Professional, amateur and interesting photos.

[raydm6]

Vivian Maier was a photographer whose work was unknown until after her death.

So, unpaid, unknown, she made amazing photos. She was a great photographer.

What you are doing makes you a photographer also.

Bingo! She came to mind. My thoughts exactly.

For me, I think I've become more of an amateur vintage camera collector who shoots occasional photographs. 😛

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

I doubt that Vivian Maier was concerned about whether or not she could call herself a photographer.

I think that creative talented people do what they do because they want to/need to do it. If a person feels the need to wear a name tag that says “Hi, my name is Joe and I’m a Photographer”, well, go for it. I don’t care; does anybody care?

Vincent Van Gogh never sold a single painting while he was alive. People thought his paintings sucked. My, my, my.

In my opinion it’s best to leave the label of whether or not one is worthy of being called a photographer to the people that view your photographs. A true artistic photographer should only be concerned with creating the best images that he or she can.

Having said all that, I bet the world of commercial, money making professional photographers and photojournalists is very competitive and all my lofty artsy fartsy opinions are just a bunch of hot air to that hardworking group of people.

Have a nice day,
Mike

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Hi Ko.Fe,

For years I was a professional photographer, as I was paid to do it; it was my living and my sole income.

If labels are required... now I am retired I consider myself an amateur (and proud of it!), as I take photos for my own interest and benefit, without payment; it’s a hobby.

Photographer is as photographer does. Some get paid, some don’t.

So, the right answer in English is amateur photographer in my case?
In Russian it is common to say something like photography liker. Someone who likes photography.
I just can’t call my self photographer. I did few times and people asked me to be available for their weddings or take their manufacturing site photos.

 

[css9450]

I just can’t call my self photographer. I did few times and people asked me to be available for their weddings or take their manufacturing site photos.

Its OK to tell them no. Maybe tell them weddings and industrial sites aren't your area of expertise. There are numerous genres of photography and they all have their merits and their specialists.

 

[jawarden]

I just can’t call my self photographer. I did few times and people asked me to be available for their weddings or take their manufacturing site photos.

That's the best reason to avoid calling yourself a photographer. "Oh you're a photographer? Great I've got this cool gig for you - now, it doesn't pay anything but you'll meet all these special people....."

😉

 

[jsrockit]

I really like doing photography is all I say.

 

[Kamurah]

I wouldn't want to be labelled as a professional photographer in today's society. My wife gets shots with her iPhone that make me cringe considering the amount of money I have invested in equipment...some of them are that good. This emboldens everyone to be a critic...."I could get just as good a shot on my phone....why are we paying him / her?" I would hate to have to constantly convince myself I was doing a good job. At that point, the enjoyment is lost, and you might as well find a job that pays better.

Technology, to a degree, has become the great equalizer. When I was making a living at photography, there was a distinct 'dividing line' between the general public and a pro. It was (I like to believe) fairly easy to see. I was able to do things with a camera and film that presented as a level of expertise. There was a degree of knowledge and precision required. Pro grade equipment was required. There was study, trial and error, and rigor applied to the process. I am mainly talking about the technical aspects of photography here, not the innate talent one may have in their 'eye'.

To illustrate, the sheer volume of amazing images on photo sharing sites is astounding. Is it that EVERYONE got better? No. Technology got better, and the layman doesn't really know the difference. In the past, there may have been just as many amazing compositions that were otherwise ruined by poor exposure, bad film emulsion or wrong film choice, lousy equipment, whatever. Remember, there were a number of years where the average camera that average people took with them was a 'disposable'. Fixed focus, fixed aperture, fixed shutter speed, and a plastic body and lens. Even a cheap smartphone is leagues away from that....and it allows you to edit / correct / enhance on the fly.

To the OP: I would say call yourself whatever makes you happy or inspires you to take more photos.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

That's the best reason to avoid calling yourself a photographer. "Oh you're a photographer? Great I've got this cool gig for you - now, it doesn't pay anything but you'll meet all these special people....."

😉

I have got paid offers, just not into it.
But you are right.

Оur daughter quit from photographer job. She would do her job, they would use it, but no pay.
Canada is turning to third world on this.
We have known gas technician coming to our house and he told us about increased cases of no pay.
Our family friend company where he is accouter was turned into bankruptcy by City on Montreal. Those frogsters refused to pay for multi-million dollars contract. But they proclaimed this job as landmark.
Then they added few stops for Toronto subway and some high level politicians came to take someone else pride for job, hundreds of contractors where protesting. They were not paid for their job after it was done.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

To the OP: I would say call yourself whatever makes you happy or inspires you to take more photos.

