Being a professional photographer

[jimwong]

Does being a professional photographer require talent or can a photographer rely on technique only. I don't believe I have an photographer's eye or a creative mind, but I am technical. My stuff is ordinary snapshot stuff. How do I get to the next level ? can it be learned or is it an innate god given talent?

[ohenry]

Like the fellow that asked the question: "which way to Carnegie Hall" ..... PRACTICE

[gsmx2]

Jim--this is just one man's opinion, but I think the best photographers have the "artistic eye" and the "mathematician's mind."

But if you lack one, you can develop the other with directed purposeful practice. Take classes, read book and shoot a lot of shots.

Remember, practice doesn't make perfect...perfect practice makes perfect.

I wish us luck developing the right sides of our brains.

Scott

[defordphoto]

A professional photographer does not necessarily have to be a great photographer. And a professional is not necessarily an artist.

You can be a great technical photograper that couldn't shoot their way out of a paper bag when it comes to shooting landscapes, portraits or whatever else.

You could be a great sports photographer that couldn't figure the first thing about shooting a circuit board for an Intel advertisement.

Many people think that media photographers have bastardized the art of photography with their mill-photos and massive stock photo stock-piles. I just consider it a different field within the world of photography. Same with most any other form of artwork.

To simplify in the basic of terms: Technical, commercial, art.