Pro or no?

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Xarra

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I've been using a camera for around 1 1/2 years now, I'm a published author of a photobook where all 300 images were taken by me. Does this make me a pro or just a very lucky amateur?

(The book is a traditionally published book, I got at advance for it & get royalities, and it's for sale in bookshops all over my town which it's about...)

Trying to figure out the correct term for my website!
 
the true definition of pro in photogrpahy terms is if you making money from photogrpahy... nothing to do with quality of pictures or service... your making money your a pro photogrpaher
 
So basically if any lackey sells a £3 print they can class themselves as a pro? Doesn't sound right to me. Semi-professional yes - professional no.

Professional footballers don't work in a call centre during the week. It's the same thing.
 
Xarra said:
Well, I'm not making a living from it, but I am getting royalties from my book. It's a hobby and I was very lucky to get published... But I'm a bit confused as it's not my job!
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Forgive me for being thick, so please clarify...

Are you a photographer selling a book of your photos - which suggests to me you are at least a semi-Pro photographer (if you have a day job), or a Pro Photographer if it's your sole income

or

Are you an author with a book that you illustrated with your own photographs - in which case I'd say you were an author and not a Pro photographer (semi or otherwise)

:shrug:

DD
 
DiddyDave said:
Forgive me for being thick, so please clarify...

Are you a photographer selling a book of your photos - which suggests to me you are at least a semi-Pro photographer (if you have a day job), or a Pro Photographer if it's your sole income

or

Are you an author with a book that you illustrated with your own photographs - in which case I'd say you were an author and not a Pro photographer (semi or otherwise)

:shrug:

DD
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What if it's a book of his own photography? :nuts:
 
Xarra said:
It's a book of my own photography. :P 300 photos with captions. :)

I got very lucky and a publisher decided they'd like to publish it...

So, enm, semi-pro?
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go for semi pro and keep everyone happy :)
 
Xarra said:
OK, semi-pro it is... Although it still feels a bit too professional given how long I've been taking pics, etc... :P
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OK how about

"undecided, self concious, insecure, dithering, low self opinion, indecisive PRO"

Just go for semi pro for gawds sake :) :)
 
Hmm, interesting question and one that I too was once bogged down with. I have had poetry and short stories published but it took me ages before I accepted that I was a writer. Writing not being my 'job' and all that.

I think it comes down to what you feel comfortable with calling yourself. Let's face it, in any industry there are those with so few morals that they will call themselves professional, or experienced, or whatever, even if they ain't.

As a previous poster pointed out, being professional doesn't necessarily mean you are good. To take the footy analogy, I would argue that many League 2 players are more professional than many Prem players; they just ain't as good.

I get the impression that you feel most comfortable calling yourself a semi-pro and so you should go with that.

But wouldn't the term, 'Photographer' do?

I mean, do people look for a pro-photographer, semi-pro-photographer, or do they simply look for a photographer.
You can discuss your track record if and when the question is raised.
 
I wonder now, how many times has this subject been discussed on this and other forums? It usually prompts very mixed responses.

In my opinion ( take it or leave it), a professional is someone who is doing a job full time, that is experienced, that can carry out multiple areas of expertise within their field of work, maybe they have a qualification from a professional body or society.

Maybe..............
 
MARK AMIES said:
I wonder now, how many times has this subject been discussed on this and other forums? It usually prompts very mixed responses.
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All of which ends.. in the field of photogrpahy your a pro if your earning money and has nothign to do with quality of pictures or service and sorry but even less to do with qualifications

Check em and see :)
 
Oh well, I always really thought that the Professionals drove around in Capri's shouting "Cover Me!!".

:geek::clap:
 
I'd classify a pro as someone who regularly sells their work and/or provides a service for money.

A one off sale makes a lucky amature.
 
Xarra your website says "I've been taking photos since October 2009..."

So from complete novice to a published author of photography books in four months? Wow. I'm genuinely very impressed :)

Expect to see my gear in the classifieds section shortly; I may as well throw the towel in :bang: :lol:
 
Nifkin said:
Xarra your website says "I've been taking photos since October 2009..."

So from complete novice to a published author of photography books in four months? Wow. I'm genuinely very impressed :)
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Well, it was published in October 09, I've taken photos since October 08... I got the date wrong... *sheepish*

But got camera in Oct 08, photos for book taken May/June 09, so it's almost that bad!
 
How about,"Published Photographer":shrug:
 
Xarra said:
But got camera in Oct 08, photos for book taken May/June 09, so it's almost that bad!
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Buy 'bad' you mean 'good' of course ;)
 
Xarra said:
It's on Amazon, but there's no 'look inside' function on it (publishers would have to set that up!)

I assume they're decent enough pics as the publisher's done quite a lot of 'beautiful Birmingham' type books...
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Birminghams beautiful? We talking about the same place?
 
kieranmcmanus said:
Birminghams beautiful? We talking about the same place?
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birmingham is a nice place but really its more of the city centre i prefer, i think its a rubbish tip when you expand out of the cinty centre into the council estates etc.

its the same as london, the city centre is nice and so are some of the private housing estates but when you expand into the back streets thats were it seems bad. really its just sterotypical council estates, most towns are decent but when they are surrounded by council estates then they seem a bit turd.
 
I'd go for something like published photographer, or Coventry photographer, as if you are mainly doing it as a hobby in addition to your main job you aren't really a professional and semi professional just sounds amateur.
 
EdinburghGary said:
Also are you going to try and capitalise on your published status? You should...
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I thought that's what this thread was really about! :lol: Nyuk nyuk nyuk :lol:
 
Xarra said:
Gary: I'd love to, but I'm really not sure how!
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Well how did you go about getting published in the first place?
 
Xarra said:
Did a book for SoFoBoMo, a few people said I sahould get it published, cheekily sent it to publishers, got lucky... o.O So not the 'normal' route at all!
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What's the 'normal' route?
 
EdinburghGary said:
Who cares, its a daft term, I can't understand the debate. We are all photographers here. Well done too, good achievement.
.
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read the OP .. its not a debate about pr photogrpahers.. he wants somehtign to use on his website and doesnt know how to term himself so he asked in here... the only thing wrong with that is people getting the wrong end of the stick :)
 
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