Are you a photographer or someone who owns a camera ?

mrgas

mrgas

Suspended / Banned
Messages
3,420
Edit My Images
Yes
Title says it all really

How do you define being a photographer ? do you need to be doing it for a living ?

Are us that are doing it for a hobby simply people who own a camera ?

This isn't aimed at either group of people i am interested in peoples take on things

I'm off out to work now be interesting to see what you think

thanks
 
This will open a good can of worms:bang:
Do you take photographs or do you look and collect gear
 
This has been done to death on this and just about every other photo forum out there. Basically, there's the dictionary definition of a photographer. And then there's everyone's personal interpretation of the word. None of which matter at all. ;)

Then you can start putting words like 'professional' and 'amateur' in front of it and have a whole new argument. :)
 
At this moment neither
 
i own a camera to take photos, so I guess that makes me a photographer :)
 
When you are on the street, are you a pedestrian, or someone that owns a pair of feet?

Like someone suggested, everyone's interpretation is different... don't worry about it; enjoy what you do, make a buck, or enjoy a cuppa...
 
I would LOVE to be a photographer, and have the upmost respect for those talented enough to make a living at it, or just enjoy it as a very good hobby, but for the moment I feel that I am someone who owns a camera :) Maybe one day......
 
Michael Bosanko said:
When you are on the street, are you a pedestrian, or someone that owns a pair of feet?

Like someone suggested, everyone's interpretation is different... don't worry about it; enjoy what you do, make a buck, or enjoy a cuppa...
Click to expand...

very true,

I own a pair of decks does that make me a DJ, technically yes, but it's whether I consider myself to be as such :)
 
I see photos even when I haven't got my camera with me (which is rare) so I would say photographer :D
 
I bought a spanner the other day... anyone want to pay me to fix their car? I'm really experienced, honest...
 
Well I would say " Ive got all the gear but NO Idea" lol
 
My sig quote sums me up...
 
I draw with light and own a few cameras

:)
 
GrittyShaker said:
Sounds more like you're an amateur, to me. I wouldn't pay you to fix my car any more than you would pay for a photoshoot from an amateur photographer such as myself.
Click to expand...

but alot of amatuers are better than 'proffesionals'

just because someone earns money from photography doesnt mean they are better than those who dont.. thats what i really hate about this forum... the professionals who think they are better than the hobbiest's and amateurs.

rant over.
 
The camera is just a tool, so am I. Perhaps I can use this to my advantage :thinking:
 
andiphoto said:
but alot of amatuers are better than 'proffesionals'

just because someone earns money from photography doesnt mean they are better than those who dont.. thats what i really hate about this forum... the professionals who think they are better than the hobbiest's and amateurs.

rant over.
Click to expand...

7/10 for rant effort. ;)

That's not really the point I was making though. Amateur or professional, they're all photographers. That's what I was getting at. I'm on your side. :)
 
I'm not a photographer, I happen to have a camera and I happen to take pictures.
Seriously, NOTHING gets on my nerves than someone calling themselves/myself a photographer just because they/I own a camera..
 
i,m a tog (apparently) :lol: :thumbs: surely any one who takes a photo is a photographer, even if only for that 125th of a second.

or to quote monty pyphon "i,m a photographer and so is my wife" :lol:
 
dinorock said:
surely any one who takes a photo is a photographer, even if only for that 125th of a second.
Click to expand...

Of course they are. It's the very definition of a photographer. I think it's people getting precious about the dictionary definition that's causing the issue.

I drive a car, therefore I'm a driver, but Hamilton isn't getting worked up about it.
 
GrittyShaker said:
Of course they are. It's the very definition of a photographer. I think it's people getting precious about the dictionary definition that's causing the issue.

I drive a car, therefore I'm a driver, but Hamilton isn't getting worked up about it.
Click to expand...

But the word photographer is usually used to mean that one is professional at taking pictures, if I sat down with a stranger and said "I'm a photographer" they would probably assume that I meant I was professional.
I know really anyone can call themselves a photographer and there is technically nothing wrong with that, but isn't it better for them to say "I am an amateur photographer" rather than just "I'm a photographer"? It can be quite misleading and can cause a lot of confusion.
 
