Sign In Please: Prof / Part-Time / Hobbyist ?

[ozziepuppy]

Just wondering about how many people are "professional photographers." Do you make your living by taking/making photographs?

Do you make any money with your photography (as a "part-time" career)?

Or do you consider yourself a hobbyist or amateur?

As for me, I am a hobbyist / amateur but I still want to learn everything I can about how to do it right. My career uses my left brain a lot and I need things like this to feel "whole" or something to that effect. . .:rolleyes:

[ceegee]

Strictly a hobbyist for now, but am taking one-on-one workshops with a local professional and hope, one day, to do some paid work. There's a lot to learn - it's fascinating. I have a job that demands a high level of technical precision, and photography lets me be creative.

[Cowboymitch]

I'm a full time student and a part time photographer. I shoot for the school paper to make some money doing different assignments and then i make a little more on the side doing Wednesdays and portraits. Hopefully one day I will be full time professional, but only time will tell.

[VladDracule]

ummm right now a hobbyist but i have done some paid work.
I coach soccer teams and i charged 20 bucks for discs of pictures of action shots exclusively of each parents kids. i have a wedding coming up but the only reason im doing it is because its for a few friends from work and its outdoors so not much to worry about with lighting :P

[Borderfox]

Full-time Pro, shoot everything from kids portraits to Weddings to 600 people events with on-site printing

[claybuster]

I'm a part time professional hobbyist;)

[perfarny]

you should make this a poll. hobbyist here :-)

[Elbee19]

I would definitely say I am an hobbyist/amateur. I have done a couple of senior portraits and accepted money for some sports shots but definitely don't categorize myself as a professional. I'm still learning and I certainly want to spend more time practicing. The dilemma I face, as I'm sure many others do too, is what to do with all of the photos. I have so many archived. I've digressed so...amateur/hobbyist for me!

[CubsAngel]

I'd say hobbyist with professional dreams.. lol

[nicksan]

My 9-5 makes me my money.
Photography gives me the joy.

I have no intentions of merging the two together.

[darosk]

I do part-time weddings and e-shoots - but I'm mostly just a hobbyist.

[Stickman]

I put in 30-50+ hours a week with paid photography assignments (catalog, adwork, etc), I also have a "real" job.


Whether that makes me a true professional or not depends on who you ask.

[Celtic Tiger]

Hobbyist with no professional aspirations whatsoever. That said, I've set a goal for myself to sell at least one image. I'm using it as a benchmark to challenge myself to see if I can produce something of enough quality that someone would part with some coin to own/use it. As time marches on & on and my benchmark is not met, look for me in the microstock area;). Man, do I have a loooong way to go!

[yalequan]

Full time student who enjoys photography as a (very expensive) hobby. I've sold some work but it's strictly for fun right now.

[ozziepuppy]

you should make this a poll. hobbyist here :-)

Sorry, I don't know how to do that. It might be interesting though.

[DLynn]

Hobby for me, my way to relax after a long day.

[5x5 photography]

I am a hobbyist but I have sold some prints and been paid to take photographs of casual events.

[nphsbuckeye]

Student graduating in June currently shooting for the school's paper hoping to soon start a business after commencement.

[Doublea17]

I'm a hobbyist and enjoying every minute of it, will never make a dime off my pictures but I don't care they joy is searching for that perfect shot.

[Brett]

Hobbyist with no professional aspirations whatsoever. That said, I've set a goal for myself to sell at least one image. I'm using it as a benchmark to challenge myself to see if I can produce something of enough quality that someone would part with some coin to own/use it. As time marches on & on and my benchmark is not met, look for me in the microstock area;). Man, do I have a loooong way to go!

Post a link to a gallery. I'll choose one image and send you 99 cents via PayPal.

Bang. You're a pro. And I'm not kidding. I will buy an image.

My 9-5 makes me my money.
Photography gives me the joy.

I have no intentions of merging the two together.

Interesting. Is the joy gone once you start to make money with a hobby?
I know many working guitarists who would argue otherwise, but that's not photography. It's a whole different set of working skills.

I've made (a little bit of) money playing guitar.

I've never earned a dime with photography. I'd like to, though. :)

[Persephone]

I'm a college student who works for the campus paper as the asst. photo editor...it's my only job (other than school), but I don't get paid, so I'm techncially NOT a professional...but I'm also not just a hobbyiest who shoots for pure lesiure and fun.

[hotrod100]

I'm a hobbyist. My job makes me the money and my hobby takes it,;-) but I love every single minute of it!

[blueM]

Hobby only although working for a home builder I shoot a lot for that. That's non-paid of course

[Jaten]

My 9-5 makes me my money.
Photography gives me the joy.

I have no intentions of merging the two together.

Very well said, Nicksan!

Echo.

