Alistair Watson wrote:
Agreed, once you make money from photography, once your work is published, then you are a professional photographer.
My photos have been published in magazines and travel books but I'm far from being a pro... I still make the vast majority of my money doing other things. Like others suggest, it's about the money you make and nothing else IMO.
Terms like "semi-pro" are just silly IMO... you can have multiple professions at once, no problem. No need to define anything as "semi". It just smacks of desperation to belong.
kevin cross wrote:
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.
This is what I agree with. When I first started getting paid, I didn't consider myself "pro", just a paid amateur. Once I started feeling competent at the job, then I felt I was getting to be more like a professional. Once I felt completely compentent, then I felt truly confident (which helps when you're shuffling 30 people around at a wedding for "that shot" the bride wants), then I felt I was a pro.
krobatshov wrote: 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
A professional photographer is primarily paid & makes their living from the photographs they produce & the service they provide be it for National Geographic or kiddies shots in a mall. If their work is c**p they will soon not survive in the profession. Consistency & ability to produce at a satisfactory level of demand are pre requisites for survival in any profession.
A photograhic pro derives income from the photographic industry having reasonable knowledge of the practical & theoritical aspects of the industry e.g. maybe lecturer in photography. Many photographers I would class as photographic pros as opposed to professional photographers.
In my case as a coach I am a "tennis professional" as opposed to a "professional tennis player" as I no longer have the capacity or ability to be a professional tennis player.
It's interesting that this post still remains in the Canon Mount SLR forum. A similar non-related topic of mine was immediately moved to the Misc. Forum.
Pro, yeah like has been stated doesn't mean you are any good but you may be. I have seen people stay in business and wonder how. Its like music. So much is poorly recorded but people don't expect or have learned the difference. A good pro is going to get what they are supposed to get when they do the job. You pull it no matter what, it is your job. This should mean quality and a level of work that rises above most and on a job by job basis.
I believe the 80 percent rule is accurate for legal reasons. Especially when you enter a photo contest and it says no professionals. In this case you can enter with that definition.
