Are/were you a professional or not?

[donlaw]

I have done quite a bit of architectural photography for the design firms I have worked for. And a few paid project for colleagues who needed photos for marketing (both project and portrait photos). But, I never got much pleasure from those occasions. Too much pressure to get it right!
It has been years since I have done that (except last year I did my niece's engagement photos). If I had to try and make living doing it, I feel it would ruin my interest in photography as a hobby/therapy. I mention therapy because during this pandemic, photography has become a real outlet from stress for me. Doing the exercise of taking and posting a daily image here as been fun and super helpful in reducing stress! (thank you @MoonMind )

 

[Dean Smith]

For 25 years I was a staff and freelance photographer for newspapers and magazines. A career change to instructor of English, limited my photographic work, yet I still picked up a few freelance assignments.
Today, I shoot for my enjoyment and to learn more about photography.

 

[MoonMind]

Though I have shot quite a few times on assignment (and still do, and will) and acted as a wedding photographer a couple of times (years ago, still in the era of film), I am strictly an enthusiast - in fact, I think I lack everything you really need to be a pro when it comes to photography, though I intend to change some aspects (like proficiency at lighting) once things have settled a bit; Corona has pushed that phase into the future, so I'm pretty sure nothing major's going to change as far as my skill set goes.

I have to say that I'm quite happy with where I am right now - photography is my passion and my pastime, even more so at the moment than ever before.

M.

 

[Jonathan F/2]

Luckily I've had pretty good luck with small portrait shoots. Most the time we either have emails or text message back & fourth regarding shoot details, date, time, location and delivery method. I always post non-downloadable preview photos for clients to look at before receiving actual photos. If everything checks out, they can pay me through any non-fee online method (Paypal F&F, Venmo, etc.). Once payment is posted into my account, I automatically send them the full download links. On bigger gigs I do have invoicing, contractual agreements and emails/text messages detailing the job and any agreement details beforehand. I tend to shoot, process and deliver my photos in an assembly-line fashion, so there's little to no deviation. Even the way I process photos, caption and shoot stays exactly the same. I'm a stickler for consistency!

 

[wee-pics]

Though I have shot quite a few times on assignment (and still do, and will) and acted as a wedding photographer a couple of times (years ago, still in the era of film), I am strictly an enthusiast - in fact, I think I lack everything you really need to be a pro when it comes to photography, though I intend to change some aspects (like proficiency at lighting) once things have settled a bit; Corona has pushed that phase into the future, so I'm pretty sure nothing major's going to change as far as my skill set goes.

I have to say that I'm quite happy with where I am right now - photography is my passion and my pastime, even more so at the moment than ever before.

M.

Enthusiast, that's where I'm completely with you, Matt.

I've always seen myself within two poles:
• amateur in its true latin sense (amare = to love)
• and - compared to the pros - dilettante, not in its modern sense but from latin delectare (to give pleasure, to enjoy, to have fun).
There is too much dilettantism in its modern sense in the web, no need to add to this.

I've done some documentary and wedding photography in between, CD covers and flyers for organizations and musicians (photos and layout), but I prefer doing what *I* want, being free in all directions, following the fancy of the moment, just enjoying myself.
Yet there are always these moments where I wished I had had a little professional tutoring in between. When this nagging dwarf sitting in the back of my head is again dissatisfied with the result he sees.

 

[tonyturley]

Total amateur. I enjoy photography, but I have other interests, and my photography waxes and wanes. Right now I'm in a bit of a lull, where I'm basically only photographing to document my woodcraft efforts and the things I see on bike rides. I've not been carrying a camera other than on my bike rides. I'm not worried . . . the urge to be more active will flare up again some time down the road. It always does.

 

[Carbonman]

I was a professional commercial photographer from 1978 - 1981, then the economy tanked. I was lucky because my overhead was really low. Some of my peers had storefront studios, extensive processing labs with color print processing machines etc. and were financially devastated. I moved back into the security business over the next couple of years and only shoot for documentation on projects and for fun. In a couple of years it will be all for fun!

 

[Iron]

I still call myself a hobbyist, even though I've had a few event shoots here and there. They're OK but, I agree with many here, they take away the therapy part of photography.

The ever increasing amount of guests who want to get in your way to be "the photographer" with their phones and tablets is very frustrating also.

Sometimes, I don't understand that gesture of getting in the way of a hired photographer. I guess social media plays a lot here. No matter how the guests think they have the best smartphone, the pro one always has the right gear and will have mostly the best photos.

