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Just curious how many members of this site actually make their living from photography?

When you reply, then I'll visit your gallery, and try to learn from your photos I find that I learn more just by studying a really great photo, than any other means... apart from practice, of course.

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"To defy the laws of tradition... is a crusade only of the brave"

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So what is a professional?

Some say its when you make a liveing at it, some says its when your good, some say if you make any money at it, and some just say it to say it...

Am I a profession? NO
Have I sold or contracted images? Yes
Have I had work published? Yes
Do I make a liveing at it? NO
Do I want to? No, that takes the fun out of it.

You are correct though, you can learn a lot from reviewing other work. But I often find I learn more from others mistakes than I do from professional results. But thats just my cup of tea.

Though I have to admit I often find others work that is similar to mine to be more bentifical than something that is not even close.

So whats the purpose of knowing about the PROS or NO PROS? I mean do you think someones work is better is they say there a pro?

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Have my images been sold? Yes
Makes me a Pro? No clue
I just cross my fingers.. point the camera.. click some buttons.. and hope for the best

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Pro Photographer ????????

Do I make a living from Photography ? I use to work full time as a photographer.... And JCW3 was right, much fun is taken out of it when you work all the time as a photographer.... I am NOT saying that you DONT have fun. I am just saying that there are many times that you are just taking photos for the money ( without having any fun )

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I agree with what has been written here already. Living in Orlando, I have had a lot of work with models wanting head shots etc. I did this work in my garage and it was fun. I then thought I would like to try making a living at photography and found out that the art of it was gone. I was always having to shoot what the client wanted and felt like an assemblyline(?) I then worked for a prof. portrait studio and found that I had to be more of a saleman than photographer...they didn't even look at my portfolio when came for an interview. I got so disillusioned and put down the camera for about 5 years because I was so afraid someone would ask me to take pics again and the cycle would start over. I got married. Had kids. And realized I couldn't travel over the world with National Geographic and I did not want to be a salesman. Now I've gone digital (so much less expensive than film) and have once again slowly started back again with my passion of taking pics for me. If others like it, great. If they don't, I ask for critiques. If I agree, I change things. If I think they're nuts, I don't. Either way, I'm in control again...and its fantastic.

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Who said I wanted to be a professional photographer?

I definitely do not. I agree with everyone about it not becoming fun anymore. As it is, I am enjoying photography a great deal. I find it very satisfying, and very challenging. I'm doing it now, because it's fun. I've also sold some of my work... but that doesn't mean anything to me.

It's just like anything. I used to skateboard a lot. I really enjoyed it... broken bones and all One day a shop wanted to sponsor me. I agreed. Now I had to be in parades on the 4th of July, go to exhibitions, blah blah blah. Basically, it became a job. Jobs are NOT fun. I lost the passion, and quit. Just recently picked it back up, even though I'll be 31 this year

Maybe I should have asked "who here is an extraordinary photographer?" However, in that case I would have been bombarded with with personal opinions of someones own work.

What I wanted to do, was have a look at some "professional" photographers photos (and I thought I explained what I meant... that your living is made from photography), then compare what I saw with my own, and see what I've done wrong, or right. Not that just because someone makes a living from it, their photos are good, but I'm curious as to the quality they are getting paid for also.

I know that a professional, does not an impressive image make.

Whoever asked if I think pros are better than those that are not, well, the answer is of course not. That would be absurd. That would be equal to saying that all college graduates make 6 digits. I'm a realist ;)

Ok, let me rephrase my question then...

Does anyone here know of any extraordinary photo galleries to look at?

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"To defy the laws of tradition... is a crusade only of the brave"

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I can't agree that because you make a living with photography that it takes the fun out of it. Maybe it's due to the fact that I am very specific about what I will & won't shoot. I will NOT shoot weddings, golf and a few other things because they ARE boring to me. Point me to a race track and I will make money AND enjoy it. I shoot a lot for a newspapers as well, mostly highschool sports like football, soccer, basketball, baseball, soccer,wrestling and even gymnastics on rare occasions (like last Sat.).
Among other things I am a track photographer at a race track as well, it is a lot of hard work, hours of looking through the camera, then hours going over pictures, then sending various shots to one of 30 publications or any number of newspapers around the country.
Do I consider myself a pro, yes, and I am proud of it. Do I make money, yes, and I enjoy it now more because I have so many more oppertunities than I had before. If I wasn't a pro I would never have the oppertunity to shoot at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, or even Indianapolis Raceway Park or Anderson Speedway. I feel lucky to be able to shoot at these historic tracks, or any number of tracks in the area. My business is getting tougher by the year as new photographers come along, some tracks, most in fact are cutting back on the photographers who get in making the competition fierce and adding to the fun in a competitive way.
http://www.freewebs.com/johnstark/index.htm

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In reply to JCW3 and what makes a professional photoghrapher.

It depends on what type of photography you do.
If your doing portraits, weddings and so on the obvious answer is that if your being hired and getting jobs your a professional.

If your doing commercial photography and getting jobs or hired by a single company your a professional.

If you shoot sports and sell photos and/or are published in newspapers or magazines and get media credentials for events from those publishers you are a professional.
And so for other types of photography.

This week alone I have added three more magazines to publish my work. Photography is a full time job for me, but I enjoy it and I can draw the line when needed. If I need a break I can take one.
I must be doing something right, if there is an event I want to shoot and I can't personally get credentials for that event one phone call to a publisher and I am in. And I have only been shooting since July of 2001. I have gone from an elcheapo point & shoot to a midrange ($1500 ) digital with zoom to a Pro Canon 1D.

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Enough about me, lets talk about you...what do you think of me?

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