Comments on: What Makes a Photographer a True Professional? http://www.onceremembered.com/blog/2010/01/what-makes-a-photographer-a-true-professional/ Family, child, senior, newborn, baby, and boudoir photography in Boise, Idaho Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:50:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Gary C Millwater http://www.onceremembered.com/blog/2010/01/what-makes-a-photographer-a-true-professional/comment-page-1/#comment-3976 Gary C Millwater Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:05:09 +0000 http://www.onceremembered.com/blog/?p=456#comment-3976 I like your article, clear and to the point. Your writing abilites are just fine, btw. Now, I've been freelancing for over 30 years doing stills, portraits, copy work, nature, and journalism. Why? Because it's a hard market and I find if you don't have the finances, patience, or persistance to develop your craft, then you shouldn't quit your day job. Am I a professional? Only when I'm getting paid! Sure, I've done weddings. Anyone with a camera has done weddings. Did I get paid? No..it was a gift. Was it professionally done? I hope to think so. But I wouldn't do it on a full time or part time basis, because I'm NOT a professional wedding photographer. And from what I've learned from this experience, I wouldn't want to be. Most people not in the business have no clue what's involved in providing a sucessful shoot. I tend to use the term professional photographer loosly. I prefer freelance photographer because that's really what I am. Yes I do a professional job and provide what the client expects. But I don't do it day-in and day-out. And I didn't quit my day job(lol). My clients, if and when I decide to accept them, are very demanding and if they want cheap, I decline. As the saying goes, "good work isn't cheap, and cheap work isn't good". In fact, my best advice to any aspiring photographer is to avoid Craigslist and start out as an assistant with an established professional. The people posting on Craigslist are looking for cheap. That would be like hiring a private pilot to fly me somewhere. I'll be damned if I'm going to put my life in the hands of someone that doesn't fly every day and isn't listed in the journal of professional pilots(or whatever trade publication they use). And it really does suprise me how many people are will to hire just about anyone with a camera to shoot their wedding. It's a hopefully, once in a lifetime event. Why would you trust that to Uncle Bob? I like your article, clear and to the point. Your writing abilites are just fine, btw. Now, I’ve been freelancing for over 30 years doing stills, portraits, copy work, nature, and journalism. Why? Because it’s a hard market and I find if you don’t have the finances, patience, or persistance to develop your craft, then you shouldn’t quit your day job. Am I a professional? Only when I’m getting paid! Sure, I’ve done weddings. Anyone with a camera has done weddings. Did I get paid? No..it was a gift. Was it professionally done? I hope to think so. But I wouldn’t do it on a full time or part time basis, because I’m NOT a professional wedding photographer. And from what I’ve learned from this experience, I wouldn’t want to be. Most people not in the business have no clue what’s involved in providing a sucessful shoot.

I tend to use the term professional photographer loosly. I prefer freelance photographer because that’s really what I am. Yes I do a professional job and provide what the client expects. But I don’t do it day-in and day-out. And I didn’t quit my day job(lol). My clients, if and when I decide to accept them, are very demanding and if they want cheap, I decline. As the saying goes, “good work isn’t cheap, and cheap work isn’t good”. In fact, my best advice to any aspiring photographer is to avoid Craigslist and start out as an assistant with an established professional. The people posting on Craigslist are looking for cheap. That would be like hiring a private pilot to fly me somewhere. I’ll be damned if I’m going to put my life in the hands of someone that doesn’t fly every day and isn’t listed in the journal of professional pilots(or whatever trade publication they use). And it really does suprise me how many people are will to hire just about anyone with a camera to shoot their wedding. It’s a hopefully, once in a lifetime event. Why would you trust that to Uncle Bob?

]]>