a full-time pro.

Edit: To expand on this a little bit...

Being a pro has nothing to do with photographic knowledge. I know a woman who takes pictures for a local small-time newspaper. She hardly knows anything about the technical aspects of photography -- aperture, ISO, etc. They handed her a Nikon Coolpix and told her where to go and what to photograph. She's a professional photographer.

Being a pro has nothing to do with equipment. See above example. If you are paid to do photography, you are a pro.

if I don't shoot, I don't eat & I don't pay bills ... guess I'm a pro

A few people here have described it very well, your primary source of income. The Small Business Administration and IRS go further and define exactly how much "primary" is. A professional is someone who earns at least 80% of their income in one single "profession", which could be CEO, dishwasher, or street begging.

If people are willing to pay you money for your profession then a certain amount of "quality" and/or "deceit" is definitely involved. The phrases "your mileage may vary" and "you get what you pay for" and "buyer beware" are testaments to the variations in quality and professionalism.

Going by the 80% rule, the fact that I just got laid off from my day job automatically makes me a professional photographer, but my skills didn't suddenly improve at the same time. I'm constantly improving though, the Japanese call that Kaizen.

I sold 1 4x6 print so because I made money I am no longer an amateur, right?

1. You may be a "Professional" simply because of the line of work you are in whether you make any money at it or are even any good at it (i.e. Doctor or Lawyer).

2. You may be a "Professional" because you earn a living at what you do whether the work is any good or not.

3. You may be a "Professional" because of the quality of the work you do and the pride you take in doing the best you can and it may or may not be what you earn a living at.

Ever how you define it you can't be a "Real Professional" without #3.

The moment you earn any income from your work you are by definition a pro. I joined a bowling league that has cash prizes, and because of that I was classed as a pro bowler, my score did not reflect it , but the fact that I had to declare my cash winnings on my income tax did.

The girl in Wal-mart who takes those terrible kiddy shots is a pro.

Being a pro is shooting paid gigs so much that the thought of picking your camera up is much worse than the thought of walking on fire.....then getting past that and re-falling in love with photography again.

Rich Swanner wrote:
I think being a Pro is when you start to live Photography, when it takes you over and you start to touch people inside with your work. The pictures become your mind put forth for the world. Getting paid is good, but a professional Photographer can also do nothing but weddings, babys or High School sports....all fine and hard to do. The Pro part is when you lose your Soul to it, and when others know what you do is worthwhile..........Rich