Are You A Professional?

[alsmith]

Just wondering who on this site is doing photography for a living or part time?

[timmyquest]

Well uhh, i've been paid once. Does that make me a pro?

[FJC]

My family is willing to PAY ME if I stop constantly taking their pictures.

Does that count?

:lol:

[PhotosGuy]

My family is willing to PAY ME if I stop constantly taking their pictures.

:lol:

Used to be - semi retired now & I get paid to teach PS part-time.

[IndyJeff]

By professional do you mean 'sole source of income'? Or do you mean, "I get paid for taking pictures'?

[RichardtheSane]

To me 'Professional' means that photography amounts a portion of your income you could not live without...

So very open ended,

I have just started selling my work, and I am now getting offers of more work. When I need to reduce my day job hours to do this I feel that I have become professional.

That will be in about 6 months.

[XXWoodmanXX]

I've done brochures, pics for newspapers, pics for the local yacht club, a few pics for Cedar Point attractions, and a wedding, and I would never consider myself a "professional"

To me, photography will always be a hobby for me to enjoy. :D

[Canuck]

Not by a longshot. I have done some pics for friends though at no charge. They were jpegs and it took like a 1/2 hr to sort and send them. I am however hoping to hit the bigtime some day. I still have a loooooooonnnnnngggggggggg ways to go. I could see going pro on the side, but not full time. It would be more fun that way as I wouldn't be nearly as pressed to produce and if the camera needs some repairs, time isn't money. There are plusses and minuses of each side going the full hog or doing it on your terms.

[Big_B]

If you are paying then I'll be a professional.... hang it. If you're paying I'll do anything. 8) :lol: :lol:

[Andy_T]

To me 'Professional' means that photography amounts a portion of your income you could not live without...


Let's add another condition here:

The amount of your income you make from photography exceeds the amount of money you spend on photographic stuff :twisted:

Best regards,
Andy

[Steveo31]

To me 'Professional' means that photography amounts a portion of your income you could not live without...


Let's add another condition here:

The amount of your income you make from photography exceeds the amount of money you spend on photographic stuff :twisted:

Best regards,
Andy
Ah well, then yes.

Then again, I don't have a job, so does that count? :D

[Cadwell]

No, I'm not a professional and I don't want to be!

My reason is this... I have two main hobbies 1) going to watch motor racing and 2) taking photos whilst I am there. If someone starts paying me for my motorsport pictures then it becomes "work". That means that first, I won't have any hobbies left and second I won't enjoy it so much anymore because I will feel pressured to "get the shot" all the time rather than watching the racing and taking the occasional (hopefully interesting) picture.

So no... professional photography is not for me.

[Andy_T]

Cadwell,

you keep forgetting that the forum here is eagerly waiting for your Goodwood shots ...

so you better get up early to 'get that shot' :twisted:

Best regards,
Andy

[stopbath]

I am not a professional photographer, nor am I employed as a photographer (which in my books are too differnent things: What happens to a pro when they are between jobs, are they no longer pros? Their professionalism resides in their skill: The ability to repeatedly attain top level results by using internalized knowledge.)

[Cadwell]

:lol: Andy, but no-ones paying me for Goodwood so that's OK ;) Getting up early to get the shot is no problem. I'm always there waiting for the gates to open and I don't leave until they throw me out :oops: