When do you become a photographer?

[Chocoholix]

Hi everybody, I am new here... well I've been lurking for a while but only just now did I dare register...

There is something that has been bothering me for a while and I want to ask...
When do you become a photographer?
And even if you are a photographer, it doesn't mean you are a good one, right?

The reason I ask is this: I haven't been to a photography school but I have been photographing since I can remember myself. My first digital camera was a Sony Mavica 1mp (in 1997 I think I got that one). I am not new to DSLRs, I've been using them since 2005... In the last years, after years of just taking photos and doing digital editing for my kids and my kids alone, with the prompting of friends I dared sell my work as a way to make some pocket money... nothing big or fancy, just photos of friends' kids, some christenings etc.

Anyway... I have a friend who was a photographer. In the sense he has studied photography... He says I am not really a photographer and finds flaws in every single picture I take... some of the flaws he finds I think are what make my picture unique and charming (my customers so far have been thrilled and keep coming back for more as their children grow).
But at the same time I look at his photos even the headshots I hired him to take of me for commercial purposes (for my other job and the book(s) I wrote) and I honestly can't see a difference between his work and mine. Which has me scratching my head in puzzlement... why is he a photographer but not I??

Anyway, look, I know I have SO MUCH to learn and I certainly don't go around bragging. I am reading everything I can get my hands on, try new things all the time, attend seminars... so when ARE you a photographer??
I have been photographing (and I don't mean the casual, on Auto, inside the house and at the playground photos) for 10 years now... Is it because I don't have a fancy camera or because I don't have 20 lenses?? Or because my pictures are all faulty?

I have no aspirations to make a career out of it. It's ok to get some pocket money which I save up to buy a lens here and there or something for my camera... I am just wondering...
Sorry for the long post...

Thanks in advance for any replies!
Tina

[graciousness]

From Wikipedia:

A photographer (from Greek φωτός (photos), meaning "light", and γράφω (graphos), meaning "I write") is a person who takes photographs using a camera. A professional photographer uses photography to earn money whilst amateur photographers take photographs for pleasure and to record an event, emotion, place, or person.

So you can tell that photographer friend of yours to shove his equipment up his a$$ for being such a a-hole to you. That kind of arrogance, esp if he is suppose to be a friend, just really pisses me off.

Sure, question whether you are a good photographer. Challenge you, even, if you can become a professional photographer. However, he cannot deny you the fact that you are a photographer, whether he likes it or not. God forbid that you share his passion and even find some people willing to pay you for the same work he does.

The issue of the title is that once you are categorised as a photographer, you are instantly thought of as a 'paid' or a 'professional' photographer, as oppose to an amateur which a huge percentage of the photographers are nowadays. You've been doing this long enough to at least give yourself the title of an amateur Or at least, if this makes you feel more comfortable, call yourself a part-time photographer.

Don't let anyone deny you of what you do and what you have become.

[Woody]

Hello Choc and welcome to DPS. Just chuck a few pieces of your work on critique section and you'll soon see how good you are.

]'m sure you will get excellent feedback and become a more acomplished photographer very quickly.

Cheers,

John W

[Ambrosia76]

I look at the photos on your blog and I think they are fantastic. Just because someone doesn't like you style doesn't mean that it is a bad photo. Your style is what people are paying you for. I can't stand fake smile studio shots,all though I am forcing myself to learn how to do them I don't think I will ever be good at them because I don't have a passion for it.

[phil24]

I like the photos on your blog, wish I could read some of the comments. If those were my children's pics I'd be happy with your work. Let's see some more on the critique section and watch how helpful people are on this site.

[CheaperKings]

When I wake up.

[andyw]

Tell your friend he is a "Richard Head".

You are a photographer if you are taking photographs - simple as that really.
If you went to college and studied photography all that makes you is a photographer who studied photography at college.
They are no better or worse than people such as myself who have been doing it for years and never did a 3 year course (photographing bricks).

I don't know a single photographer, whether they have been doing it for 20 minutes or 20+years (like me) who does not have something to learn.
If someone wants to, it is possible to pick faults with anyones images.

I don't think there is "proper" photographer in the world who thinks they have yet taken the perfect image.

Basically, you take photographs therefore you are a photographer.
Whether you are good or successful...... well that is a different thing of course.

[UlpilotSC]

The nice thing about photography is that its an art form. You can pick faults with an art form. One would say Stephen King is overall a good writer, but you might also say that some of his paragraphs are pedantic and overly descriptive. Its an opinion. You might look at a painting and think "why did she do that?" or think "that song would sound better if....". Its art, as long as you or your client are happy, who cares what the detractors say. I watched ratatoullie the other day with my daughter, and the critic's speech at the end fits here...
The artist takes all the risk, spending time and effort and offerring up his work. The critic risks nothing.

[NicoleScraps]

OKay, yesterday, I looked at your blog all the way to the very end (beginning). You definitely have a distinct style and I can totally see how someone who is a traditionalist/purist photographer who is very concerned with following the rules and doing things "properly" could pick out technical flaws in your work. However, that does not mean that one should pick out those flaws. I think that the "flaws" are part of what makes up your style ie; blown highlights, unique compositions, tilted framing, etc.
My point-tell him to shove it and do what you love. Find people who love your style and don't look back. Not to say that you should stop learning and improving, but stay true to what you want to do.

[JFSanders]

Sorry you have a jealous friend. He is probably just pissed because he spent a boatload of money getting his sheepskin and yet he can't produce a better image than you. Experience is THE best teacher. So look at it as if you have been going to school since you got your first camera.

Jim