[Karl Johnston]

Photography makes me my money, so "pro" category for me.

Though lately i'm considering taking a new job...so I guess the title goes to hobbyist :p

[RikWriter]

I have sold some of my photos and had a couple published, but I don't think there's any doubt that I am properly categorized as a hobbyist. And it's a damned expensive hobby...

[mikerault]

Hobbyist, even though I have sold some images and currently have some for sale at various dive shops...

[nicksan]

I make enough money with my career that I don't need to be concerned about making money off of photography, which is to say that I have a decent day job, nothing more, nothing less.

I started off as a musician and wanted to pursue that for real, but instead went to a "regular" University, got my degree, and got a job. I am 14 years in and I have no intentions of giving that up. I just can't imagine the amount of work and hustle it would take for me to make the same type of money in photography or music. Not to mention all the things that come with having a corporate job like great health care, 401k, paid vacations, steady and consistent income, bonuses (perhaps not this year!), etc...

That's not to say it wouldn't be great to sell one of my many crappy pics for $1000 a pop.:D

But really, I've gone out of my way to shoot for other people and did it just for the fun of it. Last year I did a local baseball game and a concert. Didn't get paid. Didn't really care. I had fun shooting. Lots of fun.

Not getting paid takes the pressure off and keeps it an enjoyable experience for me.

And I would rather be the guy buying the drinks and eating the nice food at the restaurant than being the struggling musician playing for chump change...it is what it is.



Interesting. Is the joy gone once you start to make money with a hobby?
I know many working guitarists who would argue otherwise, but that's not photography. It's a whole different set of working skills.

I've made (a little bit of) money playing guitar.

I've never earned a dime with photography. I'd like to, though. :)

[pennypue]

100% Hobbyist, even if I ever got good enough to be paid, I'd still be a hobbyist.
I'd LOVE to be able to shoot a wedding, but then that would mess up my Saturdays, and then there's the whole dealing with the bride thing......and then getting paid would be an issue for my employer. So it'd have to be for free.....can I be an unpaid assistant for a weekday evening wedding?? roflmao

[matonanjin]

Sorry, I don't know how to do that. It might be interesting though.


Post a message just like you did. Then at the very bottom of the options it will ask you if you want to "Post a poll" with this message. Then it gives you the number of choices to vote for.

Easy enough.

[gymell]

I'm purely a hobbyist. When people say the inevitable "you should sell your photos" I tell them, I already have a job, why would I want another one? ;)

[SYS]

I'm a hobbyist, but when I started getting a bit too many photo shoot requests, I established my website on SmugMug so I don't have to deal with the transactional details and other inconveniences... So I call myself "hobbytographer" (see the link in my sig)... :)

[johngalt_ny]

Another hobbyist but Type A to the max which means spend a fortune and torture myself to get it right.

Fortunately, both my income and ego come from my profession. Good thing too.

I've donated some stuff to charity that sold well but that's about it.

[turbo212003]

my 9-5 as a photographer makes me 100% of my income, does that count?

[ManuGD]

100% hobbyist. I haven't sold anything, I think my pictures suck :lol:
But I don't care, I enjoy taking them :D

[Gentleman Villain]

hobbyist, amateur, professional

Those categories don't quite work.... Sometimes, hobbyists are better than professionals. Sometimes, professionals are really amateurs.

So how about just 2 categories?

1) self-financed
2) hired-guns

Self financed photographers shoot for themselves. Hired guns shoot for other people. It's everybody's dream to do both at the same time...(that would be kinda like getting paid to have sex with a supermodel) But not that many people are gonna get to have their cake and eat it too.

That's really all there is to it :p

[Karl Johnston]

That's a well needed and very true reply. I've often wondered about that play on words, myself, between "pro" and "professional"

[Helen Bartlett]

Full time photography for me, specialising in kids portraits. Fantastic fun!

[FlyingPhotog]

Professional in Attitude and Approach
Hobbyist in bank account

[Spacemunkie]

No interest in sucking the joy out of one of my passions by turning it into a job - been there and done that.

Selling the odd print here and there would be good though :)

[ajayclicks]

hobbyist / amateur here with occasional sales via stock

[DStanic]

Hobbiest hopeing to step into a little wedding photography on the side occationally. Might help pay for the gear anyways. :P

[yogestee]

Pro from 1978 to 2007,,made a good living out of photography.. Now a hobbyist but still shoot the odd paid gig..

[Celtic Tiger]

Post a link to a gallery. I'll choose one image and send you 99 cents via PayPal.

Bang. You're a pro. And I'm not kidding. I will buy an image.

:)

Thanks Brett! But that's a charity/favor buy.

