Everyone is a professional photographer now?

Cradles Broken Glass

I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed this, but probably at least half of my facebook friends (regular people that I know) are all "photographers." I don't know it's just a pet peeve of mine I guess. I don't think a digital camera, free online editing software, and charging a session fee makes you a pro. Well, that's my rant for the day...I was just wondering if anyone else has noticed it?

PureandEasy

apparently they're all professional videographers too, ergo, youtube.

is that the right word, videographer?

Kilgore_Trout

That's the art world for ya. You only have to be marginally better than your friends and family at something to become a total hot-head shit about it. As someone who went through art school and now teaches, it's obvious that these "pros" would much rather compare themselves to their artistically inept friends than to the real professionals they aspire to. Parents, please don't encourage your kids at something they're not cut out for.

Jamminonthe1

Sad thing is most people don't really even know how to use all the expensive equipment they buy. And if the internet has taught me one thing as a newspaper journalist, people (publishers, readers, advertisers) don't care enough about web-specific quality.

81

you don't like my pictures?

PillowPants

seems like the easy way out for people who don't want to work 9-5

guilting your friends into letting you take pictures for silly amounts of money


doesn't take much to take good enough photos i guess

Jamminonthe1

Getting a few friends to pay you to take pictures is not going to make you full-time job money. That's called side money and has no benefits.

Cradles Broken Glass

I honestly doubt any of them have a tax number.

81

Cradles Broken Glass wrote:

I honestly doubt any of them have a tax number.

it's called a SSN number. just about everyone has one.

PillowPants

Jamminonthe1 wrote:

Getting a few friends to pay you to take pictures is not going to make you full-time job money. That's called side money and has no benefits.

friends have kids and then it's a close to full time gig...

and i'm also assuming that these people don't need full time money or benefits

their spouse who hates them provides that

Dissidentman

PillowPants wrote:

Jamminonthe1 wrote:

Getting a few friends to pay you to take pictures is not going to make you full-time job money. That's called side money and has no benefits.

friends have kids and then it's a close to full time gig...

and i'm also assuming that these people don't need full time money or benefits

their spouse who hates them provides that

The voice of experience...

Cradles Broken Glass

PillowPants wrote:

Jamminonthe1 wrote:

Getting a few friends to pay you to take pictures is not going to make you full-time job money. That's called side money and has no benefits.

friends have kids and then it's a close to full time gig...

and i'm also assuming that these people don't need full time money or benefits

their spouse who hates them provides that

This is a little off of my original topic, but I used to be an ad executive for a local newspaper. I realize that not all small businesses are like this and I have great admiration for those who can build a business out of doing something they love....However, I would be safe in saying that probably 4 out of 5 small businesses in my town were ran by people who didn't need the money, they were just bored at home their spouse could support their venture. Actually the business itself probably went into the red every month, but hubby wrote out that rent check and that was all that mattered.

Lone Drawn Meteor

My neighbourhood is at capacity for stay-at-home moms who have the logos for their photography business stuck to the rear window of their mini vans.

RKCNDY

I think people just get really excited when they take (what they think) is a 'really great' shot. Art is so dependent on the audience...I think some pics are crap, but others may think they're great.

I've taken some cool pics but I still wouldn't consider myself a 'photographer'.

Cradles Broken Glass

RKCNDY wrote:

I think people just get really excited when they take (what they think) is a 'really great' shot. Art is so dependent on the audience...I think some pics are crap, but others may think they're great.

I've taken some cool pics but I still wouldn't consider myself a 'photographer'.

Same here, I've even had a friend to ask me to take some pics b/c they think I take really good photos. I at least have been through the basic photography class and lab since I was a journalism major. However, I wouldn't dream of charging, it's just a favor for a friend. I do take some well enough that I have photos of my son that I've taken displayed throughout my home, but I realize that I'm not a pro and will not be venturing into the photography business anytime soon. It's just me, my point and shoot having fun with either my kid, wildlife, or my garden, which ever one is willing to pose at the moment.

dcfaithful

For anyone who wants to actually become a true professional, it has to be frustrating with all the illegitimate "competition"