When do you become a "Photographer"

Liam

Liam

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I have been into photography since I was 14 (now 18) but I still tell people that "I am into photography" never that I am a photographer.

So when can I be classed as a Photographer?



Sorry for the randomness of this thread :geek:
 
I would associate the term 'photographer' with someone who makes their living from photography.

Personally I prefer the term 'shutter jockey'....
 
That's a good question. I suppose when you use it to generate money from it. I've been playing the guitar for about 10 years but still don't consider myself a musician. I've sang for longer but don't consider myself a singer :lol:. I've been into photography for about 6 months now so definitely don't consider myself a photographer.
 
Your a photographer when you take pictures.. Simples :)
 
"Shutter Jockey" ha I like that, I agree with the money making I never really plan on selling my images (not that they are good enough) so will I live the rest of my days as someone who is into photography?
 
Liam said:
"Shutter Jockey" ha I like that, I agree with the money making I never really plan on selling my images (not that they are good enough) so will I live the rest of my days as someone who is into photography?
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No, as KIPAX said, you are a photographer. It has nowt to do with money.

If you make your full time living taking photo's then you are a professional photographer.

If you make some money from photo's but have other work then you are semi-pro.

At the moment you are an amateur photographer.

These definitions have nothing to do with image quality.
 
cylone,

Ok but it just feels weird saying that I am a photographer when I only class it as a hobby, its like classing myself above someone who just takes photos.

If that makes sense?
 
Cyclone makes a great point actually. I would consider myself an amature photographer.
 
To me a photographer is someone who takes pictures whether they make money or not. I suppose anyone who thinks that someone should be making money from it in order to be classed as photographer is bordering on snobbery. A 'pro' photographer is what I would class as someone as makes money from it but that sure as hell doesn't indicate that they are any good at it. :lol:
 
Liam said:
its like classing myself above someone who just takes photos
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I class myself as lots of things, a Dad, a husband, a photographer, a musician, a half decent cook, a lazy git..........

I agree with KIPAX. IMO a photographer is someone who uses a still camera of any kind. The results don't come in to it!!
 
But when someone tells me they are a Photographer I expect them to be good as its likw Job Title as it can be a full time job.

Its like I play football but if I tell people I am a footballer they expect me to be part of some sort of club and be rich, or is it different?
 
Liam said:
But when someone tells me they are a Photographer I expect them to be good as its likw Job Title as it can be a full time job.

Its like I play football but if I tell people I am a footballer they expect me to be part of some sort of club and be rich, or is it different?
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I think it depends onthe question rather than the answer........

"What do you do for a living?" is quite different to "What do you do in your spare time?"
 
cyclone said:
No, as KIPAX said, you are a photographer. It has nowt to do with money.

If you make your full time living taking photo's then you are a professional photographer.

If you make some money from photo's but have other work then you are semi-pro.

At the moment you are an amateur photographer.

These definitions have nothing to do with image quality.
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I think these definitions are pretty accurate. You can be good - bad - or indifferent in any category!
 
most people are photographers the only thing is some don't yet have cameras and lots only use a mobile phone, serious togs buy cameras..
 
karmagarda said:
The real answer is "as soon as you buy a Nikon"

:coat:
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Uh oh :D


smileyvault-popcorn.gif
 
I consider a photogapher to be proficient at the act of taking photos, to understand a little about composition, ISO, shutter speeds etc. Someone with a serious interest in the hobby.

My wife takes a point and shoot to concerts, keeps it on auto. She is by no means a photographer IMO :)

Gary.
 
A photographer is someone who thinks about it first thing in the morning and last thing at night, regardless of equipment or money made.
 
you are a photographer when you do a wedding for nothing and see your other pics appear on the news.bbc weekly picture page.

only kidding when you can get a picture that you took by thought and you can say wow I like that.

Michael.
 
The term is probably associated with someone who makes cash from their work - I don't think it provides any indication of the quality of their work or abilities with a camera

Simon
 
No way??????? If Im at a party and someone asks me 'What do you do for a living?'

I dont say plumber! Because fixed a few leaks and changed a tap.

Slimbert and Razor what do you guys do for a living? If you dont make your living from it you are 'amature photographer'.

Sorry to rant but I doget cheesed off with this one. Some people think that the title is more glam than just saying 'I drive a forklift truck in a warehouse'

'Hello what do you do?' ''Im an Actor!'' ' Why are you working in Maccy D's then?'


Rant over.

P.S This has nothing to do with how good anyone is or quality etc. I've seen amature work far far better than a lot of pros.
 
It's all down to some rather deep psychology. Just how do you define yourself? where do you get your sense of identity from?

It's true that some people get their sense of identity from their work and these are the people who struggle when they retire, the people for whom their work is the most important thing in their life because it gives them their own sense of self. "I AM a .........insert job title here"

Others prefer to "work to live" and tend to not define their sense of self with a job title. You may find that they answer with "Oh I'm an accountant but I'm a mum/dad/sailor/.........too you know"

It is perfectly possible to be more than one thing in life but it's very much down to you how you wish to define yourself.
 
Daryl said:
No way??????? If Im at a party and someone asks me 'What do you do for a living?'

