When I've been out with a camera (or two or three), others who have talked to me have said, "Oh, you're a photographer. Are you a professional?" My answer has been that if you consider a professional to be someone who makes money at it, then no, I'm not. If you consider a professional to be someone who usually gets the result they expected, then yes, I am. I haven't gotten any pushback on that answer and all have started out by calling me a photographer. Which I agree with anyway.