I have a friend who years ago started painting as a hobby. What he produced was much better than say what I could paint; but in the grand scheme of things not that hot IMO. Anyway, long story short, he convinced a gallery to show his work and invited alot of friends. He sold a couple of paintings. None of those paintings grace the walls of the purchasers homes today, if you get my drift.

So, your very gracious offer aside, I'm going to try to sell my one image legit first. But don't be surprised if in a year or two, an unsolicited link to images 99cents each shows up in your inbox ;).

Best regards.

[matonanjin]

Pro from 1978 to 2007,,made a good living out of photography.. Now a hobbyist but still shoot the odd paid gig..


From 1978 ;) to 2002 or so a hobbyist with the odd paid gig. Now shooting for income and it ceases to be a passion. I used to come home at night craving to go shoot. Now I come home and the last thing I want to see is a camera. Lots of evenings now spent post processing.

It isn't the shangrila all hobbyists think it will be. Hobbyists need to keep that in mind. "Be careful what you wish for"

[Brett]

Thanks Brett! But that's a charity/favor buy.

I have a friend who years ago started painting as a hobby. What he produced was much better than say what I could paint; but in the grand scheme of things not that hot IMO. Anyway, long story short, he convinced a gallery to show his work and invited alot of friends. He sold a couple of paintings. None of those paintings grace the walls of the purchasers homes today, if you get my drift.

So, your very gracious offer aside, I'm going to try to sell my one image legit first. But don't be surprised if in a year or two, an unsolicited link to images 99cents each shows up in your inbox ;).

Best regards.

Haha, I know what you mean. I was just pointing out the fact that so many people say "I'd be a pro if I could sell some images." I'd gladly sell images if people thought they were worth it, but I don't automatically think that makes me a pro.

Good luck! :)

[Thalagyrt]

Hobbyist who occasionally gets paid gigs and is really wanting and actively pursuing going full time pro.

I was talking to a pro photog friend of mine who's also mentoring me yesterday and he said something really true - you could put up two shots, one by me, and one by say Bruce Weber, and even if mine was 10x better, the one by Bruce would be the one that sells. Some people have made themselves such a legend that just their name sells their work. Then again, the chances of me getting a shot 10x better or even 2x better than Bruce is pretty slim. That man is a master. :)

[nicksan]

The fact that Bruce Weber's image would sell over yours is because of how people's minds work.

The vast majority of people lack the ability or patience to figure out why they think a piece of work is great. They associate a name with "greatness" and assume that ANY work by that person is "great" instead of figuring it out for themselves.

Sometimes it's true. Sometimes it's not.

I was at an art museum the other day and was put to sleep by some of the work there. That's not to say the work wasn't great, but I went, saw, and decided it wasn't for me. No one can decide that for me...

That's just the way it is...people will always be people.

Hobbyist who occasionally gets paid gigs and is really wanting and actively pursuing going full time pro.

I was talking to a pro photog friend of mine who's also mentoring me yesterday and he said something really true - you could put up two shots, one by me, and one by say Bruce Weber, and even if mine was 10x better, the one by Bruce would be the one that sells. Some people have made themselves such a legend that just their name sells their work. Then again, the chances of me getting a shot 10x better or even 2x better than Bruce is pretty slim. That man is a master. :)

[chauncey]

If you're in it as a hobby, like me, what happens to all those great/not so great images when ya die?

[nicksan]

Would you even care?;)
If you're in it as a hobby, like me, what happens to all those great/not so great images when ya die?

[islandxguy]

I'm strictly a hobbyist--I often wonder, however, if I'm the only one who does not want to go professional and just keep it as a simple life-enjoying thing to do, not something to worry about getting a perfect shot to pay bills (that's too much pressure on a love of a hobby in my opinion).

(Professional i mean as in a doing it full time job)

[JudgeDanny]

hobbyist for sure!!!!!! it'd be nice to be paid for my work.. but only in time of course ;)

[johngalt_ny]

I'm with ya Island Guy.

No desire to go pro. None at all. At most I'd try Alamy if I could qualify, but I don't want to deal with brides, bride's mothers or people who think they are WAY better looking than they are. Mazel Tov (an old Italian saying) to all of you who do it for real.

[yogestee]

From 1978 ;) to 2002 or so a hobbyist with the odd paid gig. Now shooting for income and it ceases to be a passion. I used to come home at night craving to go shoot. Now I come home and the last thing I want to see is a camera. Lots of evenings now spent post processing.

It isn't the shangrila all hobbyists think it will be. Hobbyists need to keep that in mind. "Be careful what you wish for"

matonanjin,,,this is so true.. During the time I worked as a photographer I also studied commercial photograhy for 4 years..At the interview to be accepted into the college I was told this course will knock the passion out of me for photography,, the course was so intensive and difficult.. I completed the course but the passion died.. I treated my job as a 9 'til 5 job hardly ever taking up a camera for fun.. I would shoot all day then attend class 4 evenings a week.. Many times I would think will this all end..