I dont say plumber! Because fixed a few leaks and changed a tap.
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Slimbert said:
I think it depends onthe question rather than the answer........

"What do you do for a living?" is quite different to "What do you do in your spare time?"
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Thought I'd already covered that one but.........

If someone asked me what I do for a living, I'd say I'm a Social Worker for Norfolk Childrens Services, because that's what I do for a living. If someone asks me what I do in my spare time, I'd could say I'm a photographer, I'm a musician, I'm a planning to build a rocket that will take me to mars..........maybe that one isn't true:suspect: but I can say those things because thats what I do in my spare time.
 
Daryl said:
Slimbert and Razor what do you guys do for a living? If you dont make your living from it you are 'amature photographer'.
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I direct midget porn, photography is just a hobby but I class myself as a<n amateur> photographer as soon as I press that shutter button half way and also because I spend a lot of time doing it and I think in my opinion I'm relatively good at it.

edited to add:

However, I also reckon I'm a mean cook but I don't make my living from it either. Its a world of difference between what you think you are and what you do for a living.

;)
 
AliB said:
It's all down to some rather deep psychology. Just how do you define yourself? where do you get your sense of identity from?

It's true that some people get their sense of identity from their work and these are the people who struggle when they retire, the people for whom their work is the most important thing in their life because it gives them their own sense of self. "I AM a .........insert job title here"

Others prefer to "work to live" and tend to not define their sense of self with a job title. You may find that they answer with "Oh I'm an accountant but I'm a mum/dad/sailor/.........too you know"

It is perfectly possible to be more than one thing in life but it's very much down to you how you wish to define yourself.
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I think that's pretty accurate.

I'm a photographer. If, in 5 years time, I'm working at Safeway stacking shelves.. I'll still be a photographer. It's what I do and it effects how I think about most things in life.
 
'I direct midget porn' Is there money in that?????


The question , I believe was not anything to do with a hobby. When someone asks you... 'What do you do?'

You don't say 'Frog Machanic'. :cool:

I've been paid for my hobby for the last 20 years since leaving College. Life style it is then......

I love flying, but I dont say I'm a pilot.
 
EdinburghGary said:
I consider a photogapher to be proficient at the act of taking photos, to understand a little about composition, ISO, shutter speeds etc. Someone with a serious interest in the hobby.

My wife takes a point and shoot to concerts, keeps it on auto. She is by no means a photographer IMO :)

Gary.
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:clap:

That pretty much sums it up I think.

SWMBO has used her phone to take a pic of our girl.
She is by no means a photographer, trust me!!
 
Liam said:
cylone,

Ok but it just feels weird saying that I am a photographer when I only class it as a hobby, its like classing myself above someone who just takes photos.

If that makes sense?
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If you climb mountains, are you not a mountaineer? Some people pay the bills this way and they are professional mountaineers. Same thing in my book. If you make pictures with a camera regularly and call it your hobby, then you are a photographer. It's got nowt to do with how good you are. I suppose if you just take snaps occasionally say when you're on holiday or at a party then that is slightly different, maybe it's one of those fine lines...?
 
Daryl said:
'I direct midget porn' Is there money in that?????


The question , I believe was not anything to do with a hobby. When someone asks you... 'What do you do?'

You don't say 'Frog Machanic'. :cool:

I've been paid for my hobby for the last 20 years since leaving College. Life style it is then......

I love flying, but I dont say I'm a pilot.
Click to expand...

That would depend on whether you were flying the plane wouldn't it? If you're at the controls that would make you a pilot surely?

Don't mind me...I'm trying to reach the magic 100 post mark!!
 
Its funny how opinions differ a lot on this topic.

This midget porn sounds interesting :popcorn:
 
to me a photographer is someone who uses a camera regardless if they make money or are any good.. The problem comes when you try and work out if your a

Amateur Photographer
Semi-amateur Photographer
Pro Photographer

I never know where I fit in the first two as I now no longer make money on photos
 
Daryl said:
'I direct midget porn' Is there money in that?????


The question , I believe was not anything to do with a hobby. When someone asks you... 'What do you do?'

You don't say 'Frog Machanic'. :cool:

I've been paid for my hobby for the last 20 years since leaving College. Life style it is then......

I love flying, but I dont say I'm a pilot.
Click to expand...

The question 'what you do for a living' is not the same as do you class yourself as a <insert description here>

.... also if I liked flying, then yes.. you would be a pilot.. when flying?

I think this is bordering on semantics based on the OP's original question.

As for midget porn, its a small world but the money is good.
 
This is a very good question isn't it as there doesn't seem to be one answer that we will all agree on, but yet none are really wrong either.

For me, if you make photographs, you are a photographer and it's up to you whether you choose to invoke that title or not.

Just the same as driver, walker, drinker, violinist or painter.
 
Daryl said:
The question , I believe was not anything to do with a hobby. When someone asks you... 'What do you do?'
Click to expand...

The original question wasn't anything to do with "what do you do", it was about becoming a photographer. I don't think it was supposed to be in response to any question at all, just a definition. Therefore, when I'm taking photographs, I'm a photographer. When you're flying a plane, you're a pilot...............I hope! ;)
 
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