When "Artist" and "Amateur" Were Synonyms

[faberryman]

I think those students you mention are really photographers heading to becoming working pros. My initial conversation was started by saying non-pros, people who do photography for the joy of it, who don't think to make a career of it, who have other careers, they don't have to make money to prove they're worthwhile. Those are the ones I'm talking about, they do it strictly for fun, but those non-career-oriented shooters, in my experience, still want to get paid to show they're better than an "amateur" who doesn't make money. It's like money is the proof. I was positing what if someone could feel worthwhile without pay, strictly for joy.

I guess we all have different experiences.