What Is A Photographer - The Internets Definition

A professional is paid to provide information. A professional is not paid to produce tangible goods or services.

Professionals are paid for what they know, not for what they do or produce.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/pro-not.htm


pro·fes·sion noun prə-ˈfe-shən
: a type of job that requires special education, training, or skill

I am guilty myself of wanting it to be more but truth be told- anyone can be a photographer. No set skill level or standard.
edited

Craig I'm not asking what a photographer is, or what it takes to do anything. I'm giving the answers from the net of what one is. Its all over the board

I don't think William Wegman, Cindy Sherman, Ansel Adams, Paul Stand etc got bogged down with other people definitions or lack appreciation.

"The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) began collecting modern photography in 1930 and established the department in 1940. The Museum's holdings of more than 25,000 works constitute one of the most important collections of modern and contemporary photography in the world. As diverse as photography itself, the collection includes work not only by artists, but also by journalists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and amateurs."

Not the point at all Edward but thanks for the info

I'm clearly not getting what the point is or the topic of discussion.

I mean this is a discussion board right?

i say if you take pictures as more than a hobby, your a photographer. you only become a pro photographer when your making a living on it. a painter will always be called a painter because that's what they do. the term doesn't change, they just fluff up the word making it prettier than what the thing you do is called. or something like that. it made sense in my head.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

I would tend to agree.

What I think often isn't obvious is that people carry around different definitions (and connotations) for the same terms. This happens throughout the vocabulary of a language.

So, people argue ad-nauseam about what things mean,

My reaction is the same as the one I posted in the last discussion about defining what we do: Who the hell cares? Just do it and have fun. I don't have a crap if someone calls me a professional or not. My wife and I still have a joke at the expense of the convenience store clerk. I had been near her store shooting two trains one hot day years ago with two cameras strapped around my neck. After the trains passed, I stepped inside for a bottle of Gatorade. When I got to the register, she looked at me and said, "Are you a picture taker?" I said, "Yes, I am."

Other than a good chuckle, I just do what I do and not really care too much about what others think or say.

in terms of easiness

fishing - fisherman
boxing - boxer
baseball - baseballer
photo taker - photographer


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

i consider a pro someone who knows what they are doing. making money at it, shouldn't matter. if someone has bland images and are still selling you can call them a pro by definition, even if the work is sub standard. professional quality.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

I think at one time or other most of us have wasted time looking up the same information. I'm with Joseph, who cares? I'm having a blast making photos, and if I make a few bucks doing it, all the more fun.

Professional?

Of course, it all depends on the size of your equipment;)

Joking apart, if I take my 5d to an event I can move people around easily and ask them to pose for me, but if I take my small RX10 it's a different story. I can (usually) also cross Police lines with my 'proper' camera!

My stuff here is 'arty' and I would like to sell more, my stock pictures are 'boring' and I sell well, but what exactly am I?

Artist is my fall back. Professional photographer is for a resume. When I think of professional phototog, I think of someone who takes assignments or runs a commercial studio.

I just think it's funny that photographer means nothing really. It's whatever you want it to mean. Just makes me laugh at all the different definitions of the same thing.

I just think it's funny that photographer means nothing really. It's whatever you want it to mean. Just makes me laugh at all the different definitions of the same thing.