Deep inside my belly I still had the embers glowing.. In 2004 I went to IndoChina for the first time and my passion was re-ignited..

[asia minor]

hobby

have to satisfy myself first before attempting to satisfy others

[gymell]

If you're in it as a hobby, like me, what happens to all those great/not so great images when ya die?

Why would it any be different than what would happen if you're in it for the money?

[matonanjin]

Deep inside my belly I still had the embers glowing.. In 2004 I went to IndoChina for the first time and my passion was re-ignited..

Yup. My FM signature says "My income comes from Equine Photography. My passion is landscape photography".

My wife is wanting to go to Europe. Maybe that will be my "IndoChina";)

[dipps]

hobbyist for now. collecting the tools of the trade while i bide my time, studying up, working to get better. eventually i'd like to do some paid work. for now, i'm just enjoying the learning process, and now that my 9yo daughter has a powershot A470, she can enjoy the process with me (she's getting pretty good at image manipulation already using picasa :) ). my 7yo is currently saving up her allowance for an A470. once there, we can all go out on nature walks/photo op hunts and enjoy the hobby/learn together. :)

[sfaust]

Haven't we done this one before? Anyway...

Full time professional shooting commercial. Mostly for marketing brochures and collateral, annual reports, regional and national advertisements, some editorial articles, and corporate web use. We also shoot video doing corporate training films, marketing shorts, and media for web use.

Unfortunately, it's not real exciting or highly artistic, although it pays very well. But it does give me a lot of satisfaction when the client loves how I rendered his $4M 12 station knee joint simulation machine. More importantly, I am exposed to so many different people, companies, industries, products, and I find that fascinating and worth it all by itself. I could go on and on about all the cool things and people I've been exposed to because of my career choice. Very rich in life experience and interest!

[Omlyn]

Hobbyist...some people take their dogs for a walk, I take my camera for a walk.

[pennypue]

Hobbyist...some people take their dogs for a walk, I take my camera for a walk.At least you don't have to carry plastic baggies to clean up after it!;)

[HuskyKMA]

Hobbyist

This should be a poll.

[Karl Johnston]

If you're in it as a hobby, like me, what happens to all those great/not so great images when ya die?
They explode with a burst of purple energy and blue sparkles.
;)

[Josue DG]

Strictly hobby for me but who knows where the road will take me.

[20droger]

Deep inside my belly I still had the embers glowing.. In 2004 I went to IndoChina for the first time and my passion was re-ignited..
We'll stay hobbyists, thank you! I've already been to Indochina, and have little desire to go back. (Of course, conditions were a bit different then....)

We shoot because we want to. If we went pro, then we'd be shooting because we have to, and that's a different thing entirely. It's much more fun to shoot what we want to shoot, rather than what/whom we have to shoot.

And it's not just the shooting! Right now, we can spend a whole day shooting, then come home and look forward to spending a few more hours going over the shots we took. As pros, however, we would spend a whole day shooting, then come home and be forced to spend hours going over what we shot.

[Miranda Welch]

I'd say part-time professional. I've only had my business a couple months and I'm building a customer base, so hope to be busier in the near future.

[mikekelley]

hobbyist spending way too much money on cool toys that he uses to do tiny paid gigs with!

[FlyingPhotog]

I find it interesting that so many people equate "Pro" with "Drudgery."

[GilesGuthrie]

I'm a hobbyist, but I sold a print last month. This pleases me greatly!

[Here and There]

Hobbyist...some people take their dogs for a walk, I take my camera for a walk.

LOL. Same here. :D

[ozziepuppy]

I'm a hobbyist, but I sold a print last month. This pleases me greatly!

How did you sell a print? Was it through an online site, or to a friend, or what? I am interested in how people do this. I just give mine away to friends. Thanks.

[Thalagyrt]

My fiancee has started calling my camera my purse. I carry the thing everywhere, haha. If we're going out somewhere and I leave it she'll say something like "Hey James, you forgot your purse!"

[masse]

Hobbyist here, exploring ways to sell and show my meager work to those who enjoy it, while still keeping 'business necessities' from determining what and when I shoot. :)

[TooManyShots]

Hobbyist who has gears that would make any pros envy....:) Hey, I have a real job that pays for my gears. Lucky for anyone that can shoot pictures for a good living....:) Do I want to make money shooting pictures? No. Too involved (on the business side) and too much work when I am already working close to 50 hours a week at my real job.

[TooManyShots]

How did you sell a print? Was it through an online site, or to a friend, or what? I am interested in how people do this. I just give mine away to friends. Thanks.


There are photo stock agencies that you can summit your work and hoping someone would buy them. Or You have friends and acquaintances that like your work. You can try to sell them.