Amateurs ruining the profession...

[GWguy]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

Help me understand what OP's complaint is - is he trying to say that regular people shouldn't be able to take pictures and post them online?

Post them online and take money, however small, as they are not pros and he is, therefore they cut into his professionalism and profits.

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by GWguy

Post them online and take money, however small, as they are not pros and he is, therefore they cut into his professionalism and profits.

OIC 10Q

[TurboK9]

Originally Posted by GWguy

Post them online and take money, however small, as they are not pros and he is, therefore they cut into his professionalism and profits.

I thought his complaint was that they were posting them online and offering them for FREE? And because of that nobody would buy his photos?

I take pics and put them online all the time for free. Oopsy, so sorry... but I'm not a pro, so his photos should be way better and worth paying for right? I mean, if they are amatuer quality, then why pay for his when people can take their own anyway?



From what I have seen of amatuer vs. pro photos... a real pro takes pics that an amatuer can rarely compete with. The eye, the framing, the way the shutter speed etc is set to capture the motion and lighting of the moment... If he is just blindly shooting photos with no 'art' behind it, well, maybe another career is in order. There is more to pro photography than pointing a high buck F body and going bananas filling a few 16 GB SD cards...

[bigluke33]

This has been a heavily debated topic for the last 5 or 6 years now. I would categorize myself as a "weekend warrior" who goes out and makes some extra cash with my photography hobby. I recently went out and shot a basketball game, not to make money, but to gain some experience in shooting a basketball game. You have to start somewhere right?? The professional photographer... I would categorize those as small business owners who are working to put food on the table with their photography... many upset that someone moved their cheese. Here are some great articles by respected professionals on the subject. These are great reads if you want a true professional photographers opinion on the subject.

zarias.com :: The blog of editorial photographer Zack Arias » Over Saturated Market You Say? You Can Blame Me.

zarias.com :: The blog of editorial photographer Zack Arias » Cheap Photographers Only Kill Themselves, Not The Industry.

What is the Difference Between Shooting for Free and Shooting for Me? | LIGHTING ESSENTIALS For Photographers

Strobist: Four Reasons to Consider Working for Free

This is a great read.. Part 2 of a blog post by David Zeiser who talks about what the professional needs to do to stay above the fray.

It’s Guest Blog Wednesday featuring David Ziser (Pt. 2)! « Scott Kelby's Photoshop Insider Blog » Photoshop & Digital Photography Techniques, Tutorials, Books, Reviews & More

[migtig]

The giant's a semi-professional photographer. If he takes pictures of an event he attends because he wants to, he'll share them for free. If he's hired to shoot photographs for an event, such as a wedding, he obviously charges for those.

I think a swim meet is one of those where you take pictures because you want to, not because someone has hired you to take pictures.

It's all about context.

[mAlice]

Originally Posted by FMarquart

What are your thought other semi / pros out there, or am I way off on this subject??

Frank
FRANK MARQUART's Photos | SmugMug

SPAM

[MrX]

I guess it doesnt matter to me because photography is not my main source of income.

[czygvtwkr]

This is really assinine, seriously.

I make things out of wood that are quite nice and give them away to friends and I don't see professinal carpenters and woodworkers beating down my door.

If you can't compete with an ameature then you need to find a new job.

[wch]

So just because you charge money for the photos classifies you as a professional?, and should give you rights over people that don't, I photograph events for the town, why? they ask me too, the lady from the newspaper and I have an unspoken rule, she doesn't step on my toes, I don't step on hers, same for weddings were a backup photographer is asked for (they get the big shots, I do the backstage, everyone gets along,) unless it is a massive print order I don't charge a thing, why? I have a good job doing something else, Photography is a hobby, and if my photos are better than yours, Tuff S&*t, IF it is a public event or place no one has the right to barr me from taking pictures

[wch]

Originally Posted by MrX

I guess it doesnt matter to me because photography is not my main source of income.

My thoughts exactly, I do it cause I enjoy it,