The difference between a Pro and an Hobby photog is simple.

1. Can consistantly produce professional grade images (not just style) i.e. CORRECT color correction, and image adjustments that would qualify for competition density. Consistantly can produce “tack-sharp” images at any given moment and has level of quality equipment to produce said results (Hi-res digital negatives, pro-end optics that ensure low chromatic aberration, sharpness, color)

2. Can offer the client pro grade printed materials that meet museum archival standards and density, while managing copyright and film/data archival service that would ensure long term negative preservation

This article is trying to romanticized professional photography, but Pro photography is a business and is not about art or passion, it’s about results. And so yes, a pro does think about how to get more equipment, tools of the trade to refine his/her craft and marketability… a teenager with a point and shoot daydreams of images and wispy dreams of being paid to do fun things.

Simply put, Any professional can be an artist, but not every artist can be a professional.

In my opinion.

With today’s economy people are going for the cheaper option and sacrificing the quality.

I have the utmost respect for professional photographers and hopefully skill and a bit of education will weed out those “professionals” out there.

I completely agree, I know just as many “amateur” photographers who are incredible photographers. But if they just do it for their own enjoyment, they will always remain hobbyists.

Becoming professional is all about the money, or the business side. If you want to make it into a business, you have to take it to the next level.

I have to say, I disagree with almost everything in this post; for one very good reason: all professionals started out as amateurs.

To belittle someone by describing them as an amateur in the way you are describing is demeaning and does you, them, and everyone in the industry no favours.

I’ve met some professional photographers who I wouldn’t recommend to a soul, because their work is (in my view) sub standard and no-one should pay them for it when they can get better for less. I’ve also met amateurs who I would describe in the same fashion. However, I have met far more amateurs whose work I would recommend than professionals. The difference there being that amateurs are constantly innovating their own work, trying to make themselves stand out; and professionals think they have ‘made it’ and that they have enough talent to be a professional.

Now you may have noticed me using the word ‘amateur’ there. My personal view is that a professional is someone who makes their sole income from photography. However, the term ‘amateur’ is far more difficult to pin down.

I, for example, am not an amateur. I know what I’m doing, and I’m a bloody good photographer. I do, however, work 35 hours a week at a 9-5 job. The rest of the time, I’m a photographer. I’m trying to build my photography business so that my income is sufficient enough that I can give up my 9-5 job.

So I’ll ask you this, what does that make me? An amateur? Hobbyist? Wannabe? Or simply part-time? I’m not going to define myself with any prefix.

I’m just a photographer.

Genuine Passion

This accusation disturbed me into going to the local library where it was my habit to check out the old 20 volume O.E.D. Encyclopedia of the English Language. My hobby now is the history of words and their usages in all times and locations after making the most excellent discovery that every letter is a picture. I photocopied all four pages under the heading of “professional”. Then went back to the studio and read all the quotes to see what professional really means. I found this little gem amongst them. A reference to usage during the 1840′s in a newspaper article about a musical performance of a band of amateur musicians.

” It seems the amateurs are as good as the professional.”.

I highlighted that point with one of those neat little 3m marker pens and put all four pages in an envelope with no return letter of apology and posted it and smiled.

Was it professional to do that or not?

The word professional gained its usage from the military. The military establishment took on the work that word now does for us and press ganged it into service for the benefit of we, the residents in the 20th/21st centuries. The Military was not paid before that word was pressed into service but gained their income from rape, pillage and plunder only during the event of war. A full time military profession is a recent phenomena. They were amateur before they became professional?

I was not impressed by the criticism I faced from the video guy when after all is said and donel I was looking for the best pictorial viewpoint while his “MOVIE” camera was sitting on a tripod when I know for a FACT movie cameras just love movement and action in front of them. Your honor/honorees I rest my case, may the jury retire to consider their verdict? Was I not a respected guest at that wedding and since that was the case then why should my action not be present in the record of the said event?