Can we stop saying "This is just a hobby"?

Can we stop saying that photography is just a hobby for us?

Googling POTN, the phrase is everywhere: https://www.google.com …-on-the.net/forum&start=0

Sure, photography can be a hobby. But just a hobby? What is just a hobby? There are lots of things people can delve into as hobbies and develop passions for. Sure, it's not something all of us do for a living. However, that doesn't make it any less of an activity worthy of our time and investment.

Stating that it is just a hobby somehow belittles the craft and the art of photography. For someone who's serious about anything else (cars, sports, cooking, rockclimbing, hiking, collecting) it's never just an activity. To them, it's the activity. So we, as photographers, should stop saying that it's just a hobby. That will just make it more difficult to explain to others why we do what we do.

Okay... rant off. For now.

No!

If it is not a hobby, why do you care about what people say??? You can call yourself an artist.....

But what if it really is "just a hobby?" Should I just live in denial?

Not to suggest there isn't an argument to be made here, but I think the sense (meaning) of 'just' has to be disambiguated here. I think in many cases in which 'just' is used with respect to the hobby of photography, the intended meaning is to clarify that the person isn't charging, isn't a professional, or 'isn't good yet' etc.. In other words, I think 'only' is often used to diminish the claim of professionalism on the part of the respective photographer and NOT the hobby of photography itself.

TooManyShots wrote in post #16484671
If it is not a hobby, why do you care about what people say??? You can call yourself an artist.....

Yes! I am an arteeest, whether or not you recognize me!

Christopher Steven b wrote in post #16484694
Not to suggest there isn't an argument to be made here, but I think the sense (meaning) of 'just' has to be disambiguated here. I think in many cases in which 'just' is used with respect to the hobby of photography, the intended meaning is to clarify that the person isn't charging, isn't a professional, or 'isn't good yet' etc.. In other words, I think 'only' is often used to diminish the claim of professionalism on the part of the respective photographer and NOT the hobby of photography itself.

That's it, though. Perhaps I'm just parsing words. However, if you don't shoot for a living say you don't shoot for a living. Don't put your craft down stating that you're just a hobbyist.

The reason you see it is because so many people seem to get into photography and feel some odd obligation to earn their money back on their equipment when really, for most people, it really is JUST a hobby - ie, not a business or a critical part of their lives. They get really bent out of shape over little things - like calling something "just a hobby". Sometimes people need to reminded not to take it too seriously.

And that applies to a lot of other things as well. I had to be reminded by my girlfriend that the sales job I have that I get so frustrated over is, in fact, just a job.

LOL!!

Nathan wrote in post #16484728
Yes! I am an arteeest, whether or not you recognize me!



That's it, though. Perhaps I'm just parsing words. However, if you don't shoot for a living say you don't shoot for a living. Don't put your craft down stating that you're just a hobbyist.

But how is someone putting the craft down by calling it their hobby? Im not a fan of labels, but if someone wants to call themselves a hobbyist, I have no problem with that, I can think of a lot of worse things to label oneself.

hob·by 1 (hb)
n. pl. hob·bies
An activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure.

" Perhaps I'm just parsing words. However, if you don't shoot for a living say you don't shoot for a living. Don't put your craft down stating that you're just a hobbyist."

You've answered your own question.
I wonder when "Hobby" became a derogatory word..... It doesn't demean photography in any way at all. If someone describes something using terms other than the ones you might choose, that's probably OK.

I actually don't mind people using it. To me saying it is just a hobby just means that they love doing it but they are not getting paid for what they do. There are many professional careers that people do as a hobby. I don't think its belittling our craft, but just separating themselves from the professionals.

It's a hobby nothing more nothing less.

This is just ridiculous.

but this is just a hobby!


...that I make 100% of my income and insurance from...

I have zero impression what P.O.T.N. has a lot of "hobby" mentioned at forums.
But photography is the hobby for many of us here, including me.
I prefer to call things what they are.

Here is nothing special in amateur photography to put it above hobby level.
It isn't more complicated as cooking. It is not even close to the challenge and bravery of sailing and rock climbing.

Here is no need to explain others what we are doing rather what saying - I'm into photography. If you are not making money from it, then it is just a hobby.