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Naturenut · 03-02-2010, 10:00 AM

As sort of an off-shoot of a [silly] topic I posted in general discussions, I'm curious as to how all of you folks would define a [credible] professional photographer.

I'd love to hear your opinions/criteria as to what YOU think qualifies and/or doesn't qualify. I think it might make for an interesting discussion.

Gooshin · 03-02-2010, 10:16 AM

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/general-talk/32238-photography-professional.html

graphicgr8s · 03-02-2010, 10:20 AM

This has been "explained" here before. Why rehash it?

TaoMaas · 03-02-2010, 10:25 AM

I know others disagree with this definition, but I consider anyone who charges for their photography to be a professional photographer. I see it kinda like being an actor. Once someone willingly steps on a stage, they automatically become an actor. They may be a really, really BAD actor, but they're an actor, all the same.

Gooshin · 03-02-2010, 10:33 AM

no, thats just a GWC.

Cosmo · 03-02-2010, 10:56 AM

Someone whose income is through their photography. Semi pro is someone who needs a second job to sustain themselves.

Naturenut · 03-02-2010, 10:57 AM

Originally posted by graphicgr8s

This has been "explained" here before. Why rehash it?

I'm very, very new here, graphicgr8s so I had no idea it has been discussed before. Sorry.

MRRiley · 03-02-2010, 11:00 AM

Well, you could use the criteria that the major camera manufacturers use to define "a professional" and control access to their "professional" support services... 50% or more of your income must be derived from photography in order for them to consider you a professional. And good or bad generally doesn't enter into it, just what you earn.

Mike

graphicgr8s · 03-02-2010, 11:29 AM

Originally posted by Naturenut

I'm very, very new here, graphicgr8s so I had no idea it has been discussed before. Sorry.

I am sorry also. Didn't mean to come off so gruff.

Nerdold Nerdith · 03-02-2010, 01:55 PM

Well, this is one term that gets thrown around and misused quite too often. A professional anything is someone who makes 100% of his or her income off of the certain activity. A semi-professional is someone who makes part of his or her living off of a certain activity. An amateur is someone who has something like photography as a hobby and makes no steady income from it. There are different types of amateurs who will having a varying degree of interest in their hobby.
If ______ is your profession (career), then you are a professional ________.

Peter Zack · 03-02-2010, 02:01 PM

Originally posted by Naturenut

I'm very, very new here, graphicgr8s so I had no idea it has been discussed before. Sorry.

George is a jerk, he knows it and so do we

, just ignore him. (that was tongue firmly in cheek George)

Anyway here with CPPA, you are considered Professional if you make 51% of your income from photography. For some reason that income level also seems to match the poverty line some months

graphicgr8s · 03-02-2010, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

George is a jerk, he knows it and so do we

, just ignore him. (that was tongue firmly in cheek George)

Anyway here with CPPA, you are considered Professional if you make 51% of your income from photography. For some reason that income level also seems to match the poverty line some months

Peter I could plant my size 13 shoe firmly in your butt you know.

(Just kidding. I don't have a size 13. It's only a size 12)

Clicker · 03-02-2010, 02:15 PM

Not "uncle Bob"

George Lama · 03-02-2010, 09:12 PM

Originally posted by Cosmo

Someone whose income is through their photography. Semi pro is someone who needs a second job to sustain themselves.

In this case, a good number of professional photographers would qualify as semi-pro, only because they need the "second job" to pay for the insurance they couldn't afford otherwise.

Damn Brit · 03-03-2010, 01:07 AM

You could consider any photographer that gets paid to be a professional, that would be the loosest definition to us but as far as the general public is concerned it would be true.
Getting paid and deserving to be paid are often two different things though.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/professional-photography-business/92264-h...tographer.html

03-02-2010, 10:00 AM	#1
Naturenut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: northeast USA Posts: 273	Define professional As sort of an off-shoot of a [silly] topic I posted in general discussions, I'm curious as to how all of you folks would define a [credible] professional photographer. I'd love to hear your opinions/criteria as to what YOU think qualifies and/or doesn't qualify. I think it might make for an interesting discussion.

03-02-2010, 10:57 AM	#7
Naturenut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: northeast USA Posts: 273 Original Poster	Sorry Originally posted by graphicgr8s This has been "explained" here before. Why rehash it? I'm very, very new here, graphicgr8s so I had no idea it has been discussed before. Sorry.

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03-02-2010, 10:16 AM	#2
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/general-talk/32238-photography-professional.html

03-02-2010, 10:20 AM	#3
graphicgr8s Guest	This has been "explained" here before. Why rehash it?

03-02-2010, 10:25 AM	#4
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	I know others disagree with this definition, but I consider anyone who charges for their photography to be a professional photographer. I see it kinda like being an actor. Once someone willingly steps on a stage, they automatically become an actor. They may be a really, really BAD actor, but they're an actor, all the same.

03-02-2010, 10:33 AM	#5
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	no, thats just a GWC.

03-02-2010, 10:56 AM	#6
Cosmo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 488	Someone whose income is through their photography. Semi pro is someone who needs a second job to sustain themselves.

03-02-2010, 11:00 AM	#8
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275	Well, you could use the criteria that the major camera manufacturers use to define "a professional" and control access to their "professional" support services... 50% or more of your income must be derived from photography in order for them to consider you a professional. And good or bad generally doesn't enter into it, just what you earn. Mike

03-02-2010, 11:29 AM	#9
graphicgr8s Guest	Originally posted by Naturenut I'm very, very new here, graphicgr8s so I had no idea it has been discussed before. Sorry. I am sorry also. Didn't mean to come off so gruff.

03-02-2010, 01:55 PM	#10
Nerdold Nerdith Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 26	Well, this is one term that gets thrown around and misused quite too often. A professional anything is someone who makes 100% of his or her income off of the certain activity. A semi-professional is someone who makes part of his or her living off of a certain activity. An amateur is someone who has something like photography as a hobby and makes no steady income from it. There are different types of amateurs who will having a varying degree of interest in their hobby. If ______ is your profession (career), then you are a professional ________.

03-02-2010, 02:01 PM	#11
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	Originally posted by Naturenut I'm very, very new here, graphicgr8s so I had no idea it has been discussed before. Sorry. George is a jerk, he knows it and so do we , just ignore him. (that was tongue firmly in cheek George) Anyway here with CPPA, you are considered Professional if you make 51% of your income from photography. For some reason that income level also seems to match the poverty line some months

03-02-2010, 02:15 PM	#12
graphicgr8s Guest	Originally posted by Peter Zack George is a jerk, he knows it and so do we , just ignore him. (that was tongue firmly in cheek George) Anyway here with CPPA, you are considered Professional if you make 51% of your income from photography. For some reason that income level also seems to match the poverty line some months Peter I could plant my size 13 shoe firmly in your butt you know. (Just kidding. I don't have a size 13. It's only a size 12)

03-02-2010, 02:15 PM	#13
Clicker Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,241	Not "uncle Bob"

03-02-2010, 09:12 PM	#14
George Lama Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Buffalo/Rochester, NY Photos: Albums Posts: 1,133	Originally posted by Cosmo Someone whose income is through their photography. Semi pro is someone who needs a second job to sustain themselves. In this case, a good number of professional photographers would qualify as semi-pro, only because they need the "second job" to pay for the insurance they couldn't afford otherwise.

03-03-2010, 01:07 AM	#15
Damn Brit Guest	You could consider any photographer that gets paid to be a professional, that would be the loosest definition to us but as far as the general public is concerned it would be true. Getting paid and deserving to be paid are often two different things though. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/professional-photography-business/92264-h...tographer.html

Define professional

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