First, let us define professional. According to Merriam-Webster, a professional is “engaged in one of the learned professions” which is “characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession” or ”exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace.” It goes on to state that one is a professional by “participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs” and “engaged in by persons receiving financial return.” It also defines it as “following a line of conduct as though it were a profession.”
Now let us see if the Oxford Living Dictionary has anything different. It says a professional is one “belonging to a profession” and “Worthy of or appropriate to a professional person; competent, skillful, or assured.” It goes on as one “engaged in a specified activity as one’s main paid occupation rather than as an amateur.”
The Cambridge Dictionary was consulted as well. By its definition, a professional is “a person who has a job that needs skill, education, or training”, “done as a job, or relating to a skilled type of work”, and “Professional also means having the qualities of skilled and educated people, such as effectiveness and seriousness of manner.”
If you type in “define professional photographer” into Google search, your page will show a variety of answers. Most will lean towards the definition of one who makes a living from what they do as a job. Some will say that if you sell any of your work as a photographer, you are a professional. Both of these stances offer valid points.
Recently I listened to a podcast from Moose Peterson entitled “A Professional Is…?”. (Listen here https://www.moosepeterson.com/blog/moose-podcast-359-a-professional-is/) In it he describes listening to a photographer give a talk about being a professional. He asked the audience for their definitions, which were typical answers similar to what the dictionaries quoted above state. He then when on to say that his definition of a professional photographer is “one who takes his photography seriously.” Moose goes on to say he doesn’t remember much after that because that definition just blew him away. It kind of blows my mind too. I have considered myself a semi-professional going by the typical meaning of the word professional. But because I do take my photography seriously, I am a professional. No longer will I have to be shy about telling people about it.
I may never have a client list, charge thousands of dollars for workshops, or have my images in big name publications, but it does not make me less of a professional. I take my work seriously. And sure, I make mistakes. I learn from them. I got better. That is how I got to where I am.
If you are a painter, writer, musician, or other type of artist, this definition of taking your work seriously makes you a professional too. It does not matter if you make money from your art (although it does help). It does not matter if you are published or have your work hanging in a gallery or played in concert halls. You as an artist taking your work seriously makes you a professional.
To sum it up, I am engaged in a profession with a set of skills I have learned over the years. I am paid for my work. And I am serious about my photography. So, heck yes, I am a professional.
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