October 15, 2015
Are You A Professional?
Recently while photographing on the the Oregon coast, a woman on a bicycle stopped and announced that she loved to talk to photographers. Her first question to me was: Are you a professional?
In a split second my mind calculated the several different responses that I could give her:
- Yes.
- No.
- What is a professional?
- What does it matter what I’m called?
- Wouldn’t you rather know if I’m any good?
Because all the definitions I had seen for “professional” were income based (you must earn at least 50% of your income from your photography) I chose a simple “No” for my response.
The woman then rode away, asking no further questions.
I just smiled.
Cole
I would have said “No, I’m a philosopher.” To me, art is a philosophy of living. 🙂
I was a “Professional” industrial photographer for over twenty years. My definition for a professional is, making the best image from bad situations for money..
Now that I’m my own boss, I make the best image from situations, bad or good, for the love of it.
I’m glad she made you smile Cole, now I’m smiling too.
-Gerry
Unrelated to the topic. This above image is staggeringly filled with creative vision.
You’re not? Humm, I may need to rethink our friendship. 🙂
A professional response to her question! ha
Well judging by your response you are anything but professional ;).
I like Joseph’s response but alas I fear it would elicit MORE questions and so simple NO seems best. The photograph is beautiful.
cheers
Your post has made me laugh, people are funny or strange. I like all the textures in your image its a beautiful photograph.
🙂
Ha! I struggle with that response too. As an equine photographer people assume I photograph portraits and at the horse shows. Professional? An income from being an artist? I think that what they mean is are you hired to do photography. No, I am driven to do it.
Without sounding too smarmy, I would say she missed a great opportunity to engage with an interesting citizen of the world who happens to be a good photographer.
‘Why do you ask?’ would have been my reaction.
Great photo! Next time someone asks give them your card or info to link to your photo site and just say: “You decide”.
I had one woman tell me the same thing and I said no I’m not a professional. Then she said it looks like you could easily be one. No just a very avid amateur. There are so many connotations attached to the terms used in any industry one can either have a god complex or an inferiority complex. Both can easily hamper one’s vision and creativity if they get caught up in labels. I would just rather spend my time clearing my mind for the creative process.
I love those questions and the people who stop to talk. I have to answer No also now since photography is not what it used to be. However if I am using my 5×7 I love to share the process and let people view the ground glass under the darkcloth. Probably the first and only time they will have such an experience. Also a great chance to hand out a card. Not that it helps to get to the 50% much. Love the image in this post. River and sky or sand and ocean.
This question reminds me of the writing of Steven Pressfield in relation to what makes an artist a professional. For him it has nothing to do with money but with attitude and based on that I would say you are very much a pro.
stevenpressfield.com/turning-pro for more info.
Hmmm, well she was obviously confused. You are, by definition, a photographer. I used to earn my living as a photographer, now I’m retired and I create photos for the love of it. I highly recommend the latter approach. Being a photographer has nothing to do with earning money from it, IMHO 😉 You were wise to give her the response you did. I love that photo BTW.
I’ll add this… yes, the IRS deems me to be a professional.
I’ve been included in this definition since I was 19. Forty years later, I’m still in this category.
Of little matter… what did matter, to me was for having made the admission to myself , that I was indeed an artist.
Which is a CROSSROAD, for every artist,,,
A reflective moment…
Taxes be damned!
I would have replied, “I am an artist”. Most times I am asked the question I am using a ‘professional camera with a physically large lens. If I use a small camera or lens I never am asked the question. It would appear that size really does matter if you want to be a professional>
The photograph………wonderful vision here……….the horizontal “stacking”……brilliant.
when in this situation, i usually answer that i am a fine-art photographer. what that means is a really good discussion, but “hobbyist” or “amateur” usually implies (at least, to me) less than serious commitment to the craft of photography. if you are a woman with kids, there is another tier of non-“professional” – “mom with a camera,” which has its own implications.
As a side note – i am so sorry i missed your talk on thursday. life, i suppose. i heard it was absolutely fantastic! i hope you will be in our neck of the woods sometime soon again!
Great information here. You are a nice photographer!
Depends on the context, one would say, if one is a professional
or amateur. We have a yearly photo competition in Pennsylvania Magazine
with no restrictions as our only concern deals with the images and ones
we can select to make our readers continue to say that we have great
photography.
I see a lot of photos in newspapers and even magazines, and many of
them are rather weak in terms of showing something of value. Even
though those folks are paid, they are not really professional in the sense
of accomplishment, I would say……al h
Al Holliday, publisher of Pennsylvania Magazine
alrite34@gmail.com
Vincent van Gogh only sold one painting in his life. So therefore he was not a professional artist. And everyone knows its how much you spend on camera equipment that counts.
Hi Cole, Its me Seshi again. I think its very important to define “photographer” first in different contexts of its usage. I like the open ended question “are you a professional” to which I would say yes I am a surgeon engaged in a profession. I never class myself as a photographer but define my hobby as taking pictures and produce photographs when I am in the mood, so not a professional yet. I would be classed as a professional if I am practising my craft full time regardless of the income earned. Well that’s my opinion, like the mouth everyone has got one.
re
Seshi M