Have you ever played in a Pro/Am golf tournament? You become a pro golfer by declaring yourself one. You play with Tiger on Sunday's only after you qualify to do so.

In the meantime you and I can play in Pro/Am tournaments all year you the amateur one week and I'm the pro. Next week you can be the pro.

You are a pro photographer when you declare yourself one. Same as golf.

most of us are probably no better at photography then we are at golf. But, we do sometimes get some great shots. (sometimes)

Hi every one I am a Professional photographer in long Beach CA, And a Nikon shooter for the last 22 years. I got my first nikon the day I graduated high school the Nikon F3HP still had it today. 98 precent of my colleagues are all Canon shooters the two fellow Nikon shooters that I know are not NPS members. I recently up graded from my trusty D3 to a D800E and I wanted to join NPS but the only thing stoping me is knowing another member to sponsor me. If there is any one out there that could sponsor it would be much appreciated.

Thank You
Jason Van Fleet
(Link Removed)

The real question is what make someone an amateur

Amature Latin source, amātor, "lover, devoted friend, devotee, enthusiastic pursuer of an objective,"s

http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=5979

I had some buddies who opened camera stores and photo studios because they love photography. I learned quick. Talent is not the difference. The difference is that the amateur can buy a lens or toy because they want to, the professional buys the lens or toy because he has to. Kinda takes the fun out of it!

It does seem strange that the rules of membership are different in each country, there is no sponsor requirement here in the UK.

A friend of mine is a full time wedding photog but she only owns one D700 camera body and borrows my gear for large gigs (only doing it for 2 years)... As a result, she cannot get into NPS without claiming my camera as also one of hers...

Also, the one NPS person we know had a spectacularly snotty attitude and effectively said, "Well, she isn't really making enough money to call herself a pro.. her husband is supporting her.. No go.."

She is out there every almost every night of every weekend shooting weddings and has no other job..

We are going to contact NPS directly and make a appeal...

msmoto you may want to simply contact Nikon NPS directly and have a chat with them explaining your unique situation and needs.

I think I will stick my nose in on this one. As someone who has been in the business in the cutting edge in the 60's, when 35mm transparencies were not often used in publications for the furniture industry, and who demonstrated the versatility to such folks as House Beautiful in that shots from showrooms could be eye stoppers, even when taken during the market, I think I qualify for NPS. I also used Nikons to do things not heretofore done in furniture and fashion combined.

But, today, most of what I do is for charitable organizations and provides minimal income. I do not know an NPS member, and have no tear sheets which are current. Actually all mine are from 40+ years ago.

So, if anyone on this forum is an NPS member, has looked at what I have posted on the PAD, and others, and have looked at the thousands of photos in campaigns on my website, and would like to vouch for me as a pro, I would appreciate this courtesy.

Thanks, Ms. Tommie Lauer

@mirtos - well put +1

It really is too bad that amatuer has a stigma from the "average joe". Its a basic misunderstanding of what amatuer is. Until recently to compete in the olympics, you had to be an amatuer. And if you have an olympic gold in a sport, nobody disparages you from that. But with a profession, amatuer conveys less skill, and the reality is, one often has nothing to do with other. It might, or it might not.I have a friend who takes shots in his spare time. They are amazing. Beautiful, and quite good. But his full time career is a computer engineer. He sells enough shots to pay for his cameras and his trips to take the shots, but at best he could be qualified as a "semi-pro", by the income method. He writes lightroom plugins, and is always improving his skills. (He shoots with Canon... but nobody's perfect *grin*) He only sells enough to pay for his extreme enthusiasm with his hobby. (hes taken a few shots that have been in ridiculous dangerous places... shots that many people in here would never risk their lives for).

Meanwhile, in my home town there is a photography studio, that does high school shots, weddings, and baby pictures. Nothing wrong with that. Everyone has to earn a living. I've seen their work. Its ... decent. Its not bad, but its not great. But, they have a good client base, and they make a good living. But my friend knows more about cameras, and is spending more time improving his skills than they do.

I don't mean to disparage them at all. But in the average persons eye, my friend who "pays for his hobby" is obviously less serious than the person who owns a business.

So its really too bad that Amatuer carries the stigma. (Cassius Clay was an "amatuer" before he competed in his first heavyeight bout)

My thanks and appreciation for the comments qualifying MY POST. They were VALID, especially with regard to amateurs. I have a high regard for amateurs, and apologize for inferring otherwise. It diminished my point which you eloquently corrected for me. Thank you!

""A critique forum would be cool though.""

I think it would. A NR Forum administrator can be the originator of a critique forum, however, as it may have some controversy. And they know I have walked near the gates of Hell on some of my posts and do not want to do anything that will get me excluded. I am having too much fun.

And as far as artistic work, I agree that often the artist never gets paid nor even recognized during their lifetime. But the pleasure of producing that which has esthetic value is "priceless".

In the mid 80's I was working at a small news paper and all of us were NPS members. At the time you could borrow lenses. We were always getting the 300mm f2.8 EDIF, it was about the most exciting glass a news photographer could have and none of us could afford it.

