I've got a cool shirt that says Nikon Pro on it. Is that enough? :^)
What makes someone a "Professional"?
(117 posts) (61 voices)-
Posted 3 years ago #
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I used to discount a person being a Pro if they are shooting with consumer grade equipment - but with with this theory, I can easily get fooled by someone holding a D3.
I am really happy with my skill and knowledge thus far, but I don't have years of full time experience, which is what REALLY makes a person a true professional!
Posted 3 years ago # -
I generally go by the income philosophy, but to do so you have to discount all thought that professionals are better than amateurs. That's just not true by that definition.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Put the Kodak Brownie in my hands and I'll show all of you whippersnappers the meaning of the word PRO!
Posted 3 years ago # -
Much like hookers, being good at something doesn't make you a pro... its mostly about the $$$
Posted 3 years ago # -
Hmm...now we know why you frequent the alley behind the Deep Eddy so much :^)
Posted 3 years ago # -
I was a pro photographer for GE for 17 yrs. and now I'm retired. I get to shoot what ever I want, when I want. I guess since my primary income is Soc. Sec. and pension I'm not a pro anymore. But who cares. I am having fun.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Having fun is what it should always be about Johndbr. It's the photographer, not the camera! :^)
I'd love to hear your stories on GE product shots!
Posted 3 years ago # -
I worked for Ge Motors. Most of the photos were product shots for advertising. Did some work for underwriters lab. Once in awhile did some for lawsuits. These were very interesting. Had to document everything. Most of the time I used 4x5 transparences and B&W. Catalog photos were mostly B&W. Had a few covers for the WW Grainger catalog. Did alot of darkroom work. The last couple of years I shot digital for some things. One session I remember wel was shooting Chinese motors. Those things were not at all up to American standards. Had to photographically document everthing about them inside and out. That it in a nutshell,
JohnPosted 3 years ago # -
Sounds like a forensics lab. I guess that's what UL is about, though, right? Were you mostly in a studio for the advertising shots or outside?
Posted 3 years ago # -
Most of the advertising shots were in the studio. They did send me to Tenn. one time for a week of shooting. One time they needed photos of a Corvette. That was interesting doing shots in a showroom. I don't remember for sure why they needed them though. There were plenty of times the photos of evidence motors that were used in lawsuits proved in court the motors were not the cause of a fire. Those jobs were very interesting.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I'm a sucker for classic corvette pictures :^) Interesting John thanks for sharing.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Interesting Thread. What is a "Professional"? Well for the text book meaning, this link kinda covers the text book definition...http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/PROFESSIONAL.
Now we all have our own ideas what it means to be a "Professional" as this forum shows.
I personally believe that being a Professional in anything is a combination of many things, not just your equipment, how much you spend on your tools of the trade, or if you get paid for your work.
Now to put it in perspective for all, my previous career was a pilot(Airforce for 18 yrs). During which I continually strove to be the best at my job, I had continuous ongoing training, I worked with very expensive equipment to do my job(Granted a 40 million dollar aircraft is not a good comparison to photography gear), I always put 100% effort into everything I did, I always acted in a professional manner, treated people with respect, honesty and in a manner that would reflect positively on me and the people I worked with daily.
So is that Professional? I believe so. Yes I got paid to do it, but the pay wasn't the main reason I did my job. I loved what I did, I enjoyed going to work everyday, and I consider myself very lucky to have done the job I did for so long.Now, do a great many photograhers share the exact same values, and professional qualities in photography that I did in my career in the airforce...ABSOLUTELY!! Yes its a totally different profession, it involves a different skill set, and you can get paid or not for doing it.
I personally believe that being a professional at what ever you do is more about you as a person and how you go about what ever you do for a job, the commitment you have to that chosen profession, and how you treat those around you each day.
Now this may ring true for some and not for others, but its just one persons opinion. Cheers.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Well put PacificEagle. I think your post wins the debate!
We've got a good group of aviation enthusiaist around here. In case you didn't already know. Bernard is with the French Wing of the CAF and we've also got RobertD who's worked in commercial aviation photography. And me, I come from a USAF family :^)
Posted 3 years ago # -
...and I grew up wanting to be a pilot, but my bad eyesight shot that dream down. I still love aviation technology, though--it's what steered me into engineering before I decided on physics.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I dunno. I go for the more literal meaning. If you do it as a profession, then you're a professional. A professional chef is someone who is a chef as their main profession. There are a lot of professional chefs out there that probably suck, but they still do it as a profession.
Shrug.
Posted 3 years ago # -
So what's do you call the "housewife/husband" who's never been paid for a meal but whose dishes would win praise by other "professional" chefs? You know like is Ratatouille really a professional chef since he's just a mouse? And not even a real mouse at that. Huh Kellen? What's your answer to that? :^)
Posted 3 years ago # -
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PacificEagle : Very nicely described ! I agree 100 per cent. And I believe that everyone should adopt this as a rule for his own life :o)
Posted 3 years ago # -
Niko and Bernard, thanks, but its just my way of thinking. Going over the posts in this and other similar threads that delve into professional cameras, money, work, etc..., it just seems to me that the prevailing arguements/opinions are more based around who has the bigger gun/guns attitude. AKA....higher end gear(professional) or who makes the most money. Professionalism is more of a mind set and attitude than the amount of money you make or the cost of your gear. At least for me. Thats the last I'll say about it.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Yes, I meant to mention I agree with your definition as well, Eagle. And I agree about the criticism of the 'bigger/more expensive = better' attitude. Some people get so caught up worrying about in gear that they forget to take pictures.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I agree with PacificEagle...
The bigger problem here is that if you are not a "professional" you are labeled as an amateur which immediately makes you appear as a lesser "photographer" in both skill and technique especially to outside clients who know little about photography...
Although I make my living off art related work much of it is not photography. Still I call myself a professional and put myself out as one because I want to be paid for my work and knowledge. If I put myself out as an amateur I get treated like photography is my hobby and therefore can be done for cheap or free when in reality I am using that money to pay my bills.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I personally believe that the word professional is inextricably linked to and inseparable from payment for the work carried out. All the other attributes in Pacificeagle's post associated with the word are valid but do not invalidate or distract from that fact.
Whilst the name does not guarantee anything, it does intimate that higher standards are achieved when using a professional rather than an amateur.
Still on topic (just), there are certain podcasts on the 'net which are pitched at professionals where clientelle are treated as cash-cows and milked for as much money as possible using nothing more than shabby marketing techniques and snob-appeal to charge ridiculous prices for what is often work that is no different from pro's charging 1/10th of the price. I mention this because those people are professionals too, but their main aim is maximum profit for minimum work, the photography is so obviously secondary to the money.
Posted 2 years ago # -
duplicate posting deleted.
Posted 2 years ago # -
a professional is a photographer who makes their living either entirely, or primarily, from their photography, that's it.
there are many photographers who work purely for themselves, whose images are far superior to those of a professional, and vice versa, a pro just earns their living doing it.
Posted 2 years ago #
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