What makes a Pro photographer?

[johndec]

I've just come home from dinner with friends at a well known restaurant strip in Sydney. As I don't wish to get a lawsuit, I won't say where.... Across the road from our eatery was a photography studio with a heap of examples of their "work" proudly displayed in the window.

Naturally, I went over to check out their examples. It's one of your bog stock weddings/studio/cute kid pic type of joints. Now I suppose I have at best a "semi trained" eye and therefore have little right to be critical, but I have never seen such a collection of rubbish in my life

Wedding photos with the highlights (dress) so blown that it blinds you and the bride looks like an albino, cute toddler pics with poor cropping so the kid doesn't have a left foot, shadows on the backdrop on studio portraits, etc....

The only saving grace (if you can it that) was that most of them were B&W, sepia and/or unusual tilted angles which makes the average punter think they look artistic....

If that's all it takes to be a pro, I'm already there as I didn't see one pic in that window that I would want to call my own.

[mic]

JD, I'm opening my new store soon named ( Inversion ) I know what you mean though, imagine with all the experience here in this Forum & all the great images posted here what ( Gary, how about opening an on line store of dslrusers.com )



Reckon we would make a killing

Mic.

[MCWB]

What makes a Pro photographer? They make money from taking photographs. That is all.

[mic]

Sorry, dslrusers.net

[jethro]

ask marcus he dresses like a PRO

[MHD]

What makes a Pro photographer? They make money from taking photographs. That is all.

You beat me... that was my answer...

A good pro, now that is another story

[jethro]

we will call him the madame or ?..........

[johndec]

Now that I've had my rant I should qualify my earlier post by saying that I don't in any way,shape or form believe that all "pro" photagraphers are like the example I alluded to earlier.

To all the people on this forum who make their living via photography as well as all that would like to, all I ask is don't be like the example I've mentioned

[johndec]

JD, I'm opening my new store soon named ( Inversion ) I know what you mean though, imagine with all the experience here in this Forum & all the great images posted here what ( Gary, how about opening an on line store of dslrusers.com )



Reckon we would make a killing

Mic.

Good idea Mic, I have no doubt that the quality and talent is here, but 6MP just doesn't cut it in the stock agency trade. In a couple of years when we all have D200's or D2X's it might be feasible.

[rjlhughes]

You shouldn't judge people by their appearance I know, but judging by the clothes the 80 or so professional photographers were wearing at the Baltronics open day on Saturday there may be more money to be made in providing gear for the pros, than by being one!

What did Mark Twain say: In a gold rush - sell shovels!


Bob

[mic]

Heee heeeee Madame Marcus

[dooda]

I know it. There's a guy here in Squamish that has tons of pics of the landscapes here and none of them are very good. I asked him how many he sells and he told me between 350-400 a year. I couldn't believe it. I guess certain stuff that you blow up and frame and people just assume that it's worthy to spend money on.

[gstark]

I guess certain stuff that you blow up and frame and people just assume that it's worthy to spend money on.

You also need to ensure that you charge a supremely OTT price for your work as well.

[BBJ]

Hell i loose out then, lol although i dont class myself as a pro, far from it but i do sell photo's and well i dress ahh lets say when people see me with jeans on they think i must be sick or something. I dress the way i am most comfortable in and that is shorts and shirt and thongs when i am not at work. Boots at work in the truck and wear shorts near every day of the year.
At the track i wear shorts most of the time as i do cover most of the track so a lot of walking at times and gets a bit warm out there in the sun standing all day.

I am like your average Ozzy occur, Norm.LOL

Just have to look at some of them paintings that get sold for a mint and look like s### that some people spend money on is unreal. Not my cuppa tea.

[shutterbug]

When clients are happy to hand over their hard earn cash. In return you capture images for them

Believe in yourself, and just do it

[ozimax]

It is a perplexing question no doubt, was up at Gold Coast on weekend, one place in particular had sensational "home grown" stock, mainly prints on canvas etc and it was mostly top notch. But I have to agree, saw some landscapes the other day, plastered all over the shop wall by a well known "pro" and most I would have deleted straight off the card, let alone getting to post processing stage.

I still reckon the clever amateurs are better than the "average" pros mostly because they have more time. Of course, there are exceptions.

Just like getting a builder to do some house renovations - I build my own bathrooms, do my own tiling etc because I do a better job than MOST pros, it's just that they can do the job in a week, I take 18 months and never get it quite finished!

This is my two bob's worth anyway.

Max