Profession and Professional

[nstock]

Steve's question of "What First" suggesting that beginning photographers

entering the wedding photography profession should start by learning their

camera. No wiser words said!

 

However, before even that there is the question of profession and professional.

Even if you are taking money and do this part time, you are acting as a

professional in the profession of (wedding) photography.

 

From Miriam Webster:

 

Take special note of all of number 4

 

Main Entry: pro�fes�sion

Pronunciation: pr&-'fe-sh&n

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English professioun, from Old French profession, from Late

Latin & Latin; Late Latin profession-, professio, from Latin, public

declaration, from profitEri

1 : the act of taking the vows of a religious community

2 : an act of openly declaring or publicly claiming a belief, faith, or opinion

: PROTESTATION

3 : an avowed religious faith

4 a : a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive

academic preparation b : a principal calling, vocation, or employment c : the

whole body of persons engaged in a calling

 

 

Note especially above the "calling requiring specialized knowledge and often

LONG AND INTENSIVE ACADEMIC PREPARATION.

And beyond profession there is the business of being or acting as a professional.

 

 

Main Entry: 1pro�fes�sion�al

Pronunciation: pr&-'fesh-n&l, -'fe-sh&-n&l

Function: adjective

1 a : of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession b : engaged in one of

the learned professions c (1) : characterized by or conforming to the technical

or ethical standards of a profession (2) : exhibiting a courteous,

conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace

2 a : participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor

often engaged in by amateurs <a professional golfer> b : having a particular

profession as a permanent career <a professional soldier> c : engaged in by

persons receiving financial return <professional football>

3 : following a line of conduct as though it were a profession <a professional

patriot>

 

 

If you are new to wedding photography or new to photography and to wedding

photography you do need to spend significant time learning your equipment and

photography as well as wedding photography. Please follow the profession and

then, when you have learned the speicalized knowledge required, by all means "go

professional."

 

In other words, pay your dues before collecting them....

[timcorridan]

"long and intensive academic preperation? " just how many times do i have to read that dang manual? (just kidden)

[Jerry_]

'tis a shame the same train-of-thought does not follow when the counter person 'hypes' that AF 80-200mm f4.5 Phoenix lens is "great" for indoor photography at a wedding.

[uk]

Nancy,

 

I think this way over the top.

 

In the days before the Europeans found America there were only two professions, the

Church and the Law. In the last 400 years, in the UK, many 'new' professions have been

added by Royal Charter, medcine, accountancy, engineering, teaching .... etc. You need

to qualify before you can 'practice'. Wedding photography isn't one of them. It may be

different in other nations, but I've seen no evidence in any other market and await to be

corrected.

 

I completed a course of full-time study for 7 years, followed by 6 years of monitored on

-the-job training to become a Chartered (Professional) Engineer. Wedding photography

does not require a similar training.

 

The only 'professional' in wedding photography is the act of charging for your services,

not having achieved a standard of any sort. It will always be that way allowing skilled

photographers to ply their craft.

 

It would be interesting to learn of photographers who do consider themselves to have

followed a course of academic training to become a wedding photographer.

 

Having stated the above, I regard many of the 'newbies' to be unprepared for the task of

shooting a wedding, but technology has provided tools that enable them to get on their

feet much quicker than previously. Give them encouragement, the market can absorb

their services if they are serious in their application.

[nstock]

To be a professional in many areas does not require formal academic training. However, an adequate time being an apprentice before becoming a journeyman is often necessary to achieve a level of expertise.

 

In the US you can become a licensed professional Engineer with no college. You best learn and learn well or you will never pass either of the required engineering exams for that license. You also best show increasing levels of responsibility to get into the exam.

 

Other professions can likewise be pursued with varying levels of either academic training or experience training or a combination of the two.

 

No two professions are equal. Certainly the profession of medical doctor requires vastly differnt skills and education than the profession of beautician. Regardless, both require time spent learning the trade before they can be licensed (and both do require licensure in New York State).

 

This post was started to make people think a bit. Look before you leap. Learn what you are jumping into before jumping and taking money to do so.

[errol young]

What is the oldest profession? A pro is someone who does it for money.

There is, however, a difference between a pro and a payed talented amature.

 

Errol

[JohnWebster]

Contact established photographers in your area. Many belong to a PPA affiliate (Professional Photographers of America). Aspiring professionals can often join an affiliate at reduced dues for one year (this varies by affiliate). Print competition, monthly meetings with established photographers in your area, guest speakers, networking, mentoring, schools, seminars, etc can rapidly advance any dedicated newcomer to respected professional status.

[uk]

"There is, however, a difference between a pro and a paid talented amateur".

 

Errol,

Indeed. If the amateur is talented, he will have the edge on the 'average' pro because he

has true interest and enthusiasm as well as talent. However, I do see the work of many

'pro' wedding photographers who have all those attributes and a talented amateur cannot

match his/her skills without experience.

