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My Definition of a "Pro Photographer"

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jaylifoto said:
A pro photographer = someone taking images as work to make money
rlpruitt said:
Someone who:
  • makes great images
Click to expand...
--
http://jaylifotoweddings.blogspot.com
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If your "plummer" is a plumber, in most areas of the U.S. they have to be licensed before doing plumbing for a living. And you can tell the difference between a pro and most amateurs in a rush, even if they've already left the site and the water is flowing. Same with photog, in some ways: no licensing is need, so sure there are crummy pros, but, generally, they don't last long, or do well. But a true pro makes great images, or at least images that are great in his and his clients' minds.

--
Charlie Self
http://www.charlieselfonline.com

 
Your 8 questions do not mention photography at all so it's possible to answer yes to all of them without being any kind of photographer.

Frank
 
I'm SOMBODY!!!!

(doing my best Steve Martin imitation)

: )

Roman
--

'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who are we to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous.

Actually, who are we not to be?'

--Marianne Williamson

http://www.pbase.com/romansphotos/
 
Add:
  • Do you have a business plan?
  • Are you licensed by your local, state or federal authorities to do business (self employed) and do you pay taxes (sales tax, etc.).
  • (USA) Have you made a real profit in any two years of the last five (IRS), other wise it is a "hobby." Have you paid income taxes on your "income."
  • Incorporation is NOT necessary... there are other forms of forming a business. Here in Kalifornia incorporation guarantees a minimum $800 additional tax each year.
 
edleg said:
  • Are you licensed by your local, state or federal authorities to do
business (self employed) and do you pay taxes (sales tax, etc.).
Click to expand...
That is what I meant with when I listed this one:
----Do you know how to charge and report sales tax when appropriate?
edleg said:
  • Incorporation is NOT necessary... there are other forms of forming
a business. Here in Kalifornia incorporation guarantees a minimum
$800 additional tax each year.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I know it is not necessary. That's why you don't to answer "yes" to every single question. (Just most of them.)
 
Most of the questions imply photography...

----Do you have liability insurance?
----Are you a member of a professional PHOTOGRAPHY organization?

----Is your PHOTOGRAPHY equipment insured? (riders on homeowner's policies do not count)
----Do you have business cards for your PHOTOGRAPHY?

----Do you have a PHOTOGRAPHY website? (flickr, picassa, and similar sites do not count)
----Are you incorporated?
----Do you know how to charge and report sales tax when appropriate?
----Do you have backup gear for all your major PHOTOGRAPHY equipment?

Better? And all that really shows is that in today's world there a number of common things that professionals do, regardless of discipline.
FrankyM said:
Your 8 questions do not mention photography at all so it's possible
to answer yes to all of them without being any kind of photographer.

Frank
Click to expand...
 
Ahem...

So when I take a commission for a photography project or a painting I am suddenly a professional and not an artist? Have you never heard the term "professional artist"?

Some might argue that "professional" is a quality of approach to projects and clients and not based on some list of practical criteria, like being part of a professional organization. As a former member of the AIA who has practiced architecture for the bulk of my income since leaving the AIA 14 years ago, I can assure you that the pro organization was good for three things: the letters after my name. It had no bearing on the quality of my work or the "professionalism". Professional organizations can be useful in many ways, but they do not define the practioner as a professional.

-Dan

--
Daniel Weil
http://www.danielweil.com
 
Bull.

Selling a pair of pants on eBay does not make me a professional clothing retailer.
Mowing my neighbor's lawn for $5 does not make me a professional landscaper.

Cutting my friends hair for a couple bucks does not make me a professional hairdresser.
Selling homemade cookies at a bake sale does not make me a professional baker.
Timberwolfpuppy said:
A professional photographer simply sells photographic services and
receives compensation in return.
Click to expand...
 
Bill McLeod said:
I don't fit any of those criteria, yet have been a salaried
professional for 23 years.
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I think you misread the question. If you have been a salaried professional (I'm assuming you mean photography) then you would answer "yes" to question 1, and that would be as far as you need to go.

But just out of curiousity, let me ask you....

You don't have your equipment insured?
You don't have liability insurance?
You don't have backup equipment?
You don't report and pay sales tax when appropriate?

Really? Seriously?
 
I disagree. What you defined is someone who is a good photographer and has great people skills. I wish that meant the same thing as professional photographer, but unfortunately, as we all know, they aren't always the same.
rlpruitt said:
Someone who:
  • makes great images
  • keeps his/her clients happy
  • gets paid to do it
  • doesn't give a rat's a$$ what labels other people put on him/her.
Ralph
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brentj said:
edleg said:
  • Are you licensed by your local, state or federal authorities to do
business (self employed) and do you pay taxes (sales tax, etc.).
Click to expand...
That is what I meant with when I listed this one:
----Do you know how to charge and report sales tax when appropriate?
brentj said:
  • Incorporation is NOT necessary... there are other forms of forming
a business. Here in Kalifornia incorporation guarantees a minimum
$800 additional tax each year.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I know it is not necessary. That's why you don't to answer
"yes" to every single question. (Just most of them.)
Click to expand...
Yabbut...sole proprietership and I don't have any idea what to do with sales tax. I don't sell retail.

--
Charlie Self
http://www.charlieselfonline.com

 
Totally agree...

And it also depends on the market you move in. Where I live, having happy clients makes you a pro. The time and money I spent learning photography makes me a pro.

Above all i think a pro is someone who dominates every aspect of what he does.

my english s u c k s!
 
because you pay him.

You pay him 'cause, hopefully, he's a professional.

If a plumber comes to my house, brings the wrong parts, borrows my pipe wrench, connects the hot water heater to the garbage disposal, and leaves me with a leaky faucet and a toilet that won't flush...

He (or she) is DEFINITELY NOT a professional - no matter how much the bill is.

Ralph
 
The problem is we know what a professional is and we know when we meet a person who is "unprofessional" Actual terms are hard to define.

The example I would give is the difference between a licensed taxi and a rogue taxi. The first has the basic requirements of a legal business even if you don't care for the driver or the ride. The second may have the most skilled and charming operator but when he/she crashes they will disappear in an instant.

I would look for the photographer who has what you want in addition to the less flashy aspects of insurance, backup equipment etc.
 
Everything on your list can be purchased.

Hey, if I buy two guitars, two amps, two instrument cables, get insurance, charge sales tax, etc., etc., does that make me a professional musician?

The definition is so simple it escapes most. You do it for a living and make a profit in three out of the last five years. If you cannot do that then the IRS calls you a hobbyist. If you do that then your are legally a professional photographer at least as far as the tax man is concerned.

Your ex-clients might think you are a total hack and getting more liability insurance and a third set of camera gear for double backup won't get that client back.

BTW, I know of NO photographers toting around two Phase One P45's and two bodies and two sets of Digitars. I guess I need to tell all these guys they are not pros...

--

'Truth is stranger than fiction, for we have fashioned fiction to suite ourselves.' G.K. Chesterton

http://www.jimroofcreative.net
 
Photomonkey wrote:
......
Photomonkey said:
I would look for the photographer who has what you want in addition
to the less flashy aspects of insurance, backup equipment etc.
Click to expand...
It has nothing to do with "flash"!
In fact those two items are invisible -
UNTIL THEY ARE REQUIRED!

The back up equipment is required for once in a lifetime projects:
weddings, the Olympics, some extremely unique scenario for and ad.

For architecture & interiors, if the gear fails, go to a rental house (lose 2 hours or a day).

V
 
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