It is inside of me. Just like breathing. I don't need names to have it in me.
I just would like to be correct with my answer then people are asking me.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Its OK to tell them no. Maybe tell them weddings and industrial sites aren't your area of expertise. There are numerous genres of photography and they all have their merits and their specialists.

Mine has zero merits for most. It is called candid, street photography. So, maybe I just have to tell - I'm street photographer? But I photograph local events and share, give photos for publishing for free. Documentary photographer? Then someone asks me to volunteer as photographer on local events, I do it.

 

[jsrockit]

Mine has zero merits for most. It is called candid, street photography. So, maybe I just have to tell - I'm street photographer? But I photograph local events and share, give photos for publishing for free. Documentary photographer? Then someone asks me to volunteer as photographer on local events, I do it.

Your hobby is photography.

 

[chipgreenberg]

Our you could give them a funny look and say, "No. Why would you think that?" and go on doing what you do

Mine has zero merits for most. It is called candid, street photography. So, maybe I just have to tell - I'm street photographer? But I photograph local events and share, give photos for publishing for free. Documentary photographer? Then someone asks me to volunteer as photographer on local events, I do it.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Your hobby is photography.

Good suggestion. I could answer like this.

 

[webOSUser]

I just like the chemistry and the smell of fixer.

Same here. 🙂

 

[David Hughes]

The real trouble is that the word "professional" has been over used and lost its meaning; like the "silver" coins* in my pocket...


Perhaps we should continue to use words like "amateur" and "hobby" and find a new word for the people who earn a living from it?


OTOH even"amateur" has lost its meaning.


Regards, David




*They were silver up to the 1946/47 issue.

 

[Brian Atherton]

It’s not that ‘professional’ and ‘amateur’ have lost their meaning, it’s to do with people using the words incorrectly:

Amateur:
noun
1 a person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid basis
2 a person who is contemptibly inept at a particular activity.

adjective
1 engaging or engaged in without payment; non-professional
2 done in an inept or unskilful way.

Professional
noun
1 a person engaged or qualified in a profession
2 a person engaged in a specified activity, especially a sport, as a main paid occupation rather than as a pastime
3 a person competent or skilled in a particular activity.

adjective
1 relating to or belonging to a profession: worthy of or appropriate to a professional person; competent, skilful, or assured
2 engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as an amateur
3 habitually making a feature of a particular activity or attribute.

 

[LCSmith]

It’s not that ‘professional’ and ‘amateur’ have lost their meaning, it’s to do with people using the words incorrectly:

Amateur:
noun
1 a person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid basis
2 a person who is contemptibly inept at a particular activity.

adjective
1 engaging or engaged in without payment; non-professional
2 done in an inept or unskilful way.

Professional
noun
1 a person engaged or qualified in a profession
2 a person engaged in a specified activity, especially a sport, as a main paid occupation rather than as a pastime
3 a person competent or skilled in a particular activity.

adjective
1 relating to or belonging to a profession: worthy of or appropriate to a professional person; competent, skilful, or assured
2 engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as an amateur
3 habitually making a feature of a particular activity or attribute.

I'm afraid this is a rather blunt sword as a lexical entry.

Everyone who speaks English as a vernacular knows the vulgar meaning of "amateur" as being "non-professional". But words also have more specific, technical meanings. See David's reference to Latin amāre, to be fond of or to love.

Thus the first entry in the Oxford English Dictionary for "amateur" is: one who loves or is fond of.

This is the original meaning of the word and the way it was used in art circles and still is used in art circles. Not as "bad artist" but as "artist uninterested in money".

 

[Brian Atherton]

...reference to Latin amāre, to be fond of or to love.

Thus the first entry in the Oxford English Dictionary for "amateur" is: one who loves or is fond of...

Yes. Thank you. My dictionary has the same but due to problematic eyesight I left out the above. :bang:

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

Man, what a thread!
I like photography because of the gear. The nice surprise is I enjoy some of the pictures that I get.

 

[Pál_K]

So, the right answer in English is amateur photographer in my case?
In Russian it is common to say something like photography liker. Someone who likes photography.
I just can’t call my self photographer. I did few times and people asked me to be available for their weddings or take their manufacturing site photos.

"amateur" seems to be the perfect word to describe someone who likes or loves doing something.

According to Wikipedia, the word comes from Latin, "amare" [to love] to "amator" [lover] to Italian "amatore" and from there to French "amateur" to English.