Yes. The photography battle rages over what is an amateur and what makes one a professional.
So, for the sake of this blog, let's define a professional photographer: One who does photography as their primary source of income.
No, having a Canon 5D Mk III or a Nikon D800 doesn't make you a professional. No, just because you get paid for your work doesn't make you a professional. No, winning competitions doesn't make you a professional. Yes, by that definition I am not a professional.
And, no, amateur does not describe picture quality or photographic capability. Some amateurs are far better photographers than a lot of the professional shooters out there.
So, what's the big deal? You shoot weddings, portraits, landscapes, seniors, architecture, wildlife, parties, events, cars, food, streets, people, parks, monuments... Exactly.
The thing about being an amateur is your client: You.
You get to pick what you shoot, when you shoot, where you shoot, who you shoot, and so on. Yes, sometimes you pick up paying gigs. But even these you get to carefully select which ones you want to do and which ones you don't want. You get to decide what you want in your portfolio and you can change it at any point.
Yes, but isn't it better to make money? Not always.
How Being An Amateur Can Make You a Better Pro
1. Freely Find Your Style (Explore Photography)
Often, a professional is a niche shooter - commercial, wedding, portraits, etc. When shooting for yourself, you choose the what, when, where, how and why. Meaning: the whole world of photography is open to you. If you want to shoot landscapes on Tuesday, you can. Thursdays can be for Precious Moments figurine portraits. And Fridays the local culture of your neighborhood. The limitations placed on your photography are your own. You can choose to learn studio lighting or trace the shadows of NYC's buildings. Learn the intricacies of primes or micro four-thirds. Get an old film camera and play around with light leaks.
Do this practically and repeatedly: Choose something that you want to learn about photography and do it. Then do it again. And again until you have it. Then move on to the next skill you want to learn.
I spend an inordinate amount of time looking through photos and discovering things that I want to be able to do. I follow great photographers through websites, blogs, Facebook, and Instagram. By doing this, I am able to pick up tricks, tips, and skills, and compare my work.
The other thing I do is shoot as much as possible in as many environments as possible. It is rare that I end up shooting the same thing twice - the lighting changes, my equipment is different, what I am looking for is different. But, when I do return to a similar situation, I try to see it in a new way.
2. Produce Personal Projects
By definition, the professional's projects are his clients' projects. He shoots what will make him money. When shooting for yourself, you are the client. You get to produce your own projects.
Our photography is influenced by our emotional connection to the art. Some approach photography with a very technical bent - shooting from mind. Others approach photography from the heart - seeking to capture the emotion.
Here is where you get to present your own style. Tell your own story. And present your perspective.
Now is the time to do your series on the families in your neighborhood, the seasonal weather of Mt. Rainier, a photo-a-day series, a collection of your travels.
I happen to be a very technical shooter. I worry about f stops and shutter speeds. Rule of thirds. Sunny 16. When to follow the rules, and when to break them. So, I look at linearity. I see spacing and movement. I see intricate patterns. And this is what I want to show. This is what I get to show.
3. Push the Envelope
The only creative limitations are your own. Consider wedding photographers. Clients hire them because of their portfolio. The clients are looking for a particular result in the finished product. Only when the client is willing to allow the creative leeway are you able to push the envelope.
Now, it is up to you if you want to add a few more speed lights or just one. High key. Low key. Back lit. Front lit. Star trails. Light painting. etc. It is your opportunity to do what you haven't done before without sacrificing a client's photos. Now is the time to put your hot shoe flash off camera. Only use a single lens for a month. Shoot only for black and white. Take on a photo show.
As a technical shooter, one area I struggle in is understanding how to capture emotion. Particularly as life unfolds, I find myself wanting to capture the joy, the pain, the continuity, and the growth of the people I photograph. At the same time I want to be able to express my own struggles, discoveries, happiness, and growth to the audience through my photography. So, I am learning to shoot differently, to light differently, and to edit differently. And, I, as the client, am the only one I need to please.
4. Going Pro? You'll Be Ready
The exciting thing: as you shoot, grow, and become a better photographer, others will notice. They will ask you to do photos of their kids, their engagement shoot, or a corporate event. And they are willing to pay.
So you decide to go pro. Awesome!
And you will be ready. You have used your time as an amateur to find yourself as a photographer. You have the foundational skills to meet what your clients need.
Just remember, never stop learning. Always treat your photography as if you still have the world to learn. Always treat your photos as if they are the best you have ever taken.
Brad Kehr is a photographer specializing in events, portraits, and landscapes. As a recent Georgetown Law graduate he enjoys exploring DC as a young attorney and sharing what he finds through the lens. You can follow him on Instagram at @bradkehrphoto, catch his website at www.bradkehrphotography.com, catch him on Twitter, or find him on Facebook.
