Do you consider yourself a photographer?

Kryptix

Kryptix

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Yes
If so, why?

Lately I've been told despite owning photography gear, being interested in photography, (being told) that I'm good at photography and earning money from photography isn't enough to be known as a photographer.

I wanted to know your views on that.

I always thought anyone with a camera who enjoyed taking pictures was a photographer. Have I got this wrong?

Am I a photographer?
 
I fix my own car but I ain't an engineer

but I hold my camera correctly so I'm half way there, no?
 
Kryptix said:
Lately I've been told despite owning photography gear, being interested in photography, (being told) that I'm good at photography and earning money from photography isn't enough to be known as a photographer.
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Did they say what they thought was enough to be known as a photographer in their (no doubt humble) opinion?
 
I think the person who told you that is getting confused between a "photographer" and a "professional photographer".

The moment you take a photograph you are by default, a photographer.
 
Shinkansen said:
The moment you take a photograph you are by default, a photographer.
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Does that mean that if I run for a bus that makes me a runner?

If you saw me try, you would have to agree that this was not the case!

I have a camera and I take pictures. If it's a DSLR does that make me more of a photographer than using a £20 P&S?

I personally do not consider myself a photographer, I would bracket myself as someone who enjoys photography. I think there is a difference.
 
pho⋅tog⋅ra⋅pher  /fəˈtɒgrəfər/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [fuh-tog-ruh-fer] Show IPA
–noun a person who takes photographs, esp. one who practices photography professionally.


taken from dictonary, so from reading that i would say yes you are a photographer
 
in that case some sort of respect/acknowledgment by peers is also necessary?

ie you've been paid, you take photos but still not a photographer

who is this mysterious judgement passer?
 
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr once said:-

"To be is to do" Socrates.
"To do is to be" Jean-Paul Sartre.
"Do be do be do" Frank Sinatra.

the first two philosophers seem to imply that if you are doing photography then you are a photographer, as for Frank...well he just liked to be photographed a lot!
 
I play a bit of guitar and occasionally people will ask about my guitar playing, and I have a saying. " There are guitar owners and there are guitar players"

I am an owner

for me its the same with photography, I own some camera gear and I take some pics. I would love to call myself a photographer one day but through out my life I have learnt the basics of so many things but never mastered any,
But then my goal is not to be known as a photographer
To have a few pics up in a cafe or similar would be great.
 
clud17 said:
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr once said:-

"To be is to do" Socrates.
"To do is to be" Jean-Paul Sartre.
"Do be do be do" Frank Sinatra.

the first two philosophers seem to imply that if you are doing photography then you are a photographer, as for Frank...well he just liked to be photographed a lot!
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:clap::clap::lol::lol:
 
I thought that these days the more expensive, heavy and overblown your kit the better the photographer you are considered to be.

Or have I missed something? ;)
 
walls said:
I fix my own car but I ain't an engineer

but I hold my camera correctly so I'm half way there, no?
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No, but you might be a mechanic. An engineer doesn't mend cars.

As for what a photographer is. Does it matter what others think? If you think you are a photographer, isn't that enough?
 
Whilst you are taking photographs you are a photographer.
Whilst you are runninig for the bus you are a runner.
Whilst you are playing football you are a footballer.

These are nouns that describe an action, not proficiency or profession.
 
If you get up in the morning take photographs that day with ther intintion to make money from it. you ARE a Professional photographer. If you finish work go out take photographs for fun you are a photographer.

I dont have any other income other than what I get in from my photos so yes I am a Professional Photographer as of January this year.

Michael
 
grumpybadger said:
No, but you might be a mechanic. An engineer doesn't mend cars.
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Don't get me started on that one :D , No engineers sit around all day infront of a computer :thinking: and drinking tea :lol: we don't get dirt

I take photographs because I like to record a snap shot moment in time, I don't do it for the money, I do it because its a release from normal day to day life of going to work, I'm I a less photographer than someone who does it for a living, probably not, we might have different degrees of ability and equipment, but at the end of the day we both take photographs, whats in a job title, nowadays everyone under the sun can call themselves an Engineer in this country, whats the differnce apart from respect from your peers.
 
