Professional
In the articles, I touch on the notion of the separation of my paid and personal work, but I don’t really address any details of how that actually looks in practice. I make the distinction for myself by using two different camera systems: Leica M for myself and Canon for clients. I simply love shooting the slower, manual focus and tactile M cameras. It’s more difficult to work with, but I feel it makes me better, more intentional photographer. If I miss focus or framing on a personal image, it might be a disappointment, but I will still hire myself for the next gig. That’s not the case when it comes to paid work, so for that I employ AI powered subject detection autofocus. Still, there is a lot more to be considered than just equipment.
It used to be that the main difference between amateur and professional photographers was quality. You simply wouldn’t last long if you couldn't deliver. Furthermore, when exposures were shrouded by the mysticism of film, a professional had to make sure it was right, just by knowing. I figure I spent at least $15,000 in film, processing alone to get a bachelors degree in photography, but when I graduated, I was confident in my ability to nail it on command, knowing exactly what I would get back from the lab. Still, there was always anxiety involved.
As digital life evolved with both DSLRs and YouTube, then smartphones and social media, the bar for entry was lowered, then lowered again. Photography became democratized. Now in the hands of billions, everyone is a photographer, and the line between professional and amateur has never been blurrier.
Quality is certainly no longer a defining factor. Across all the various outlets, I have come across “amateur” work that is simply incredible. The level of consistency and vision is far beyond that of many professionals I’ve seen. Equally, I have come across work being touted as professional that is technically (as well as artistically, in my humble opinion) dreadful. Missed focus, over processing, bad lighting, over compensating in post for bad light, improper exposure, weak composition… you name it. Just as anyone can now be a photographer, with a little help from the internet, anyone can also call themselves a professional. Furthermore, we now have influencers, content creators, educators, and accessory, workshop and preset salesman - all claiming to be professionals. I suppose if someone is making money off it, by definition, they are a professional - and from what I have seen, that seems to be where most of the money is now. Again, the lines have blurred.
Beyond the basics of running any successful business, the main carryover I have seen from the days of film is that ability to produce a vision on demand - consistently and predictably to the point that a client feels confident investing in them. But even then, a cohesive look has become a given - at a certain point, good imagery is the bare minimum, as all of your peers are producing great work. You compete based on much more than that. Marketing, planning and your ability to articulate what you offer are the common differentiators in getting booked. Just as before, everything has to be thought of and prepared for with systems and contingency plans in place to make sure the job goes as smoothly as possible. Equipment, power, lighting, personnel, logistics, permits, locations - they all have to be mapped out. On big commercial projects, pre-production alone can be the majority of the task, requiring teams of people months. For a reportage photographer, it is an entirely different world, where predictability can be extremely limited, but still must be planned for. No matter the genre one works in, there is a business behind it. It's not simply about imagery - perhaps less than ever, in a time with more great photographers than ever and smaller budgets than ever.
The dream of every professional photographer I know is to be hired to shoot whatever it is they love to shoot and make a living wage. For them to "do them." Some actually achieve this, but more often than not, we are hired to execute somebody else's vision. This is exactly what amateurs get to do. They can shoot anything that inspires them whenever the mood strikes. That is much more luxurious than the reality a professional (typically) has to live with.
So for the record, when I write about being a professional, I am not drawing a comparison to the quality of work. That is not a factor. I refer to it for a frame of mind about my priorities, challenges, obligations and realities.
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| Convergence of platforms and sunset along Santa Barbara Coast. Taken with a Canon M6 MkII, at 560mm. |
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| Port San Luis and Avila, Canon M6 MkII w/55-200 EF-M, a decidedly amateur lens. |
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| Our companion in Space, Canon M6 MkII w/55-200 EF-M, cropped a bit. |
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| Sunset on my beach, Canon M6 MkII w/55-200 EF-M. |