So, when are you considered a photographer?

[jaomul]

"yet" is important, if you like it chances are you will get great, and if not who cares once you enjoy it. Enjoy

 

[DiskoJoe]

If you push the shutter you are a photographer. If you can sell something then youre a professional.

 

[Raian-san]

Snapping the photo doesn't make you a photographer, only if you're interested in it and learning even if you're not good yet. If you press the shutter speed, then everybody in the world is a photographer with the phone. If you sell or get paid, then you're a Professional Photographer.

 

[oldmacman]

It is not important, but it was something that I was wondering. So you are saying unless you are a professional (in any field), you cannot use a label?

Oh, I didn't say you couldn't call yourself a photographer. I was just chiming in with my $.02 to give you my perspective. I guess on one hand, I find it interesting that we have this need to label ourselves. Have you ever known someone who insists on being called "doctor" when they are not a medical doctor but they have a Phd?

I am a high school teacher and a decade ago, the government in Ontario went a long way to discredit teachers and the profession. The effects are still felt today. So much so, that our College of Teachers recently attempted to have a professional designation assigned for teachers... "OCT". If I sent a letter or was introduced, I could be addressed as "My Name, OCT". I felt it was pretentious and voted against the effort.

If I use the term "photographer" when referring to myself, what would I be trying to communicate to others? To me, simply saying that I am a "photographer" has the intention of professional and I would not want to mislead anyone or be deemed pretentious. This is only my perspective and I certainly respect the many valid points raised by others.

 

[NikonME]

Snapping the photo doesn't make you a photographer, only if you're interested in it and learning even if you're not good yet. If you press the shutter speed, then everybody in the world is a photographer with the phone. If you sell or get paid, then you're a Professional Photographer.

Anyone who snaps photos, with or without skill, is technically a photographer. There may be good photographers and bad photographers, but if they draw with light, they are a photographer all the same.

It's much the same as the title 'parent'. Anyone who has a child is a parent, but you can have a child and tie the child up in a shed and feed it bread.. You are still technically a parent. Obviously not a very good parent, but a parent all the same.

And if you are a professional when you start getting paid, then there are a lot of 'professional' facebook photographers. It's more then getting paid.. It's about producing a professional product with a high degree of professionalism. Here is a quote for you.. "Professionalism is the largest part of any profession! - Rick Sisco 2011"

 

[table1349]

If you have to ask this question you are not a photographer. For the rest of the world, it doesn't really matter when you call yourself a photographer.

 

[NikkiRivera]

Well, actually I don't consider myself a photographer yet... perhaps I would say amateur... I just wanted to get everybody's opinions =) I think I will feel comfortable calling myself a photographer when I have more skill and knowledge along with a lot more practice. =)

 

[c.cloudwalker]

The only opinion that matters is yours.

If you are not trying to sell that is.

 

[NikkiRivera]

The only opinion that matters is yours.

If you are not trying to sell that is.

Well, one day I would like to sell... right now it is just a hobby. =)

 

[c.cloudwalker]

Well, when you try and sell the only opinion that matters is that of your buyer. And that is true whether you are doing commercial, retail, or art.

 

[lyonsroar]

Fauxtographer

or

Photographer


That is the question...

 

[Raian-san]

Snapping the photo doesn't make you a photographer, only if you're interested in it and learning even if you're not good yet. If you press the shutter speed, then everybody in the world is a photographer with the phone. If you sell or get paid, then you're a Professional Photographer.

Anyone who snaps photos, with or without skill, is technically a photographer. There may be good photographers and bad photographers, but if they draw with light, they are a photographer all the same.

It's much the same as the title 'parent'. Anyone who has a child is a parent, but you can have a child and tie the child up in a shed and feed it bread.. You are still technically a parent. Obviously not a very good parent, but a parent all the same.

And if you are a professional when you start getting paid, then there are a lot of 'professional' facebook photographers. It's more then getting paid.. It's about producing a professional product with a high degree of professionalism. Here is a quote for you.. "Professionalism is the largest part of any profession! - Rick Sisco 2011"

Then everybody is a photographer, end of story. Since the OP is just asking this question, I don't need to break down every aspect of being a photographer, professional and etc. You think I don't know what's a real "professional" photographer is? Then almost every title in this world holds no value. I play football once, so I'm a football player. I draw sticks and stone once awhile, yes I'm a painter/artist. I don't know the rules of basketball, but I threw the basketball once so I guess I'm a basketball player.

 

[NikonME]

Then almost every title in this world holds no value. I play football once, so I'm a football player. I draw sticks and stone once awhile, yes I'm a painter/artist. I don't know the rules of basketball, but I threw the basketball once so I guess I'm a basketball player.

Join a football team and you are a football player, for at least a long as you play football. After that, you were a football player. This does not make you a professional football player, but a football player all the same.

Buy an easel, some canvas and some paint and start painting, you are a painter, for at least a long as you paint. After that, you were a painter. This does not make you a professional painter or artist, but a painter all the same.

Etc, etc, etc.

Don't get defensive. I am not attacking you. I was just making a point. For close to 10 years I was a Professional Computer Technician, but my first day on the job I was already a "Computer Technician" and I was still in training. It's just how things work out.

 

[Kofman13]

when you make a living off it

 

[Raian-san]

Then almost every title in this world holds no value. I play football once, so I'm a football player. I draw sticks and stone once awhile, yes I'm a painter/artist. I don't know the rules of basketball, but I threw the basketball once so I guess I'm a basketball player.

Join a football team and you are a football player, for at least a long as you play football. After that, you were a football player. This does not make you a professional football player, but a football player all the same.

Buy an easel, some canvas and some paint and start painting, you are a painter, for at least a long as you paint. After that, you were a painter. This does not make you a professional painter or artist, but a painter all the same.

Etc, etc, etc.

Don't get defensive. I am not attacking you. I was just making a point. For close to 10 years I was a Professional Computer Technician, but my first day on the job I was already a "Computer Technician" and I was still in training. It's just how things work out.

I said in my first post that just by taking pictures with a phone or random picture sometimes doesn't make you a photographer. You have to actually try to learn the aspect of it and practice, good or bad, you are a photographer. You disagreed, saying that everybody who take a photo is a photographer. Then I said just playing football once make you a football player? Now you add, join the football team, buy canvas and paint. Who does those things without being committed in learning it? Joining a football team and drop out in a week or so doesn't make you a football player. Even buying Canvas and paint once or twice doesn't make you a painter. You have to at least remain committed. Are you really gonna label yourself a painter and tell other people that you are even if you painted a few time?

If that's your job title, of course you are a "Computer Technician." If my first job was a "cashier" even though I never had experience in it and still in "training" I'm still a Cashier, no? Whether that's your forte or not, if you don't learn on the job and do good at it, you'll get fired. Job titles and Hobbyist is different buddy.