 

Does an amateur become a pro when he goes full time, or it becomes his main source of

income. Or, does it only happen when he pays a subscription to a club/association ?

 

For a time we had the Guild of Wedding photographers and even the 'crap' photographers

got awards so they could add it to their letter head.

 

There is a difference between shooting 400 weddings and shooting the same wedding 400

times ! Many 'pros' will do the latter just for the money with little true interest in

photography, or its use as an art form.

 

Nevertheless, I do agree that there is a lot to learn to become competent and excellence

should be recognised and rewarded.

 

We probably agree in principle, I just don't like to see false barriers imposed by

bureaucrats. I also see posts here knocking new starters from self proclaimed 'pros' that

appear, judging by what they publish, to have limited capability.

[darrengold]

From Wilkipedia:

 

"A profession is an occupation that requires extensive training and the study and mastery of specialized knowledge, and usually has a professional association, ethical code and process of certification or licensing. Examples are accounting, law, nursing, medicine, finance, the military, the clergy and engineering.

 

Classically, there were only three professions: ministry, medicine, and law. These three professions each hold to a specific code of ethics, and members are almost universally required to swear some form of oath to uphold those ethics, therefore "professing" to a higher standard of accountability. Each of these professions also provides and requires extensive training in the meaning, value, and importance of its particular oath in the practice of that profession.

 

A member of a profession is termed a professional. However, professional is also used for the acceptance of payment for an activity, in contrast to amateur. A professional sportsperson, for example, is one who receives payment for participating in sport, but sport is not generally considered a profession."

 

 

Nancy, the fact that anyone can now start a photography business, if you really want to define it accurately, photography is an occupation not a profession, where, by the acceptance of payment for services rendered, one can behave professionally, and with professionalism.

 

However, those of you who are "professional photographers" and we all know what is meant by this, have my sympathy with regards to those who set themselves up without any training or experience.

 

It would be far better for the 'profession' to get together and have recognised qualifications that HAVE to be obtained before one can call oneself a professional photographer.

 

 

The ABPPA, FSWPP and FBPPA already exist in the UK but it is not a prerequisite for setting up a business.

 

Realty agents in the UK are even worse; rent a premises, put up a sign and open your doors, and have a dreadful reputation. Far better to regulate from within the profession, than to waste time on definitions that do not help the cause.

 

Regards,

 

Darren Gold (professional photographer and realty agent!), actually I'm a surgeon.

[shawn_mertz]

When I was in art school studying photography no one wanted to do weddings, because the

stereotype wedding photographer was someone that barely knew what they were doing and

depended on forgiving medium format color neg film and the lab. Wedding photographers

were more likely to be called scam artists than professionals by the public. A lot has

changed in 20 some years. In weddings, photography, and the photo business, although I

don't belong to PPA I respect the work they have done to improve not just the image of the

wedding photography business but the skill of its members too.

[ptucci]

Nancy Stock:

"In the US you can become a licensed professional Engineer with no college." What state is that in? A few decades ago, I remember a very old man who was said to be a PE without a degree, but understood he was "grandfathered in". No more college loophole.

[nstock]

In New York State you can utilize experience in lieu of education to be a professional licensed engineer. This is from the New York State Department of Education site. http://www.op.nysed.gov/article145.htm

 

It isn't EASY to go this path, but you can still do it.

 

7206. Requirements for a license as a professional engineer.

 

2. In lieu of the degree and experience requirements specified in subparagraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision one of this section, twelve years of practical experience in work satisfactory to the board may be accepted, provided that each full year of college study in engineering satisfactory to the department may at the discretion of the board be accepted in lieu of two years of the required twelve years of experience.

[uk]

Just shot yourself in the foot Nancy. :-)

[nstock]

I don't see how Gary.

 

In New York State you can work as an engineer for 12 years with increasing responsibility and, if those you have worked for will attest to it, you can sit for the first half of the P.E. without formal academic education. Seen it done. Not easy!

 

In North Carolina (a friend who is licensed there told me this) if you do work as a professional engineer but without a license for 20 years you can get your PE without a test!

 

The fly in the ointment is that it has to pass the scrutiny of the State Board and you must get those over you to sign off on your work.

 

Same for the Licensed surveyor, only the time frame is 8 years.

 

The test requires you learn the academics to pass it but it does not require that learning to be in a formal academic setting (such as college).

 

This has gone WAY off topic, which was that in order to be regarded as a professional you do need to spend time learning the profession, regardless of what that profession is.

 

You can take money for your work as an apprentice, but you must be working under the guidance of a journeyman while doing so. If you do not have an organization which requires an apprenticeship or licensure then it may be up to you as an individual to pursue the knowledge and skill level required to be considered a professional, regardless of the profession.

 

Sadly it seems that in photography there are not a few people who think they can "just do it" and charge for their services with little or no knowledge. Then when they get in trouble they don't have the background to either repair the situation or head it off before it happens (or even while it is happening).