Can i be classed as a Pro?

Am I a pro?

  • Yes

    Votes: 31 45.6%

  • No

    Votes: 37 54.4%
  • Total voters
    68
My photos are on packets of soup, but I would'nt call myself a pro!
 
I'm in the "If you need to ask you're not" camp.
 
Dangleman said:
My photo insurance people (photoguard) make this question really simple to answer. According to them if 50% or more of your total income is from photography you are 'professional'. If up to 50% you are 'semi-professional'.

I think that's quite a neat way of pocketing yourself into a group, if you reaaaallly feel you need to.
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was about to post the exact same thing :thumbs:
 
I'm another one who's going to say - if you earn money from it and it's a main source (or high source) of income, then you are a pro. How good you may or may not be is a different matter.
 
GFWilliams said:
I don't earn high amounts from photography, but It is my only source of income...
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Forgive me for asking, but I seem to recall you're only quite a young whipper snapper of a lad :) - is it your only source of income as you're still at school/ in education? If so then you'd be 'pushing it' calling yourself a pro to be brutally honest.
 
Dangleman said:
Forgive me for asking, but I seem to recall you're only quite a young whipper snapper of a lad :) - is it your only source of income as you're still at school/ in education? If so then you'd be 'pushing it' calling yourself a pro to be brutally honest.
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Yep I am, brutally honest, but fair?
 
GFWilliams said:
Yep I am, brutally honest, but fair?
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Being fair George, is being honest to you, whether you like the answer or not.

You take some very good photographs and your learning very quickly, it's effortless to see that your passion for your subjects resides in your images, but just like me, you have much more to learn, much more to experience.

Being a professional is also about consistency, coming up with the goods in a ****storm and not just about income.

Earlier in the thread, there was a mention of an insurance companies classification of professional, this is really quite funny when you think about it, 'My insurance company says I'm a pro!'

Since when have folk been able to trust or genuinely appreciate the moral fiber of insurance companies? :lol:

As mentioned before, just be happy that your a photographer and a good one. Your in for a fun ride mate, and you have talent.

Just be honest with yourself. :thumbs:
 
Tomas Whitehouse said:
Being fair George, is being honest to you, whether you like the answer or not.
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Yup. Remember, there are no hard and fast rules in this game though, and the definitions are very wooly as already discussed.

Also, I'm only giving you my opinion buddy. But, I am always right :p
 
I think that the definition should be, to call yourself a professional photographer,

that you are taking money for a job, where the primary purpose of your task is to take photographs to a reasonable/atained standard.

1) This means that if you take a small photo, then take 10 hours to make a montage on the computer, I would class this as a computer artist mainly, the photography was a second to that

2) The atained standard should either be through recognised qualifications, OR , being of a good-enough standard that you receive repeat jobs (from the same person or recommendation). i.e. have received a qualification of being capable through a peer.
Some people just know what makes a good photo/scene, and don't need to go to school to be told (no offence intended to those who do get qualifications).
 
I agree that if you have to ask then you're not.

I earn money from photography but it's not my sole source of income and I'm in year 2 of weddings so I don't call myself a professional photographer. In fact, I'm not sure I'd ever call myself a professional photographer; just a photographer.

To the OP: Personally I wouldn't call you a pro either, just a photographer. I admire your work and I think you'll go far :)
 
I think we are over thinking this, according to something I read! If you have a small compact then you are semi pro, if you then move onto said compact with a more powerful flash and hot shoe, you can truely declare yourself a professional!

:lol:
 
My brother and myself both drive, we both have clean driving licenses, my brother isn't that great a driver and doesn't pay much attention to speed limits or letting others out of junctions.

Which one of us is the 'Professional Driver'????

Well he is, as he is a Courier, I'm an Architectural Technologist.

Pro just means you earn a living from it.

I will always call myself a photographer as it's something I enjoy.

Who cares if your a Pro or not, all people will care about is the work you produce.

Being called a Pro doesn't make your work any better than anyone else's. Being a good photographer does whether you are an amatuer or a pro.
 
MarkWoodhall22 said:
I think we are over thinking this, according to something I read! If you have a small compact then you are semi pro, if you then move onto said compact with a more powerful flash and hot shoe, you can truely declare yourself a professional!

:lol:
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Not forgetting a telephoto lens, that's when I turned pro :D
 
This topic was actually defined by one of the main pro bodies but cannot remember if it was the BIPP or MPA. Basically a photographer can describe himself as a professional if:
It is his main source of income (allowing for other income coming from investments or pensions etc).
Submits yearly accounts to HMRC.
Carries the appropriate insurances such as public liability.

although there was no reference to any standard or level of work but was assumed anyone who was earing revenue would be of a "certain" standard.The MPA now take into account other factors when granting qualifications.

I think it also fair to say a "Semi Professional" would be classed as someone who is in permanent full/part time employment but fulfills the other criteria of accounts and insurances.

In the past some have questioned this description and believe "professional" is conducting yourself in the correct manner and producing a standard of work to a high level. I always disagree with the latter as there are many fine amateurs producing images to a far higher standard than some pro's yet have no interest in earning any revenue from their hobby.
 
Hehe, this thread reminds me of when you see descriptions in the dating columns (not that I trawl through them of course :nono: )...

"Professional gentleman seeks professional lady for romance and possibly more" etc. I always wondered to myself "hmmmm does that mean he's a gentleman for a living or is he just good at it?" :D
 
Years ago, my full time job and only form of income was as a photographer for a local newspaper. Time was spent equally split between being out in the field, and being in the darkroom.

I was, at the time a full time pro photographer......It didn't make my pictures any better though.
 
if this is so you can pick up 'chicks' and your full time occupation is something rather unglamorous like a telephone assembly line manager...then yes...you are a PRO! "you've got great bone structure...have my card!"
 
GFWilliams said:
Hi,

I'm wondering if I can class myself as a professional photographer.. I earn money from my photography, and am at a standard that I am happy with..

What do you think?
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if you earn 80% or more of your income from photography then you can consider yourself a pro, if you don't then you are an amature
 
billybob99 said:
I took a photo for my neighbour to sell his motorised trailer (which he did) and he gave me 8 cans of Stella so what does that make me? LOL
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:lol: Well judging by the perceptions of some and on the premise that you got 8 tins of Stella everyday, = you'd be a professional drunk :lol:
 
....but only if Stella was his main source of alcohol!
 
You do realise that if you decide to term yourself as a 'Pro' then you'll have to start talking about yourself in the 3rd person don't you?;)
 
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