For Real People

I know I'm gonna spark a bit of fury when this post gets published, but I am seeing more and more misconceptions about levels of photography.

DSLR cameras have become more affordable and now that cell phones contain cameras just as good and sometimes even better than some DSLR cameras everyone labels themselves as a "Professional" photographer.

However, that is NOT what you are!

Let me begin by breaking this down so you can understand the difference.

Beginner

• You have a passion for photography
• Your skills include seeing something cool and just clicking the button
• You use your cell phone (9 out of 10x you don't even know there are extra settings and features
• You're wanting to learn but have yet to learn.

YOUR PHOTOS RESEMBLE SOMETHING LIKE THIS

Or

Which this one is old school Instagram style..

A beginner is just something you do as a light hobby. You have no real world photography experience.

Amateur - Hard Core Hobbyist

There is a fine line between Amature / hobbyist and Professional.

This is where you've learned a few tricks and maybe even took a photography class or two. This is where you've invested your money into a good camera.. You take your camera everywhere you go and you snap some AMAZING shots.

But ultimately you do this as a HOBBY. You don't display your photography in art shows and you don't sell your prints. You probably don't even realize in order to even get into a show or sell prints, there are standards on rules for prints and paper and series and limited editions and this run on sentence could continue forever!!!

MOST AMATEURS CALL THEMSELVES PROFESSIONAL

Might be a hard pill to swallow... But you are not!

Below are some examples!

This photo was actually taken on a Galaxy S6 in the ProMode settings and then ran thru an editing app. This displays my work when I was in the Amateur classifications. I was still learning techniques and how to master my editing skills.

PROFESSIONAL

The cloud of fog between the lines should fade away after reading this!

• Do you get paid for your work?
• Do you have an online presence such as a website to give examples?
• Do you attend art shows and showcase your photography (with or without sales)
• Clear knowledge of equipment and the understanding of lighting, color contrast, focal points and subject matter.
• Understanding of printing techniques which includes but not limited to certain paper qualities, how to label your photos, and most importantly how to matte them. (You can't just got to Walmart and print photos stick them in a frame and be like yeah it's for sale.)

Other people will list more criteria but that is like the majors. At this point people have paid you to take portraits or a magazine or other publication has contacted you about using a photo you've taken. You've set up shop in long and most likely grueling weather conditions for your work to be displayed. You've sold prints.

The biggest thing tho is... have you made money? Some define this as at least half your income is from photography, but I cut slack to this rule as some people just starting out in the professional field still have to find clientele and their income is not that great from it (starving artist terminology).

To be considered a professional in ANYTHING you must be paid. For example highschool/ college (even tho some college players are paid it hasn't yet become an actual career) football players verses a Professional football player playing for the Steelers.

The first photo was done for a farm.

The second photo was done on the basis of an Amateur shot that has been later editioned and prepped for resale.

The above photo is a collage of a few photos from a baby shower I had done their photography for. The client was so super respectful they told their guests to NOT take any photos for themselves!

And an example of matting below.

I am not too sure how many people I've pissed off at this point.

But... I have worked hard starting from my Instagram days back in 2011 to now... and I am seeing more and more beginners and amateurs calling themselves professional.

I REALLY NEEDED TO VOICE MY OPINION ON THIS TODAY! RANT OVER

All photos were taken by me on various cameras and various times in history

Thanks for Viewing... Have a GREAT FRIDAY EVERYONE!

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and the Alliance's latests posts as well!