Everyone thinks they can be a pro! (RANT)

[craig]

What is love & bass?

Love & Bass heavy music such as breaks and Drum and Bass.

)'(

 

[anubis404]

I am by no means a professional, and I don't intend to be. I am afraid that if I go professional and make a living off of photography, that it will become boring from doing it so much. I intend on becoming a lawyer.

However, I may put myself out for hire to shoot small events (IE Small children's birthday parties and such, definitely NOT weddings or seniors etc). I'm sure there are parents that want more than their spouse snapping with a P&S without bringing in a serious and expensive professional with a degree and 10+ years of experience.

But that's for when I have some decent equipment and a couple more years under my belt. I would mostly do it just to learn, I don't really care about the money.

 

[craig]

I am by no means a professional, and I don't intend to be. I am afraid that if I go professional and make a living off of photography, that it will become boring from doing it so much. I intend on becoming a lawyer.

However, I may put myself out for hire to shoot small events (IE Small children's birthday parties and such, definitely NOT weddings or seniors etc). I'm sure there are parents that want more than their spouse snapping with a P&S without bringing in a serious and expensive professional with a degree and 10+ years of experience.

But that's for when I have some decent equipment and a couple more years under my belt. I would mostly do it just to learn, I don't really care about the money.

Good attitude. I think too quickly a decision is made to get into retail photography. Everyone wants money and better gear. Little do they know that retail photography is a tough field. Let alone commercial/editorial photography. Photography is forever about learning and patience is the key.

P.S My mom wanted me to become a lawyer. Most days I am glad I did not listen to her.

Love & Bass

 

[anubis404]

Good attitude. I think too quickly a decision is made to get into retail photography. Everyone wants money and better gear. Little do they know that retail photography is a tough field. Let alone commercial/editorial photography. Photography is forever about learning and patience is the key.

P.S My mom wanted me to become a lawyer. Most days I am glad I did not listen to her.

Love & Bass

Lol I'm still open to other fields, but law interests me the most.

I have actually thought about becoming a professional photographer, and maybe studying photojournalism in college, but photography can be a tough field. I should know about tough fields of work, both my parents are musicians.

 

[sabbath999]

If Chiller is a WMWAC I am a PSWAC (poor student with a camera )or BHScSWAC (Bachelor of Health Sciences Student with a camera)

I am an ITGW8C (Information Technology Geek With Eight Cameras).

 

[VADER1775]

Put a D40 in anyone's hands they'll think they're a pro. Give them an sr-T101 without the batteries, a little dinky thyristor pop flash and a hand held light meter. Now what?

So a you can't be a "pro" with a D40, but with a 1965 P.O.S. you can? Now it all makes sense.

 

[Battou]

So a you can't be a "pro" with a D40, but with a 1965 P.O.S. you can? Now it all makes sense.

Yes, it does. If one knows how to use that 1965 P.O.S as you so bluntly put it, they have obviously taken the time to gather an appropriate understanding of how to take a photograph and use a camera. Unlike the D40 the SRT- 101 without the batteries, much like my EF will take outstanding photographs wile at the same time doing absolutely nothing to help the guy behind it. Accepting help and needing help are two entirely different things. If one can do it with out the assistance of AF, internal metering, ISO swap on the fly and what ever else then they have the right to call them self good enough to accept money for their time and efffort. If one can take the D40 away and still accomplish the same results than we have a winner, if not...go to school.

I am an ITGW8C (Information Technology Geek With Eight Cameras).

Only eight.....


Suppose I can play along

I am an ABTWSGAS (Autobody Technition With Sevear Gear Aquisition Syndrom)

 

[table1349]

Yes, it does. If one knows how to use that 1965 P.O.S as you so bluntly put it, they have obviously taken the time to gather an appropriate understanding of how to take a photograph and use a camera. Unlike the D40 the SRT- 101 without the batteries, much like my EF will take outstanding photographs wile at the same time doing absolutely nothing to help the guy behind it. Accepting help and needing help are two entirely different things. If one can do it with out the assistance of AF, internal metering, ISO swap on the fly and what ever else then they have the right to call them self good enough to accept money for their time and efffort. If one can take the D40 away and still accomplish the same results than we have a winner, if not...go to school.






Only eight.....


Suppose I can play along

I am an ABTWSGAS (Autobody Technition With Sevear Gear Aquisition Syndrom)

Funny, I must have missed that part in the constitution where calling oneself a profession photographer was a right. Is there some state board that certifies one as a photographer that I missed? Some governing body that regulates the world of photography?

Professional in terms of photography only applies to being able to take photographs, sell them and make a majority of ones living from doing so. That is a professional in the photographic world.

Being an accomplished photographer is an entirely different matter. And frankly the only one that truly matters when it comes to photography. When it comes to the business of selling photographs a combination of photographic accomplishment and business skills is intertwined with a heavier emphasis on business skills.

