Amateur Vs pro

[segedi]

So that is all HTML? No flash? And you built it from scratch?

My site is based on a CSS/HTML grid (http://cssgrid.net) which uses a 12 column grid design. I could have built that part from scratch, by didn't feel like reinventing that wheel. The html/css was heavily customized though - I take some clay and try to create a work of art. The home page animation uses javascript (jquery) instead of flash - so it doesn't result in blank peices when viewed on an iphone, etc. And the site is built around a content management system which makes updates and reporting easier.

All things considered, when it comes to a photography Web site, it really is the photos that make a difference! Your photos are really nice, well done.

 

[michaelbsc]

Well, I am not a lawyer, nor do I play a lawyer on stage. But I do know just a small bit about what "professional" means in a strict sense in South Carolina and North Carolina, places that I have a residence.

In those states and most states in the US, no advice about other countries, the word professional has nothing to do with income or sales or peer recognition or much of anything we normally associate with the word in vernacular speech.

The word "professional" means that you have a license from the state to perform certain acts, and that you meet the state specified minimum requirements for that license, and you can be held accountable for violations of the license terms or violations of the rules, regulations, and laws regarding that profession.

Specifically, lawyers, nurses, doctors, dentists, barbers, cosmetologists, and a whole list of other "professions" have a license hanging on the wall somewhere (or a professional driver has it in his wallet most likely) that can be revoked.

Income is about money, and the IRS couldn't care less if you steal it as long as you declare it.

I work as an engineer, but I am not a Licensed PE. So there are things that I cannot do. Regardless of the level of "professionalism" I may display in my work, I am not able to claim the mantle of Professional Engineer.

Photographers are not licensed, at least not any place I live, so in South Carolina and North Carolina there are no "professional" photographers in the strictly legal sense.

For a vernacular definition, I'll offer one that my father always gave me growing up. The difference between an amateur and a professional is that an amateur may do a good job when he wants to, but a professional must do a good job when he doesn't want to.

MB

 

[Steve Smith]

I work as an engineer, but I am not a Licensed PE. So there are things that I cannot do. Regardless of the level of "professionalism" I may display in my work, I am not able to claim the mantle of Professional Engineer.

I too work as an engineer. I am in England though where we don't have such licencing for engineers (but we do have institutes,etc.). Some people think I shouldn't use the title engineer as I don't have a degree but as far as I am concerned, when I am doing engineering work, I am an engineer. And as I earn money from it, I am a professional engineer.

And I can out-engineer many alleged engineers I have met who are degree qualified but real life incompetent.


Steve.

 

[JamesDean]

Thanks everyone,

Great to see the international variation in 'what makes a pro' quips.

Since my day job is working with moving images and I'm effectively self employed, I wouldn't hesitate to declare any earnings I made selling a print to the taxman; I can't imagine a tax inspector making the distinction between photography and my normal line of work.

Diapositivo got closest to answering my poorly worded question:

If you sell prints as "fine art", not in series, that's not considered in most countries commercial use, even if you sold them at $5000 each.

"Commercial" has two common definitions: the broad one, "selling for publication", and the narrowest one, "selling for advertisement".

If I take a shot without commercial intent and, therefore, without the landowners express permission (in areas where permission is not required for non-commercial photography) and later produce and sell a limited edition (for arguments sake) fine art print, have I done anything wrong? Diapositivio suggests not, as long as I'm in the right country. Any further thoughts?

Cheers,

J.

 

[mark]

If you supply mounts or frames for pictures, these could be charged at a "high" rate with a free enclosed photo - then you could be a professinal mounter rather than a professional photographer!


Sim2.

I used to work night shift at a convenience store frequented by many pretty young professional mounters. According to the cops their mounting was illegal and seeking their mounting services was illegal as well. So, maybe he does not want to be a professional mounter. Though these ladies did make a lot of money selling their mounting expertise. Pictures probably cost extra.

 

[michaelbsc]

I used to work night shift at a convenience store frequented by many pretty young professional mounters. According to the cops their mounting was illegal and seeking their mounting services was illegal as well. So, maybe he does not want to be a professional mounter. Though these ladies did make a lot of money selling their mounting expertise. Pictures probably cost extra.

See. They weren't licensed. You must be licensed to be a professional.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk

 

[Sim2]

I used to work night shift at a convenience store frequented by many pretty young professional mounters. According to the cops their mounting was illegal and seeking their mounting services was illegal as well. So, maybe he does not want to be a professional mounter. Though these ladies did make a lot of money selling their mounting expertise. Pictures probably cost extra.

I did wonder how long it would be before the double-entendre was "raised" as it were .....

Nice reply! Though have heard the money is good...

Sim2