I am curious about how you guy define a profesional photographer, thus introducing this poll to see.

Let's roll.

what say u?

Definition of 'Professional' according to Merriam Webster

1 a : of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession b : engaged in one of the learned professions c (1) : characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession (2) : exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace
2 a : participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs <a professional golfer> b : having a particular profession as a permanent career <a professional soldier> c : engaged in by persons receiving financial return <professional football>
3 : following a line of conduct as though it were a profession <a professional patriot>

Basically a person who makes a living out of photography can be considered a professional. When a person tells me "You think you very pro-ah?" I will answer him "I just got paid for shooting a client's b!tch"

opt 1 .. i think

i took opt one too

It's always been Option 1

I voted opt 5

i voted option 5..

i voted for #5, but hope to become #1.

i voted no5 too... i think tht is a good opt

Let's put the material part of being a professional aside for a moment and think about the equally important immaterial part of it. A professional simply cannot be considered "professional" if he doesn't conduct himself professionally. This could range from simple matters such as getting things done on time (I'm bad at this..), to making decisions drawing from the principles and ideals of the profession and society in general.

very well said.

i opted 3 mainly because being a pro means making a career out of something.on the other hand though, it doesnt include freelancing and other stuff.. so i really dunno what to choose

its option 2. i dont think its option 1. example, if i am say, a full time lawyer who makes some side income trading stocks doesnt make me a professional trader.

I would second BurgaFlippinMan's opinion

I would say a photographer who earn a leaving out from his photographing works.

Option no. 2 for me.

Option 5 for me

Im choosing option 5 too..

As a professional photographer, I think it should be in a few category, is not someone who can shoot and make some money out of it is consider a professional

There are professional photographers in news, sport, advertising, portraits, fashion, wedding, interior, nature and lots more

Important is a photographer should understand not only theory but pratical as well. He or she should have at least 5 yeras of experience in most field then you can call yourself a real professional

This is just my 2 cents opinion

i think taking good photo and can earn from it is the best.

so i choose option 5

Professional photog never use ppl's work as their own work to make money, simple as tat

Why world renowed photographer "Gil Bensimone" consider as a pro fashion photographer??

A pro would be option 1, a little off topic, but a good photographer would be one who is content with his own work, as photography is like art, and art is very subjective, and when something is subjective.....how good the 'art' is, is really up to the 'painter'.

a taxi driver and a bus driver can considered as professional driver? jk

my 2cents... professional means it should be of a profession
good or bad is in the eyes of the beholder esp wrt arts
so i pick 1

I think a pro pgotographer would not only be able to take great photos, but also be able to capture the feeling. I've voted no.5

in arts...a pro is the one who knows his tools in and out and make the best out of it anyway he can to create achieve his/her creative vision...as they say, power is nothing without control (i think it's from perelli tyre ads n___n)

yeah ..... they willing to spend their life to learn and earn ...
google smith eugen n Ansel Adam, they no longer pro, they are legend ....

I think most of us misunderstood the meaning of 'pro' or 'professional'. From my knowledge, a professional photographer means a photographer who makes a living doing photography (it's their profession, hence 'professional) , unlike most of our understanding that 'a pro' or 'a professional' means a VERY GOOD photographer, or an EXPERT in photography..

e.g of misconception: "Your picture so good, very PRO lar.."

A photographer that takes great photos, but may and may not sell them
is what I define as a pro photographer, because as you see, he has his own shooting edge, everyone of us have different thumbprint, and if everyone give him a praise, then his work is pretty much a qualified pro photographer... but if the photographer himself has his own style until other willing to buy his works, then he is sure to be famous for not selling it....

That means, his work is priceless in some kind of way, meaningful.

i think a pro photogpraher is someone who does not use photoshop to edit their pics
users that use photoshop to edit their pics will be a pro photoshopgrapher

For me, a professional photographer never and ever use any editor of any kind of software use to adjust enhanced or edit any photo. All is ORIGINAL and remain untouch.

Its is juz like the beauty of the nature! It comes with feeling and care towards the pictures and the nature creation. Not only with feeling but the intention to treasure the artistic of nature and protect it from any cause of harm to it!

a person who depend 100% of their income in photography..

i think a pro photographer is someone who takes good pictures and not relying on photography softwares to edit their pictures. just my opinion though

I wan say at here that i vote option 5, why because professional not just ppl in that field can define as professional even normal person also can define as professional. Why? If the work/jobs you really like it so much even it didnt give u income but with passion came from deepest hard and you feel satisfied; you did it the best ever!! that every1 cant do as u did thats also can define as professional. Sometimes work/job related to money isn't gave you so much choice of creativity coz you need to followed certain style which you don't like or satisfied your demand even you're a boss of the studios, you also need to follow customer requests.

i voted
A photographer that takes great photos, but may and may not sell them

in my opinion, he is one who is skillful with the equipments, have good observations , get good angle .

If what are you saying pro handling camera, that 1 i define as expert not professional...expert in that field...professional those doing jobs in more details and always also very incare....nvr satisfied 1 victory always finding the meaning of life and always keep improve their skill even almost end of ages.

a photographer that takes great photo, but may and may not sell them

i'd like how you explain AMATUER photographer then.

so a person who takes great shots, having great understanding of photography technics and vast knowledge in photography BUT not doing it as a profession (making a living) = Amatuer?

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/professional

from what i see, it's not wrong for you to say a PROfessional is someone making a living balbalblabla out of it but then that doesn't mean others have mis-understood the term either.

your explaination is damn good !

Opt 5 seem fimiliar to me....

somehow i feel most people here is confuse,
with the word professional to artist

coz #5
a photographer that takes great photo, but may and may not sell them

sounds more like an artist to me

About Option 1: I make a few hundred ringgit from contributing pix to the newspaper every month. But that doesn't make me a pro though.

I'm choose <None of the above, please state your reason> !
In my opinion ,I'm think a "Pro" photographer should be able to take any kind of photo !
(eg ,Photo in World War II ,,China Nanjing case ,China 6-4 case ,Malaysia 513 case ,Taiwan 921 case ,USA 911 case ..tsunami (but not the reporter go and kacao after the event happened :blink:they are not pro! )...and more .. )
These kind of photographer are damn pro ! ,They record the true !
They taken the the true and pass it from generation to generation !!

For those prefer taking race girl ,old man ,flower,landscape---they are normal and simple photograper only!

strange. you said.......



and to be followed by.......... your "eg" of a specific range of photography type, looks more like event based.

then to continue with the statement.



so how does that make sense?

These just my opinion ,Hope u won't be angry even u r not in my "Pro" photographer range !
Ya..ya, the "eg" is base on events but doesn't make a specific range of photography type and its not limit the photographer skill !! and i said those prefer taking race girl ,old man ,flower,landscape---they are normal and simple photograper because the photography is very simple and normal for "pro"photographer !
I know that is little bit confused !
So,
In conclusion ,the "Pro" photographer is:
those able to take clear,sharp and true photo under worse condition !


Thanks !!

operative word here is great shots, so it's a professional takes great shots, means sellable. sometimes they take for shiok, don't want to sell, but some photog will sell. basically if great shot dy, means pro la.

what's there to be angry? i'm just asking cos your post is quite odd, contradictory.

preference and skills are 2 seperate matters. one can be a "pro" yet prefer to snap landscape, flower, old man, race girl.