CAN I CALL MYSELF AN AMATEUR SHOOTER/PHOTOGRAPHER NOW?

hi everyone, i've been shootin' now with my 5dmarkII for about a year now as just a hobbyist.. can i now call myself as an AMATEUR SHOOTER base on my photos in flickr at my sig... maybe the DUMBEST QUESTION or topic here but just been curious how you go up the skill level title...

I wouldn't stress over words. You are a professional if it's your living, it doesn't imply any kind of skill level. If you own a camera and you use the camera to express even the tiniest portion of your personality, then you are an artist and a photographer.

Sure, why not... I consider myself an amateur, would like to consider myself a 'semi pro" but don't make enough (any) money to do so..

Your ego determines what you call yourself. I've learned that the best at something aren't concerned with labels.

There's something about the term 'amateur' that has a demeaning edge to it....at least the way we throw it around here....

As has been said...titles say more about attitudes than anything.

I would say that I strive to be professional in attitude and results, but I am strictly amateur in that I dont earn from my hobby.

Dont get hung up on titles- just be the best you can be.

Call yourself whatever you want. Call yourself the next coming of Ansel Adams or Cartier-Bresson. In the end the images do the talking.

If you want to label yourself, be my guest.

And even if you don't make your living off photography, you can still conduct yourself in a professional manner while out shooting...

(I know several people who do make their living off photography and they're far from what I would call professional about it.)

fly my pretties wrote in post #9813090
I wouldn't stress over words. You are a professional if it's your living, it doesn't imply any kind of skill level. If you own a camera and you use the camera to express even the tiniest portion of your personality, then you are an artist and a photographer.

Ill agree with the first part, but not the second part of that sentence... There is definitely a skill difference.

You can call yourself "Crown Prince Charley, sovereign of middle earth elves" if you want. The line between amateur and pro is not consistently defined, and it all comes down to the quality of work and the way you present yourself.

there are a lot of "professional" photographers in my area that are def. not of the skill level of many of the "ametuers" on this site. they are far more business oriented than photography oriented and the sad thing is thats what it takes to make money from photography now-a-days.

back on topic, i had a very hard time calling myself a photographer for the first year and a half i was taking photos. i would just tell people "yeah i take pictures". not until recently have i gained the confidence to call myself a photographer.

and regarding those who thnk whoever picks up a camera is an artist or photographer, i think thats a big pile of you know what. not being mean but just because you pick up a camera doesnt mean your a photographer, because you paint doesnt mean you're an artist. just because i pick up a scalpal and wear scrubs doesnt mean im a heart surgeon. art has gone to crap because of this mentality that anything and everything is art and noone can say its bad. F that.

fly my pretties wrote in post #9813090
I wouldn't stress over words. You are a professional if it's your living, it doesn't imply any kind of skill level. If you own a camera and you use the camera to express even the tiniest portion of your personality, then you are an artist and a photographer.

i think last sentence is best said it...

Its a nice way of expressing it. I'm always wary of adopting the artist title, if only because I've seen too many people proclaim themselves "artists" only to justify mediocre work.

gonzogolf wrote in post #9814999
Its a nice way of expressing it. I'm always wary of adopting the artist title, if only because I've seen too many people proclaim themselves "artists" only to justify mediocre work.

bingo.