SamuelHearn said:
But the word photographer is usually used to mean that one is professional at taking pictures, if I sat down with a stranger and said "I'm a photographer" they would probably assume that I meant I was professional.
I know really anyone can call themselves a photographer and there is technically nothing wrong with that, but isn't it better for them to say "I am an amateur photographer" rather than just "I'm a photographer"? It can be quite misleading and can cause a lot of confusion.
Click to expand...

It is better for them to say that, and that's what I would say to a stranger myself (although in reality I'm more of a novice). I wouldn't say "I'm a person that owns a camera" or "I happen to have a camera and I happen to take pictures". That would just make me look like a nutjob.

Although what would be likely to happen is that the stranger would be entering into a conversation with me (assuming I hadn't literally just sat next to them and announced "I'm a photographer", in which case they would probably get up and run away), and they would then ask if I do it professionally, at which point I could clarify.

It's not much different to saying "I'm a cyclist", if you happen to ride your bike to work. It doesn't mean they're sitting next to Lance Armstrong.
 
GrittyShaker said:
It doesn't mean they're sitting next to Lance Armstrong.
Click to expand...

This is what I mean, it isn't assumed with many other things (like cycling..) but with photography, if you say "I'm a photographer" many people are likely to assume that means you are a professional. This what I've found anyway..
 
I think it depends on the context. When would you ever be given the opportunity to say "I'm a photographer" to a stranger?

It would either be if they asked "What do you do for a living?", in which case you would be answering as a pro: "I'm a photographer".

Or, "What do you do in your spare time?".
The hobbyist/amateur would say: "I'm a photographer".

In neither instance has the stranger been misled, and nor would they assume incorrectly, unless they were an idiot, in which case I wouldn't be chatting to them in the first place.
 
I am a photographer, father, husband, entrepreneur, web designer, trustee and coordinator of a charity, geek, wine collector and many other things. Fortunately none of these are my day job…
 
GrittyShaker said:
Concisely put. :D
Click to expand...

Thank you :D


I don't know what difference it makes anyway, or why anyone would care who calls themselves what :shrug:

People often make judgements when you tell them what you do for a living, almost as if you job defines who you are and what you are like as a person. Pathetic really.

For this reason, I actually don't tell people I'm a togger, the boring conversation that inevitably follows this revelation is same old same old, it's like my own private groundhog day...do you do page 3/Who is the most famous person you've photographed/I've taken some great shots on my phone, can I work in your studio/my camera is broken, what is wrong with it/I used to work for Kodak...yadayadayada

When people ask what I do for a living, I tell lies so at least I can amuse myself a little. My current favourite job lie is 'I'm a biscuit designer for McVities.' I claim the credit for the caramel digestive, and the strawberry jam flavour jaffa cake. People believe it, too.:D

In the past, I have also been a greengrocer, a BSB motorbike test rider, and a professional chat show guest. I liked that one, told people I got paid to appear on Trisha/Jeremy Kyle type chat shows :D
 
I've been a rally driver before, when I was on holiday with a mate ("my co-driver"). It did the trick, and seemed to impress the girls we were chatting to much more than if we'd said "we're students". :D
 
and of course, most unemployed people become entrepeneurs, currently between ventures ;)
 
andiphoto said:
but alot of amatuers are better than 'proffesionals'

just because someone earns money from photography doesnt mean they are better than those who dont.. thats what i really hate about this forum... the professionals who think they are better than the hobbiest's and amateurs.

rant over.
Click to expand...

TBH, I only know one 'professional' here who is actually like that - an arrogant jumped up toilet brush :lol:

not mentioning any name as that isn't fair, though.
 
I take plenty of snaps and even a few photographs. I've even sold some of both and have today been taking a few interior shots for a hotel's website (might even get a reward for doing them!) Still count myself among the ranks of the amateurs.

Own several cameras not just the one.
 
Used to be a photographer, now i'm a happy snapper:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top