How does one know they are a Professional?

[bentcountershaft]

If a photographer is unable to determine whether they are pro or not, the best person they can consult is their accountant.

 

[Rekd]

Its a position or status given to you by others. A person can not say they are a pro because its a title given from respect not income. An Amatuer can get paid also ie. awards and prizes or scholarships, grants, donations.

I LOLed. :lmao:

Really, how many "professionals" only consider themselves "professional" when someone else calls them that?


HAHAHAHA!!! (Oh. Sorry.)

 

[ChevyBaby]

The definition of a professional is someone who gets paid for what they do. I think erose was right, she ended the thread

In the Uk it is when they earn 50% of their anual income from photography

:thumbup:

 

[Art of Emotion]

For me it all depends on how you as an individual 'defines' and relates to the word Professional. IN terms of photography I put more of the term on the type of photos produced over the person actually getting paid. It's having knowledge and executing the lessons learned. Professional is someone who I could go to and ask many technical questions to most of which they should know. The term professional means to me that they know what they're doing and what they're talking about. I've known some people who have done a few paid portraits but couldn't tell me what ISO means.

I guess for each person it's a matter of how they view it and define it.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

The term professional means to me that they know what they're doing and what they're talking about. I've known some people who have done a few paid portraits but couldn't tell me what ISO means.

And so what?

I had no idea what ISO meant for the longest time. In my time it was called ASA...

Not only that but if you come and ask me about food photography I'm probably going to tell you "I don't know..." because I don't. Never shot it and I have no problem admitting it.

Time to revise you over simplistic thinking.

 

[bentcountershaft]

For those of you that are equating pro with talent, you are wrong. A pro generally has some sort of talent but that does not mean that talent is an absolute necessity. The kid flipping burgers at McDonald's and the head chef at the best restaurant in town are both professional cooks. Misusing the word professional will not elevate the chef no more than it will a photographer.

 

[ChevyBaby]

The term professional means to me that they know what they're doing and what they're talking about. I've known some people who have done a few paid portraits but couldn't tell me what ISO means.

And so what?

I had no idea what ISO meant for the longest time. In my time it was called ASA...

Not only that but if you come and ask me about food photography I'm probably going to tell you "I don't know..." because I don't. Never shot it and I have no problem admitting it.

Time to revise you over simplistic thinking.

I love this responce because i sometimes find that photographers can be a bit.... uhm.... pretentious, dare i say it when it comes to equipment. My guest lecturer today earns thousands on his shoots and all he does is click the button, he has 3 assistants who do everything and he admits he doesnt know what the technicals behind anything are he just knows what his eyes like and tells his assistants to fiddle with the powerpack to get it. Yet he was David Hockney's assistant a while back!

 

[Art of Emotion]

The term professional means to me that they know what they're doing and what they're talking about. I've known some people who have done a few paid portraits but couldn't tell me what ISO means.

And so what?

I had no idea what ISO meant for the longest time. In my time it was called ASA...

Not only that but if you come and ask me about food photography I'm probably going to tell you "I don't know..." because I don't. Never shot it and I have no problem admitting it.

Time to revise you over simplistic thinking.

I love this responce because i sometimes find that photographers can be a bit.... uhm.... pretentious, dare i say it when it comes to equipment. My guest lecturer today earns thousands on his shoots and all he does is click the button, he has 3 assistants who do everything and he admits he doesnt know what the technicals behind anything are he just knows what his eyes like and tells his assistants to fiddle with the powerpack to get it. Yet he was David Hockney's assistant a while back!

LOL oh goodness. I guess I have to learn how to communicate differently on this forum.

When you become a professional at anything you have done so by learning the tools of the trade with much room to grow, but the basics are there. If you are an accountant you should be able to answer specific questions pertains to your profession etc. I do think on some level it's important to know a bit about what you're doing. Now if that's pretentious fine so be it.

It's an opinion though and it won't change.

 

[RicJoe]

Its a position or status given to you by others. A person can not say they are a pro because its a title given from respect not income. An Amatuer can get paid also ie. awards and prizes or scholarships, grants, donations.

I agree with this. My career as a tech I have done for 12 years. I was pulled aside by my boss one day and was advised "today I see a professional in front of me". Some may disagree but that was the day I seen myself as a professional, mind you I highly respect this man, his comment meant alot to me.

