An opinion that may be held by some is a photographer's work must be renowned or the photographer must be famous in order to be considered an artist.
That is very far from the truth.
I always asked my first semester students how many rock stars they knew. I then asked how many really good or professional singers had they known. And like myself, most of them knew someone that had a great singing voice and made money from their singing gigs (weddings, corporate events, touring bands, etc.). Then I would say, there are even less famous photographers than there are rock stars, but there are many great photographic artists and that is what your goal should be. Being famous is like winning the lottery, and not many people ever get remotely close to that, but working to master your trade (commercial photography in this example) or polish your skills through your chosen art is very real and obtainable.
If someone is seeking fame or fortune, I think there are better avenues to go down other than photography.
Photographers are artists, but not everyone is good at art, and someone will finish at the bottom. To be good at it, like all artists, photographers must work with their chosen craft. Overnight success is an illusion that may have been invented by Hollywood. In the arts there is a negative occupation reminder called, "the starving artist." It was my job as a commercial photography instructor to help direct students seeking a place in the profession not to starve, but to learn to thrive. If you are lazy, your work shows it. If you are dedicated, your work progresses. If you love what you do, you are happy and are too busy to complain.
Have fun with your chosen art.