It pains me to say this but I find Canon seems to be better to its amateur users. Our regional photography club council puts on a seminar every year and has had a Canon “Explorer of Light” come a couple of times and it’s all paid for by Canon.

I've been in the art photography world and there is no such thing as a "pro there" as everybody is either broke, holding a commercial creative job (like Me), married to somebody who works, or sold out,(ok a few get lucky but it is rare). Art photographers love praise and critique. The worst thing you can hear from a prolific critic is nothing... A bad review is better than a neutral or flat one because it doesn't compel people to come see why it was so bad and it doesn't help the artist grow or improve...

A critique forum would be cool though.

I have been a member of NPS for quite some years, I had a problem with a D3X rang NPS Nikon UK,they sent a courier for the camera resoloved the problem cleaned and calibrated the camera all for free, and returned the camera back in three working days.
Members of the NPS get priorty service as this proved Many thanks Nikon UK NPS

I think this forum is full of "My kind of people". As the bears and Dawg would say, "ha, ha, ha."

Back to the real topic.... a "pro" will be always looking for ways to improve what they produce. And this includes being able to accept comments on a photo. Maybe we should have a special topic called "Photo for critical examination". And this photo would be put up under an anonymous avatar so we would not know whose it was. Then anyone could pull it off, make the changes they wanted, and repost as their own idea of how to improve it. This would not be for the faint of heart as I am certain some of us might go after some wild changes.
For example, my photos tend to be "flat" in that the dynamic range is either within a reproducible number via print, or the highlights/shadows are simply gone with the visible range still reproducible. Yet, some may wish to change that. In any case, a "pro" will be able to look at others opinions..... kinda like art directors who just want it their way!
Gosh, maybe some of us have too much free time, huh?

I would love to join NPS but I have a few things holding me back...

1) I don't get paid enough to make a living at it so I have to keep a day job
2) I don't know anybody yet in NPS to "vouch" for me..

I can only hope to solve #1 eventually and #2 will just work itself out.. :)

kyoshinikon said:
You shoot with this right? http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/38172/2939225680056087808S425x425Q85.jpg

......but there's no CB antenna! lol

Why does being a wedding photographer mean you can't have tear sheets shivaswrath? There must be plenty of brides magazines being sold in your area? Send some of your best shot in.

You shoot with this right? http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/38172/2939225680056087808S425x425Q85.jpg

msmoto said:
How about we ask the question "What is a Redneck Photographer?"

me.....LOL

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2068038354385.111866.1647615973&type=3&l=ff0649c595

not bad for every 4 years, right? I've needed things repaired rapidly, but I live next to Melville (Norwalk, CT), so I usually get my repairs back under 2 weeks....now, if it was inpportune timing, and I need equpment, I just rent it...in that case, NPS would be nice.

I'm a wedding photog, and semi-pro, so no tear sheets for me, just happy couples...oh well!

"...how about that! I never looked. Msmoto, you should be shooting with at least a D3S with a D3X as a specialty backup!!! Just kidding. : )"
Mmmm... OK, I will admit that I do have a D4 on backorder from B & H. My run back into photography is a result of retiring in about 2002, traveling about first in cars, then motorcycles, then Airstreams, and now a motorhome. I support the writing my three stuffed animals do by taking photos for them, and supplying one photo five days a week. All this can justify a heck of a lot of expenditure, but I am not getting any younger and need to get it while I can still carry a heavy body-lens combo. And I love the NR Forum where we can just have a lot of fun and see some absolutely fantastic photos.... many of "top shelf" caliber.
So, let's all keep up the good work. I see almost everyone on the forum as a "pro".

At this moment the only advantage I see for NPS members is being able to purchase a product before a major event almost right after it was announced where most people won't get it in time (example: 2012 Olympics for the D4 or maybe D800 or D400).

Other than that I don't see a need to be part of the 'club', but honestly I would want to get there by way of the achievement and not what gear I have to own. At this point if I was really good then my photographs would make an art exhibt and I wouldn't worry about it.

msmoto said:
If one checks my profile it is revealed I used to be a Pro in the field of medicine. Yeah, 12 years of school and all that stuff.

...how about that! I never looked. Msmoto, you should be shooting with at least a D3S with a D3X as a specialty backup!!! Just kidding. : )
By day I'm a Clinical Pharmacist in the Trauma and Critical Care units of a trauma hospital here in South Florida. Doctorate and all - remember brachial plexus? : ). I kid with the MD's all the time about their expensive habbits and toys yet we all respect one another because we know each others' places in the community.

On this board, I respect all of the knowledgeable and wise posters. The people who can go deep into detail about the history of Nikons's cameras and lenses and say more than I will ever know - and do it without making you feel like crap. In my eyes those types are experts or pros as it were - even if they're not shooting photos all day every day. Your line aboout a "Pro" doing a job while respecting others is key.

Rx4Photo....get it? Rx. LOL