I have always admired what photographers can produce, but I have a career, so I will never try and take your money! (just your thoughts and C&C) :mrgreen:

 

[ChevyBaby]

And so what?

I had no idea what ISO meant for the longest time. In my time it was called ASA...

Not only that but if you come and ask me about food photography I'm probably going to tell you "I don't know..." because I don't. Never shot it and I have no problem admitting it.

Time to revise you over simplistic thinking.

I love this responce because i sometimes find that photographers can be a bit.... uhm.... pretentious, dare i say it when it comes to equipment. My guest lecturer today earns thousands on his shoots and all he does is click the button, he has 3 assistants who do everything and he admits he doesnt know what the technicals behind anything are he just knows what his eyes like and tells his assistants to fiddle with the powerpack to get it. Yet he was David Hockney's assistant a while back!

LOL oh goodness. I guess I have to learn how to communicate differently on this forum.

When you become a professional at anything you have done so by learning the tools of the trade with much room to grow, but the basics are there. If you are an accountant you should be able to answer specific questions pertains to your profession etc. I do think on some level it's important to know a bit about what you're doing. Now if that's pretentious fine so be it.

It's an opinion though and it won't change .

woah woah woah woah! lol i wasn't calling you pretencious. just some people in the industry - and yeh probly some people on this forum, but i didn't mean YOU *smiles nervously*

 

[c.cloudwalker]

It's an opinion though and it won't change.

Not interested in putting you down but the ability to learn and change is a sign of intelligence. I change my opinions and ways of thinking about things all the time when someone offers me a new way to look at things.

A new way that makes sense that is. But that means not saying "it won't change."

And you cannot compare an accountant with a photographer. Anything related to the arts is subjective. Accounting is not. Well, not unless you work for a major corporation that doesn't worry about the govermint, lol.

The term professional means to me that they know what they're doing and what they're talking about. I've known some people who have done a few paid portraits but couldn't tell me what ISO means.

And so what?

I had no idea what ISO meant for the longest time. In my time it was called ASA...

Not only that but if you come and ask me about food photography I'm probably going to tell you "I don't know..." because I don't. Never shot it and I have no problem admitting it.

Time to revise you over simplistic thinking.

I love this responce because i sometimes find that photographers can be a bit.... uhm.... pretentious, dare i say it when it comes to equipment. My guest lecturer today earns thousands on his shoots and all he does is click the button, he has 3 assistants who do everything and he admits he doesnt know what the technicals behind anything are he just knows what his eyes like and tells his assistants to fiddle with the powerpack to get it. Yet he was David Hockney's assistant a while back!

Very funny response because that is kind of my situation today. My assistants do a lot of work I'm supposedly doing.

Now, I do know the technical side in the studio or I would have a problem. Fiddling around takes time which I don't have.

On the other hand, I know very little about PP and my PP guy has a free hand... as long as he does what I'm looking for :lmao:

 

[Art of Emotion]

I love this responce because i sometimes find that photographers can be a bit.... uhm.... pretentious, dare i say it when it comes to equipment. My guest lecturer today earns thousands on his shoots and all he does is click the button, he has 3 assistants who do everything and he admits he doesnt know what the technicals behind anything are he just knows what his eyes like and tells his assistants to fiddle with the powerpack to get it. Yet he was David Hockney's assistant a while back!

LOL oh goodness. I guess I have to learn how to communicate differently on this forum.

When you become a professional at anything you have done so by learning the tools of the trade with much room to grow, but the basics are there. If you are an accountant you should be able to answer specific questions pertains to your profession etc. I do think on some level it's important to know a bit about what you're doing. Now if that's pretentious fine so be it.

It's an opinion though and it won't change .

woah woah woah woah! lol i wasn't calling you pretencious. just some people in the industry - and yeh probly some people on this forum, but i didn't mean YOU *smiles nervously*

:blushing:

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

woah woah woah woah! lol i wasn't calling you pretencious. just some people in the industry - and yeh probly some people on this forum, but i didn't mean YOU *smiles nervously*

Be careful who you point fingers at for being pretentious.

Fingers can point back you know. :er:

 

[NikonNewbie]

I am a pro at a lot of things...Professional smart ass, professional bee-yatch, Pro-nagger, ...I'm God Damn Worldly now that I think about it ....well all except photography. lol

 

[Light Artisan]

It happens on Tuesdays.