Yes I do consider myself 'a photographer' and if you wish to consider yourself a photographer and you do indeed take photographs then so can you.

Anyone can call themselves, and therefore be, a photographer. In the literal sense

But they can also be a bad photographer. Not talking about you btw! Just saying that what makes a name worth something are the pictures themselves
 
Sure you are, we all are. But selling a few pics to mates doesn't really make you professional.
 
Kryptix said:
Lately I've been told despite owning photography gear, being interested in photography, (being told) that I'm good at photography and earning money from photography isn't enough to be known as a photographer.
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Interesting way to start a debate.

Sounds like it's whoever told you this has the problem, not you. A partner who doesn't like the money you spent perhaps?
 
Do we ask the same question of a Baker or shoe mender or carpenter?
I think not ... although we might have some skill in these trades we would prefix the term with amateur.

To be consistent we should do the same for photography.

If one were a true polymath and expert in a wide range of skills including photography, one would still not call oneself a photographer, but simply say that it was one of your skills.

A person who has photography as their main trade or profession is a Photographer.
An amateur, however skilled, remains an Amateur Photographer.

As An Amateur I am skilled in Joinery and wood turning, Professionally I have managed departments that include Photography, graphic design, Litho printing, High speed Laser printing, and print buying; I have been skilled and able to contribute in all of them. However at the time I did not claim the title to any of them, but was called a Print and Photographic manager. My initial education and training was as a photographer.

I have always been primarily a photographer.
 
I've been making chocolates, does this make me a chocolatier:D
 
pete.rush said:
Don't get me started on that one :D , No engineers sit around all day infront of a computer :thinking: and drinking tea :lol: we don't get dirt

I take photographs because I like to record a snap shot moment in time, I don't do it for the money, I do it because its a release from normal day to day life of going to work, I'm I a less photographer than someone who does it for a living, probably not, we might have different degrees of ability and equipment, but at the end of the day we both take photographs, whats in a job title, nowadays everyone under the sun can call themselves an Engineer in this country, whats the differnce apart from respect from your peers.
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Nice one Pete.

Pro togs work damn hard to get the work. There is more to being a tog than taking a snap. They have to live and breath it almost 24/7...I can walk away and just leave the camera in the bag if the moods not right.

By the way I am an engineer (Bsc mechanical) by name. I was trained as a mechanical apprentice for the C.E.G.B and I am now a shift leader (assistant shift charge engineer in old money)...I hardly ever get my hands dirty now:'(
 
I think anyone who is into photography... I.e considers it a hobby... rather than someone who just wants to take some memory snaps with a camera... can be considered a photographer.

I would ignore this persons point as to me it makes no sense... and is even a bit of a waste of time thinking about!

It's funny as well because I guess you could be a pro photographer... but get to the stage that you dont even enjoy it any more... It's just a job... or a skill they have that they are good at... maybe they might not consider themselves as a photographer.

I think in short anyone who uses this forum has an intrest in photography and could be considered a photographer... It's that simple a question!
 
What are you?
It's a difficult question to answer.

I consider myself to be nothing at the moment, I'm off work with stress and probably will not return to that job, I need a change.
So what am I? Nothing.

However, I do take photo's on an amateur basis, I also cook meals for myself and my girlfriend, drive places, fix thinks around the house. In the past I have built engines and put them in my car, built my own computer and represented the UK in a couple of international competitions.

So am I a lot of things? Am I an amateur everything?
 
By day I am a military arms dealer because that's what I get paid to do. However, I own 4 cameras, 5 lenses, 9 memory cards, 3 camera bags, 2 tripods, 1 monopod, 3 filters and most importantly of all, a TP Fleece. Therefore in the evenings and at the weekend I think I have all the qualifications I need to call myself a photographer, even if it is just a hobby.
 
funny arguement this

from friends that don't know much better, they consider me a photographer...was asked to do a friends wedding recently..why? because I had a camera and like taking pics.

