" relative who thinks she is a pro photographer"

in 2004 someone ( I know who it is) posted that a relative was saying she was a pro photographer.

this is with limited experience and no special education.

and was making her prints at a grocery store. and Implying it was a pro lab.

the last posted asked "what happened, send us a follow up"

 

I found the posted file as I was sorting a directory.

I wonder if the relative suceeded or had a disaster.

perhaps she has improved with years?

Just because you get your photos printed at CVS doesn't mean they can't be really good.

Well i guess the question is what they think makes a pro photographer maybe shes making money and that does it for her and as far as labs if you get good prints it dosnt matter if they come from as long as the results are what your looking for

 

 

Amber

"Professionalism" implies considerably more than 'enthusiast' level of technical AND artistic knowledge. It is an attitude ...a commitment to excellence and ,usually, a degree of actual experience.

 

 

But we all start somewhere.......It is a great pity that no formal requirements exist in N. America. You can't just claim to be a pro photographer in most of the European countries....you need the paperwork to prove your standing.....regards, Bob

Peeks my curiosity Guess with hard work and practice it is possible.

 

Bob, is it like a photographer's guild over there in Europe? Do you have to take a test and pay for a license,

join the Photographer's Union in Europe? Or perhaps work as a photographer's apprentice for years, starting as a

flash bulb fetcher back in the 1970's and by the 1990's after a 20 year apprenticeship actually becomes a Master

Photographer. Oooou , how about a photographer's learner's permit before you can use the camera. Take the camera

out for 6 months and then take the State Photographer's Test. I could envision New Jersey starting the licensing

trend here in the States. LOL. I am being facetious. But I'm glad the colonies fought to break away from the

realm in 1776 and now in the good old USA anyone can pick up a camera and if they work hard to perfect there

craft they can actually make it based on the work they produce.

 

Still it would be a good idea for people to perfect their craft before going into business. I think a client

would want to see some examples of the photographer's work before hiring them.

 

I did see a photographer's site a few weeks ago who seemed to be making it as a wedding photographer doing what

looked to be snap shot photography. The customers may be big snap shot fans or never looked at the work this guy

did. Buyer beware.

 

You make a good point, Bob. Hopefully most photographer's won't go Pro before they get the skills, still everyone

starts some place. Good thread.

Mark, do you know if here in Jersey I need to have an auto or manual camera to take the photog road test? :-)

Depends on which license your going for, Commercial or Non Commercial. Auto would be for the Non Commercial

photographer license (point and shoot, fixed lens) this would allow you to shoot family functions like picnics

and birthday party's. The manual would be a more rigorous CDL test or should I say CPL (Commercial Photographer

License) so you can shoot with the big Rigs, say any thing with SLR and multiple lenses. With this you can do

Weddings, Sporting Events, Poparazzi Celeb stuff, fluff photos, Wildwood Girls Gone Wild calenders...

 

I think one of the tests is to shoot the hairs on a bugs backside at 300 yards with 75-300 mm lens under various

lighting conditions. And you better be able to count the hairs. There is also a run away bride part of the

obstacle course so be ready for fast shutter speeds to get that stop motion shot. And my favorite is Jersey Shore

Beach Bikini shooting test. Several hours of rigorous shooting in some of the most brutal summer beach weather

conditions New Jersey can throw at a photographer. It is enough to make your shutter shudder.

 

We could have fun making up a CPL test for New Jersey. Hmmm, we could do this if we make ourselves sound official

and authoritative by creating the New Jersey Area Photographer's Guild. Jim, if you are within a 25 hour drive or

flight of New Jersey you can become a member of this newly created distinguished organization. If you act fast

you could also obtain a very high position in this organization. Perhaps an Photo Ambassadorship to New York.

 

Now that the Organization has been officially established, we can lobby the State of New Jersey to make

suggestions on exactly what questions and tasks will be on the test. We can thank Bob for setting the wheels in

motion for the start of this whole new bureaucracy. (Just what NJ needs more of)

 

I am really staying up way to late. :) Time to pass this nutty thread on to the rest of the PN gang.

Being a 'pro' at anything has meaning in many contexts, as others have said. Strictly, it is a measure of whether ones sole income is derived from an activity, but is often taken as a measure of competency and adherence to certain standards. Fact is, there are lousy pros and great amateurs, and as a 'badge of trade' being a professional at anything means nothing in a qualitative sense. If the individual in question is serving the needs of their customers and making money at it, then good on them...

A pro is purely and simply somebody who earns money out of this activity. If you can succeed by getting your prints done at the grocery store, it sounds like a good business plan. Pro status has nothing to do with gorgeous tonal values or fancy cameras.

It's very easy to find all sorts of examples of officially licensed, yet amazingly incompetent "professionals" in many professions. With photographers it's easy: ask to see their portfolio, ask for references.

Hawaii Professional Photographers' Association used to have a membership category called ' Aspiring Professional'( to fill the seats during meetings I think.) I joined in that associate status for a couple years. I found a wide variety of behaviors not all of which would satisfy the ideal of a profession. If it is a craft, well fine. If it is a craft that wants to lobby Congress,I say go ahead. Professional is then a group thing in practical sense. A sharing of expertise and contests and sponsorships and fellowship. I say it is a craft practiced by some 'professional class' people. Who have class and style and charge enough to compensate themselves fully. I would call them true professionals and there are not all that many I am thinking. Making money at it is simple enough. Brian. You can always undersell a wedding on price. And give the memory card or film roll to the end user. Now that, I feel, is not close to my idea of professional. But it is a cypher, the word pro.

Ken Rockwell has an article on this but after reading it, your relative might as well just sell all her equipment and get an office job.

 

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/go-pro.htm

Perhaps she plans on shooting "pros"?

i thought my posting would raise the interest of the previous poster

and cause an update to be posted.

 

about new jersey., as a former denizen of that wasp-waisted state, I realiz

e ,given half an opportunity they will read the previous posts and pass a new law.

as long as they can get money, the law will be enforced.

 

Laws regarding who can run for an office will be ignored as there is no profit in it.

I still have not figured out why my taxes went from $500.00 to $7500.00 and the house did not change. ( good reason to leave)

 

I think the phrase " legend in their own mind"

 

applies to someone who thinks they are a "pro", therefore they are .