"I Am A Photographer!"

rpsawin

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JBrunner

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Actually, when someone does ask, I tell them "photographer". I'm not ashamed to make my living at it, but I don't hold it any different than saying "railroad brakeman". Sometimes I'm great, most of the time I get the job done, and once in a while I suck. Nobodies life is at stake, which is fine by me.
 

phc

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The important time is when you realise it doesn't matter what you call yourself. Photograher, artist, oompah-loompah. Just get out there and do your thing, wield your axe, shake your moneymaker.

And, by the way, since you're using a camera, people will call you a photographer.

Cheers, P.
 

benjiboy

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I've been shooting film for more than fifty years,to my wife, family and friends I'm a photographer, but to a photographer am I a photographer ?, probably not, but I don't care I just enjoy it.
 

Ed Sukach

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I've done a tiny bit of reasearch ... From Wikipedeia:

Amateur:
"Translated from its French origin of "lover of".. the erm reflects a voluntary motivation to work as a result of personal passion for a particualr activity." (Emphasis mine - ES).

Hobby:
"A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horsee (which was sometimes called a `hobby'). From this came the expression `to ride one's hobby horse', meaning `to follow a favorite pastime", and in turn `hobby' in the modern sense of the word."

Not to admit to any crusade to preserve the English language, I do my photography, for one major reason, the LOVE of it - the "passion" involved. Therefore ... "Amateur" seems to me to be most appropriate.

In truth, by far, the greatest amount of successful work, from both photography, and any other art, has as a basic requirement "The love of it".

Note: I just corrected a Freudian slip here ...I wrote "the love of tit". Interesting, coming from one fascinated by nude photography...

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 

rternbach

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Ed,

Perhaps you can remind me of the name of the bookstore on the North Shore which specializes in photography books. I've never been there but I think it's in your area or maybe a bit further east in Gloucester or Rockport. Also, I'm in favor of honesty and openess over netiquette--you could have left it as it was and that would have been fine with me.

Rudy
 

phc

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I'm definitivly an amateur, and proud of it. It doesn't mean I'm not a photographer. And just because I make some money at it doesn't make me a professional. A professional is someone who gets paid by someone else to do something on their behalf. I just sell pictures I've made.

Cheers, Paul.
 

Ed Sukach

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rternbach said:
Ed,

Perhaps you can remind me of the name of the bookstore on the North Shore which specializes in photography books. I've never been there but I think it's in your area or maybe a bit further east in Gloucester or Rockport.
Click to expand...

I am not familiar with any bookstore that deals exclusively with books dedicated to photography in this (North Shore) area. My best shot wouuld be Borders, or Barnes and Nobel - both on Rte. 114 in Peabody/ Danvers.

Also, I'm in favor of honesty and openess over netiquette--you could have left it as it was and that would have been fine with me.
Rudy
Click to expand...

Oh.

Uh... I have to ask, just what was it that I should have left as it was...???
 
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Dave Pritchard

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I think he meant "for the love of tit".
 

Paul Jenkin

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Spot-on Paul.

"Professional" is a noun and a verb. I'm also an amateur but I try to be as "professional" about what I do as anyone who earns a living from photography.

I would never be pretentious enough to call myself an artist. Even if someone was to describe of one of my photos as "artistic" I would still only regard myself as a photographer.
 

rternbach

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Thanks for your reply but I was thinking of a used books store known for its photography books which I had heard of in the North Shore area of Eastern Mass.--perhaps someone in the New England Regional section of Apug will know*.

I meant the Freudian slip could have been left uncorrected--tit was fine the way tit was.
 
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eddym

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Ummm... and just how do you use "Professional" as a verb? Could you conjugate it for me?
 

Cheryl Jacobs

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I've never understood why the words "photographer" and "artist" are regarded as pretentious. Is it just because there's no requirement for a degree to be either (at least where I live)? Is it pretentious to say "I'm an engineer"?

I'm an artist working in photography and music. Simple statement of fact, no pretentiousness.

- CJ
 

keithwms

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lol

Maybe we should do a group confessional in the style of alcoholics anonymous, you know, where we all gather in a circle and confess our addiction. That can be cathartic.

...my name is Keith, and um, I am a photographer....

Now what are the 12 steps again? Develop, stop, fix, wash, print, develop, stop, fix, wash, tone, wash, upload to APUG....
 

Sirius Glass

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Well, now I am stuck here ...
 

jasonhall

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I think part of the problem is that when we say "I am a Photographer", there seems to be this idea that we are also saying "I am a Professional Photographer". Its not really just in our heads...when I am seen in public with one of my bigger riggs, I am sometimes asked, "are you a photographer?". I will say "yes I am". Then I am asked, "where is your studio?" Then I have to explain "Well, I am not a professional, or at least not a full time professional....."

So sometimes when I am asked, I may proudly say "yes", but in the back of my head I am saying, "um well...yes I am....well, sort of."

Does that makes sense. Me and a small group of "photographers"(see now I am having to use the quote things) were just talking about that very awkard moment. We all feel the need for studio space we can rent. We know of one in a small film camera shop, but we all agreed it is rather run down and not a place we would want to take a client. We are all part timers, "weekend warriors" if you will.

BTW, for those of you who are full time working pros...this is clearly not an issue for you.

Thanks

Jason
 
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Cheryl Jacobs

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jasonhall said:
BTW, for those of you who are full time working pros...this is clearly not an issue for you.

Thanks

Jason
Click to expand...

Oh, yes it is. You would not believe how many part- or full-time professional photographers have this exact issue. That's why I addressed it in an article I recently posted here on APUG that I wrote a few years back. To be obnoxious and quote myself:

Learn to say “I’m a photographer” out loud with a straight face. If you can’t say it and believe it, you can’t expect anyone else to, either.
Click to expand...

- CJ
 

jasonhall

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Thanks Cheryl,

Your quote is so very true! BTW, I have been keeping track of your blog lately. I like the article on "Light-Chasing" and the chicken coop.

Jason
 

David Brown

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Cheryl Jacobs said:
I've never understood why the words "photographer" and "artist" are regarded as pretentious. Is it just because there's no requirement for a degree to be either (at least where I live)? Is it pretentious to say "I'm an engineer"?
Click to expand...

If (as I understand from so many other threads) it is art if the intent was to make art, then one is an artist if one has the intent to be one. It doesn't necessarily mean you're good at it.
 

MattKing

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I think anyone who makes art is an artist, and anyone who takes photographs is a photographer.

If you express to the world that "I am a Photographer" or "I am an Artist" you are indicating a desire to be valued (at least in part) for what you do - "my photography or my art is important to me, and I want others to know that".

Matt
 

Cheryl Jacobs

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jasonhall said:
Thanks Cheryl,

Your quote is so very true! BTW, I have been keeping track of your blog lately. I like the article on "Light-Chasing" and the chicken coop.

Jason
Click to expand...

Thanks, Jason. I suppose I'd better update my blog, then, eh? LOL. I keep meaning to, but have been so swamped with this-and-that that I haven't quite gotten to it. Hopefully later this evening, when I might have a little quiet time.
 

rternbach

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In an effort to keep things in perspective: you are what you do. You do photography you are a photographer. You make art you are an artist. You drink a pint of gin and a 30-pack a day for years and you have a much more serious problem to confess than the fact that you like to take photographs and make art.
 
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