I've been to some events, though, as a guest where smartphones were not allowed because pro photographers operated. The smartphone ban is usually requested by event organisers.

a wedding day would start at the salon about 9 AM and end following the reception, some of which lasted until 2 AM

Whew, in non-Western countries, they usually start at 6AM and end at around 5AM the next day. I know some pro ones who already had RSI carrying gear. They get really big bucks in those events, though.

Up to now I have been a concert photographer always working unpaid for the musicians, who are mostly not affluent people. My "career" now spans more than forty years and my work gets published even now in the time of Corona.

This is very noble, @re-note, very. It would be good to be part of such circle as the photography part is enjoyed without the pressure of contracts and delivering to clients.

 

[davidzvi]

......Sometimes, I don't understand that gesture of getting in the way of a hired photographer. I guess social media plays a lot here. No matter how the guests think they have the best smartphone, the pro one always has the right gear and will have mostly the best photos.

I've been to some events, though, as a guest where smartphones were not allowed because pro photographers operated. The smartphone ban is usually requested by event organizers........

The ones I use to run into were the ones that just didn't care or were just clueless (or both).

Venues and/or couples in my area have put their foot (feet?) down in many cases to say "NO". I usually liked those events more.

.......Whew, in non-Western countries, they usually start at 6AM and end at around 5AM the next day. I know some pro ones who already had RSI carrying gear. They get really big bucks in those events, though.......

The photographer is typically the only vendor that's with the couple the entire day.

 

[Jonathan F/2]

I don't mind guests and other people taking photos with their phones. I treat event photography like street photography, I just go with the flow. I typically also document the people taking photos with their phones, it's part of the modern day social media ambience and a sign of times! Heck, I sometimes get in with the photos! My motto being, "Shoot first, ask questions never!"

 

[davect01]

I know a few folks that are either full-time or part-time photographers and I have no interest in doing this professionally. The competition just to get the job, the hours prepping the shoot, hours at the shoot and then after the after shoot processing just to hear, "I could have taken that photo with my cell phone, you charge too much" would get exhausting.

One family member who has made a decent living taking photos specializes in high-end real estate and portfolio headshots. She spent many years building a regular customer base of clients. The other guy I know who makes a living taking photos is also a specialist in high-end cars and aircraft. There again he spent many years building up a clientele and does fairly well.

I do have a few images on 500px and Shutterstock and made a few bucks that way but I don't expect to make more than lunch money that way.

 

[davect01]

I don't mind guests and other people taking photos with their phones. I treat event photography like street photography, I just go with the flow. I typically also document the people taking photos with their phones, it's part of the modern day social media ambience and a sign of times! Heck, I sometimes get in with the photos! My motto being, "Shoot first, ask questions never!"

Fighting this seems like a losing battle. At the last wedding I went to there was a no phone during the actual ceremony rule but other than that it was fair game.

 

[Bobby T]

The most positive aspect of my life as a non-commercial concert photographer is that musicians like to see me back at their performances. For the time being I am photographer in residence with Sendesaal Bremen and as far as I can imagine this will be going on for the rest of my life.

I have done the same here. All the bands I have shot has been for free. And I’ve done free portraits/headshots for local musicians and artists. Shooting local artists is a lot of fun for me. And I have made some good friends from it.

 

[davidzvi]

I don't mind guests and other people taking photos with their phones. I treat event photography like street photography, I just go with the flow. I typically also document the people taking photos with their phones, it's part of the modern day social media ambience and a sign of times! Heck, I sometimes get in with the photos! My motto being, "Shoot first, ask questions never!"

I don't mind them taking photos while I'm doing formals, I just had them stand behind me. It's always a pain when you get a great shot with one member of the wedding party looking in a different direction.

Edit: I got really good at popping the eyes out of one image and replacing them in another.

 

[Jonathan F/2]

Edit: I got really good at popping the eyes out of one image and replacing them in another.

Haha, I know many photographers who do that! Though it is a strange alteration of reality when you think of it...because the final photo never actually occurred!

 

[davidzvi]

Haha, I know many photographers who do that! Though it is a strange alteration of reality when you think of it...because the final photo never actually occurred!

I did it for blinkers as well.

 

[West]

After I retired from my real job, I took up photography as a hobby and decided to do pro work to pay for my gear. Did lots of top tier Sport events for a number of years and then decided to quit as it started to feel like a real job.

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