When are you considered "professional"

There are some photography contest in my area and you are not suppose to enter if you are a "professional photographer". In no means do I consider myself a "professional photographer", but was wondering what the criteria would be for that. Any thoughts?

The usual definition of a "professional," no matter what the discipline, is someone who makes at least 51% of their income from that discipline...

It pays your bills. It is your day job.

Professional when it is your profession I would say. Meaning that photography is your work and your main income(been stated above at least 51%)

In that case I would say it is just as John put it (which is also used by Canon Professional Services) where 51% or more of your income must be from photography to be considered a professional.

subscribing

such simple answers, they are always better than when on bleets on

thanks

I only started myself professional when other people started calling me professional that I had never met before.



I call "professional" someone who knows a lot about photography and is very skillful in it.

I call someone who does photography for a living a "working photographer"

I like to consider myself both

reefergal wrote in post #8275389
There are some photography contest in my area and you are not suppose to enter if you are a "professional photographer". In no means do I consider myself a "professional photographer", but was wondering what the criteria would be for that. Any thoughts?

Only the folks who are running the contest can define their interpretation of "professional". While the normal definition means that the photographer earns his/her living via photography, the contest group might disqualifiy you if you do work for hire at all. Ask them.

pro•fes•sion•al (pr-fsh-nl)
adj.
1.
a. Of, relating to, engaged in, or suitable for a profession: lawyers, doctors, and other professional people.
b. Conforming to the standards of a profession: professional behavior.
2. Engaging in a given activity as a source of livelihood or as a career: a professional writer.
3. Performed by persons receiving pay: professional football.
4. Having or showing great skill; expert: a professional repair job.
n.
1. A person following a profession, especially a learned profession.
2. One who earns a living in a given or implied occupation: hired a professional to decorate the house.
3. A skilled practitioner; an expert.


There are many schools of thought. Being a "professional" basically just means "people pay you for your work". There are "Professionals" that have little to no skill, there are professionals that make less then 51% of their income taking pictures, the term is almost impossible to define. For example, a house wife who has no taxable income for the year does 1 shoot of her friends dog for $50, now 100% of her income is from Photography, is she a Professional, is she not a professional? Another scenario is a guy who makes 10k a year shooting weddings in the summer, but makes 50k at his 9-5 job, is he a professional or not? Lastly, there is someone at Wal-Mart running the Preset camera at the photo booth, making 100% of their annual income, are they a professional? Can we really judge one way or another in any of these situations? The "Professional" label is in many ways meaningless, if you are trying to make money by taking pictures, then it is in the eye of your perspective customers whether you are "Professional" or not.

Karl Johnston wrote in post #8276690
I call "professional" someone who knows a lot about photography and is very skillful in it.

Define "a lot" and "skillful".

Willie wrote in post #8278512
Define "a lot" and "skillful".

Yeah, I was just going to mention that about that definition of professionalism. With the same logic, am I a professional historian and political scientist because I just got a degree in both, even though I want to go into the business of making lots of money? I know a lot about it, but have not made a dime from either discipline.

Granted, usually this discussion of how to define a photo pro is self-defining, but I would say that the person has to make his or her living off photography (no, someone working in a Wal*Martish lab doesn't really count; but then again, does working for MPix count?!). That mom that made $50 bucks, 100% of income for her, can't pay her bills with just that money, which was why I originally said one is a pro if it pays bills.

Karl Johnston wrote in post #8276690
I only started myself professional when other people started calling me professional that I had never met before.



I call "professional" someone who knows a lot about photography and is very skillful in it.

I call someone who does photography for a living a "working photographer"

I like to consider myself both

I've been taking pictures since 1965 and I still don't consider myself a professional photographer, even though a lot of my non-photographer friends consider me one. I make money with my photography but nowhere near enough to pay the bills. If anything, I'm professionally retired...

I think this is up to each individual photographer. While I consider myself professional, it is only because I get paid to do it on a regular basis. (meaning I take jobs every week or two by choice) However, since I make a considerable amount of money doing something else, I choose that photography is only XX% of my income at this time. There really is no right or wrong answer to this question. If you claim income from photography work on your taxes, I'd think you are professional. If you don't, I'd tend to think you were an amateur or hobbyist. Just IMO.

As Skip said, "professional" is as defined by the people running the contest. Ask them what they mean.

For example, in the old days, the Olympics were limited to amateurs. The officials defined "professional" as anyone who made any money (or equivalent) at any time in whatever the sport was. If you won a $10 prize lifting weights at the county fair, then, as far as they were concerned, you were a professional weight lifter.

20droger wrote in post #8280346
As Skip said, "professional" is as defined by the people running the contest. Ask them what they mean.

For example, in the old days, the Olympics were limited to amateurs. The officials defined "professional" as anyone who made any money (or equivalent) at any time in whatever the sport was. If you won a $10 prize lifting weights at the county fair, then, as far as they were concerned, you were a professional weight lifter.

Ah, the good old days of aristocracy!