I have a card, it says on it Photography...but not photographer...why?? ego I guess.
I consider myself an amateur photographer or more specifically a "happy snapper"

everything is relative.it depends upon the competancy of those around you in that particular field
 
walls said:
I fix my own car but I ain't an engineer

but I hold my camera correctly so I'm half way there, no?
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Engineers don't fix cars, Mechanics fix cars. In the same way engineers don't drive BT vans and hook up phone lines, sorry pet hate but the term Engineer s hideously abused in this country.

I don't call myself a photographer I just say I like taking pictures. If I was consistently good and or made some money out of it I would call myself a photographer. Similarly I don't call myself a guitarist just because I can play a dozen songs.
 
a1ex2001 said:
Engineers don't fix cars, Mechanics fix cars. In the same way engineers don't drive BT vans and hook up phone lines, sorry pet hate but the term Engineer s hideously abused in this country.

I don't call myself a photographer I just say I like taking pictures. If I was consistently good and or made some money out of it I would call myself a photographer. Similarly I don't call myself a guitarist just because I can play a dozen songs.
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Why wouldn't you call yourself a photographer? I'm not sure "photographer" is exactly a title that has to be earned. I take photos (very, very) occasionally for money but mostly for fun. Even if I didn't make any money from taking photos, I'd still consider myself a photographer. I go out for the sole purpose, or at least 95% of the sole purpose, of taking photographs. Therefore I'm a photographer.

I'm also a skateboarder and snowboarder. I don't get paid for it and I don't ride every day, but I'm a skateboarder and a snowboarder.
 
a1ex2001 said:
Engineers don't fix cars, Mechanics fix cars. In the same way engineers don't drive BT vans and hook up phone lines, sorry pet hate but the term Engineer s hideously abused in this country.

I don't call myself a photographer I just say I like taking pictures. If I was consistently good and or made some money out of it I would call myself a photographer. Similarly I don't call myself a guitarist just because I can play a dozen songs.
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When I'm doing engineering work, I'm an engineer. When I'm photographing, I'm a photographer. When I play my guitar, I'm a guitarist, etc, etc.

My view is that if it's what you are doing then that's what you are. You don't need to be paid or qualified (or even competent) for that to be true.

I like the fact that you used three of the things I do as examples!



Steve.
 
A photographer is a person who takes a photograph using a camera. A professional photographer uses photography to make a living (from wikipedia)
I can't see how a person taking photographs can be anything else, it's a definition thing, it's simply describing what your doing. Wayne
 
swanseamale47 said:
A photographer is a person who takes a photograph using a camera. A professional photographer uses photography to make a living (from wikipedia)
I can't see how a person taking photographs can be anything else, it's a definition thing, it's simply describing what your doing. Wayne
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It's a tricky one, for me anyway. My take is that calling myself a Photographer or a Guitarist or what ever implies that I'm good at it and I'm not necessarily! I have no problem calling myself an IT Professional I've earned it and I'm good at it. Guess I'm just not quite there with the other skills yet. I think photography and Music being artistic/creative and highly subjective makes me even less inclined to claim the titles.
 
a1ex2001 said:
My take is that calling myself a Photographer or a Guitarist or what ever implies that I'm good at it and I'm not necessarily!
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There are plenty of crap guitarists, artists, bricklayers, engineers, etc. who still give themselves that title. The description of what you do doesn't give any clues to competence (neither does putting professional in front of it, unfortunately!).


Steve.
 
engineers don't fix cars they break them :)

I consider myself a photographer because photography is my passion and if one thing were to define me (an impossible task) the closest thing to doing it would be photography
 
swanseamale47 said:
I can't see how a person taking photographs can be anything else, it's a definition thing, it's simply describing what your doing. Wayne
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Interesting, I do think there is a line, somewhere, and it's well out of focus.

I'm going to a gig tonight, I'm probably going to photograph it. I know the band and I have shot for them before at their request.

If one of the band, lets say the bass guitar player, picks up my camera and fires off a shot or 2 then that won't make him a photographer. At the same time I can pick up his guitar and pluck a few strings, that will not make me a guitar player (guitarist?).

We'd each probably get equally bad results out of each others tool, but he'd take a picture of something, and I'd play... something.
 
I consider myself to be a photographer, I have qualifications in the subject, and am working towards 'lrps', I do paid work from time to time, and teach photogrpahy privately.
 
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