What makes an amature?

Ive heard the debate on what makes a photographer a "pro", but what makes a photographer a "amature"?

These questions Im about to ask are not the only questions I am wanting answered, in fact I dont want them answered just for my benifit. I want them thought about/considered for the topic at hand.

Is an amature one that has limited knowledge about photography?
Or how about own a lower end camera? Because as we know anyone can own a camera, much like the debate on "pros"
Is an amatuer one who does not give anymore thought about the composition of a photo other than getting it to be level or whatnot?

Im curious to hear this side of the "pro" "not-pro" debate.

An amateur, in the classic sense, is one who loves their avocation. Amateurs follow a craft because of their love for it, and not for the money. It has nothing to do with skill, experience, equipment or knowledge because many amateus are as skillful and knowledgable, and may own more and better equipment, as many professionals, but they choose to ply their craft simply for the fun of it.

Mark

Second the above ^^^

If you take pictures because they're purty and you like it - you're an amateur.

If you do it to get paid you're a pro.

Pros know how to spell amateur

maybe amature is a word that we haven't heard of yet.

Like anemic. Or amoral. Or asexual.

So I guess an amature photographer would be a photographer completely lacking any resemblance to maturity...neither mature nor immature.

I have no idea what that means.

blackshadow wrote in post #2873089
Pros know how to spell amateur

well some pros have very quick fingers and sometimes incorrectly spells words, happens to the best of us.

So someone who doesnt have a good grasp of the technical side of photography is not a amature? Amateurs are only refered to when not wanting money for their craft?

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #2873072
Second the above ^^^

If you take pictures because they're purty and you like it - you're an amateur.

If you do it to get paid you're a pro.

Other than being more specific for the amateur.. ie: they don't get paid to do it,
this is the only real definition.. any other attributes that people tend to associate with "pro" or "amateur" do not really understand the actual definitions or the correct use of the terms.

I hate to be so rigid in any reply, but some things are simply what they are and don't need to have anything more read into them.

thekid24 wrote in post #2873224
So someone who doesnt have a good grasp of the technical side of photography is not a amature?

The question makes no sense.

If you remove the double contradiction, you're asking:
Is someone with a good grasp of the technical side of photography considered an amaTEUR?

blackshadow wrote in post #2873089
Pros know how to spell amateur

To me, these terms are not at all valued towards anything other than if one makes their living, or significant part of their income from photography, or whatever is being discussed. Pro=$$, amateur = free.

It really depends on how you intend to use the word.

Typically, an amateur of any kind is someone who hasn't mastered the craft (or whatever) to a proficient level. I'm sure the dictionary can help there.

If you're talking business, then it's how you conduct yourself. If you act and work on a professional level and make money, then that's what makes you a professional.

What does it really matter?

thekid24 wrote in post #2873224
So someone who doesnt have a good grasp of the technical side of photography is not a amature? Amateurs are only refered to when not wanting money for their craft?

Someone can have years of experience and be prolific and skilled, and be an amateur..
Some pros don't know there arse from a teakettle..

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #2873248
The question makes no sense.

If you remove the double contradiction, you're asking:
Is someone with a good grasp of the technical side of photography considered an amaTEUR?

Theyre just letters they dont CONTROL ME,lmao.

Dont shoot the messanger Im just trying to start a healthy debate. Taking it so seriously is HO-LARRY-US!!!!!

why not let the dictionay answer this question?

http://209.161.33.50/d​ictionary/amateur

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #2873246
Other than being more specific for the amateur.. ie: they don't get paid to do it,
this is the only real definition.. any other attributes that people tend to associate with "pro" or "amateur" do not really understand the actual definitions or the correct use of the terms.

I hate to be so rigid in any reply, but some things are simply what they are and don't need to have anything more read into them.

Thanks. If I had seen your post prior to mine, I would have just +1'ed it. Why people attribute other meanings is interesting, maybe a lack of understanding the meaning of words. Different terms need be used for this connotation.