I have found as a general rule that those that complain the loudest about other photographers in the business, or other in any business for that matter, usually lack in the business side. It usually irks them that some less accomplished photographer has figured out the business end and targeted a particular market and is successful. Don't like it, put down your SRT-101, your little dinky thyristor pop flash, hand held light meter and your ego and go take some business classes.

Photography is an art. No artist pursues their art to be come rich. Most of them know going in that the true fame and value to their work often comes after they are dead. Makes for a bad business if you have to die to make money. It's kind like the guy that wanted to be a super hero and when asked if he could stop a speeding bullet he replied..."Once."

Artist get into art for the sake of art and their vision of that art. The often deviate from their true vision to put food on the table by what ever means, from art or some other form of work. Their art is their drive and their passion. Perhaps we should start a thread about all the money grubbing folks ruining the art of photography.

Besides if you live in the U.S. then all you need to do now is write a letter to your congressman and ask for some bale out money. :lmao:

 

[VADER1775]

Yes, it does. If one knows how to use that 1965 P.O.S as you so bluntly put it, they have obviously taken the time to gather an appropriate understanding of how to take a photograph and use a camera. Unlike the D40 the SRT- 101 without the batteries, much like my EF will take outstanding photographs wile at the same time doing absolutely nothing to help the guy behind it. Accepting help and needing help are two entirely different things. If one can do it with out the assistance of AF, internal metering, ISO swap on the fly and what ever else then they have the right to call them self good enough to accept money for their time and efffort. If one can take the D40 away and still accomplish the same results than we have a winner, if not...go to school.




Only eight.....


Suppose I can play along

I am an ABTWSGAS (Autobody Technition With Sevear Gear Aquisition Syndrom)

So the D3 is a big waste of money, when someone could just use an F2; or an F for that matter, or even an FS?

 

[Harmony]

I think the point Battou is trying to make is that a professional is not one who lets the camera do all the work. In that case,the camera would be the professional, and the person would just be going "click". And yes, cameras are getting more advanced and the light meters and whatnot are getting better and better and better - but many people are taking their D40's (and I use the D40 only because many people buy it when they want a "bigger" camera, but they haven't done the scrupulous research many of us have before our first DSLR purchase), setting it on auto, getting (granted, good photos, but not great. Not spectacular.) good photos, and calling themselves professionals when their cousin buys a print.

They are not professionals until they're making 51% of their income.

And honestly, before I call myself a professional, I'm going to make VERY sure that I know what I'm doing. I'm going to study. Go to school. Learn what aperture, exposure, ISO, everything does to correspond to a photo instead of letting my camera do it all for me. I'm going to be able to talk about my photograph in detail and the settings that I used to come to the final result other than "oh, I stuck it in P."

And honestly, there are horrible pros. But people buy their prints, and they make their income off of it, and that makes them a pro. But I wouldn't have any self respect in my work if my prints came off looking like crap - pro or not.

My two cents.

 

[manaheim]

Not that anyone ever listens to me when I say this because it's non-controversial and therefore boring, however... I'll try again...

A pro gets paid, period.

If you get paid, you're a professional. That's it.

I know it's way more exciting to assign deeper values to "professional" and argue over them, but they are all deeply subjective. "Pros are better than others", "Pros handle themselves well under pressure", "Pros can juggle sixteen cameras and a drunken bride while humming the national anthem of Uruguay", etc. None of these things can truly be proven, however, and really... who cares... none of them really matter.

Anyone who gets all excited about whether or not a person is "worthy" of the professional label is likely just getting their panties into a bunch because they are being defensive for one or more of a variety of reasons.

Relaaaaaaaax.

Ok, you can all go back to ignoring me and ranting and raving some more. After another 20 posts or so I'll try to say this again.

 

[Jon, The Elder]

All of the photographers I looked up to have left cause of this. I can only name about 3 or 4 photographers I would turn to here for advice now. Newbies used to be welcomed by everyone, but now we have this division of experience. ouch.....biting my tongue here.

This is a quite comon evolution in forum content......

 

[abraxas]

This is a quite comon evolution in forum content......

This is also a common evolution in rock & roll bars.

 

[prodigy2k7]

Your Costco bought D80 kit, that super great best bang for the buck 50 1.8 and your 5 months of shooting “TONS” of photos of your family does not even come close to making you a “photographer”

Since when do you have to be a pro to be a photographer? I define professional photographer who is paid. I have been paid a few times dont I dont consider myself a pro. I think you should be paid often (at least like once a month, and if your not, paid a good amount when you do get paid, to be considered a "professional") There is no fine line. You said shooting doesnt make you a photographer? Umm, what world did you come from, yes it does. A photographer is a person who takes photographs. Photographer doesnt mean a professional.

 

[Hattori]

Everyone can become these days a good photographer. There are 2 good arguments for this:

1: The technology is easy to use.
2: Auto - mode ON.

/ironic