So who can call themselves a Professional Photographer?

So who can call themselves a Professional Photographer?

There is always a great deal of discussion regarding who can call themselves professional photographers. I have heard many people state it has to be someone who earns the majority of their income from photography and this appears to have become the accepted norm.

I think we should first look at the definition of a professional.

Definition of Professional  

Characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession. 
By exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally business like manner in the workplace. 
By participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs. 
Having a particular profession as a permanent career.

As we can see the term is not wholly restricted to earning the majority of your income from photography.

I have met a number of people who work full time as photographers but fail to meet the technical or ethical standards that most of us would expect in a professional photographer.

In fact it is only required that you participate in photography for financial gain, i.e some one is willing to pay for your services as a photographer, so does that mean that once someone has been paid for a job, no matter how badly it was completed, they can then call themselves professional?

How many of us have taken our vehicles to a professional mechanic only to have a botched or poor standard of repair or service carried out? I know I have, does the mechanic then get considered as an amateur mechanic? Perhaps not.

I think the point here is this, to be a professional photographer you should;

1. Be paid for your work.
2. Be consistent in your delivery of the service and product.
3. Be technically adept at the use of current camera equipment and accessories.
4. Be artistically adept, in composition, lighting and the use of color and shape.

If we had a professional body, which photographers had to be a member of and who could set standards that they could assess and confirm with anyone wishing to gain membership, then we would have the easy answer.  Unfortunately there are many well intentioned professional bodies out there with their own individual view on what standard needs to be achieved and this disjointed approach does not make it any easier.

This I think is the whole issue in a nut shell. What do you think?

The life of a Photographer: Model Security - The Common Sense Approach

The life of a Photographer: Model Security - The Common Sense Approach: I have been using models for some years now, normally to explore some private project that I have in mind or to conduct a particular assignm...

Model Security - The Common Sense Approach

I have been using models for some years now, normally to explore some private project that I have in mind or to conduct a particular assignment. It has never ceased to amaze me the lack of security employees by these, mostly young, girls when heading out to an assignment. Let me outline for you how a normal model call for an assignment takes place. The photographer logs onto a Facebook page for models or a dedicated web site for models. The photographer sets out his call, i.e. 'Models needed for bridal dress shoot on such and such date' Models then email/message the photographer and states their interest in taking part in the shoot. Photographer, messages or emails model to book them. Now up to this stage it is very common for neither party to have talked in person or on the phone. In my case I then ask the model to call me, or as they are normally low in finance do they want me to call them. More often than not the model will ask for me to call them. I will always want to talk to the model before the shoot so that I am sure they know what they are doing and fully understand what the expectations regarding timings and dress etc are for the day. for the same reasons the model should want to talk to the photographer. On at least 2 separate occasions I have collected models from a train station, on my own. The model who has only got a description of my vehicle, gets into my car without a moments thought and is happy for me to drive them away from the station to an unknown or at least unfamiliar destination without any form of check to ensure the photo-shoot is real and I am a trustworthy photographer. Now why does this bother me, well I am a father of a wonderful 17 year old daughter and so i exhibit just a little 'over protectiveness' and I can't stand thinking of any female putting themselves in dangerous situation because of a lack of thought. I have questioned several models who turn up to work for me, mainly those in their late teens, did they check my web site? Do they know what my landline phone number is? Do they know my address? Have they checked with anyone else who has worked with me? In almost every occasion the answer is 'no' to all of the above. Now it seems to me there are a number of checks a model should conduct before heading off, on their own, to an assignment, and several simple security measures they should take to ensure others know where and with who they are going to be working with. 1. Always ask the photographer for their landline number, never settle for a mobile, and call the number to ensure it is genuine. So many mobile phones are pay as you go with no trace on the person who is using it. 2. Always look at the photographers web site, if he has one. If the photographer does not have a web site then you have to ask the question what use are the photo's going to be put to and why is he taking them.. It is true they may be a personal project of a student or amateur photographer, but this should still be viewed as a potential problem sign. If there is no web site then during your telephone call, on their landline, ask then to explain who they are, the purpose of the shoot and what is their experience level. Always ask what kind of photography they are looking at and if you have limits, no nudity etc make sure this is known by the photographer before you accept the assignment. 3. Find out exactly where the shoot is taking place, do not settle for a general area but know where the shoot is. If the photographer cannot give a definite location and they are vague about what they want to achieve then they could not have given much thought to to shoot and their over all intentions must be questioned. 4. Always ask for their studio or home address, and confirm that address via the phone book. 5. Always, always leave the details of the photographer, the studio address and or the location of the shoot along with the predicted timeline of the assignment with your family, partner or friend and tell them of a time when you will make a check call back to them. I would suggest as a minimum of one call when you arrive at the appointed location and another when you are leaving. These steps are basic and employ just a pinch or two of common sense and should be employed as a minimum by all models, male and female, before accepting and then heading off for any modelling assignment. The great majority or photo-shoots are wonderful, exciting and enjoyable for all concerned, but that does not keen we should take it for granted that it will always be so.