professional
I subscribe to an excellent youtube channel and blog (see below) run by a gentleman by the name of Joe W. Jackson.
Joe provides hints and tips on how to improve your photography and particularly your post processing skills. Joe also enjoys a rant every now and then and I enjoy listening to them.
One of his latest such rants surrounds people that choose to call themselves professional artists or photographers. This coincides with BBC Radio 2 inviting applictions for an "artist in residence". The only stipulations are that their art must be digital in format and that they are a professional artist. I'm sure that living in the Philippines, the existence of this competition is unknown to Joe and therefore not the inspiration for his video!
Anyway, this BBC thing got me thinking about Joe's video and my own perception of professionalism.
Firstly I would not call myself a professional photographer. My profession lies in the field of public sector finance and law. I know this as I have a degree in it and when I'm in work (i.e. when I'm well enough) I consider myself a professional. I manage a large number of staff, have to attend meetings and manage projects. All this amongst a host of other things far too boring to list here.
Secondly, in work I am meticulous and have a great attention to detail. I treat my approach to photography exactly the same but that alone does not make me a professional photographer, even if (at the risk of sounding big headed) the quality of my work is superior to that of some professional photographers.
The one overriding factor that makes me professional at what I do is payment. The BBC state that to be considered a professional in their eyes and for their competition, at least half your income must be derived from your art. And I must say that I agree with this.
You can be as professional as you like in your approach to your art, whatever it is, and many, many people are. But unless it provides you with an income then I don't think you have any right to call yourself a professional artist.
Here is the link to Joe's blog (I'm sure he won't mind me advertising it):
http://www.exodistphoto.com
Joe provides hints and tips on how to improve your photography and particularly your post processing skills. Joe also enjoys a rant every now and then and I enjoy listening to them.
One of his latest such rants surrounds people that choose to call themselves professional artists or photographers. This coincides with BBC Radio 2 inviting applictions for an "artist in residence". The only stipulations are that their art must be digital in format and that they are a professional artist. I'm sure that living in the Philippines, the existence of this competition is unknown to Joe and therefore not the inspiration for his video!
Anyway, this BBC thing got me thinking about Joe's video and my own perception of professionalism.
Firstly I would not call myself a professional photographer. My profession lies in the field of public sector finance and law. I know this as I have a degree in it and when I'm in work (i.e. when I'm well enough) I consider myself a professional. I manage a large number of staff, have to attend meetings and manage projects. All this amongst a host of other things far too boring to list here.
Secondly, in work I am meticulous and have a great attention to detail. I treat my approach to photography exactly the same but that alone does not make me a professional photographer, even if (at the risk of sounding big headed) the quality of my work is superior to that of some professional photographers.
The one overriding factor that makes me professional at what I do is payment. The BBC state that to be considered a professional in their eyes and for their competition, at least half your income must be derived from your art. And I must say that I agree with this.
You can be as professional as you like in your approach to your art, whatever it is, and many, many people are. But unless it provides you with an income then I don't think you have any right to call yourself a professional artist.
Here is the link to Joe's blog (I'm sure he won't mind me advertising it):
http://www.exodistphoto.com
I agree. Professional means you earn your living from it. Whatever 'it' is.
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