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Value of a Professional Photographer
2. Knowledge of commercial standards. A professional would not consider shooting an image of a model without ensuring that the model signs a model release for commercial uses. In the same manner a professional would know the right format to shoot with and when a desired effect could be more easily and effectively achieved in camera or on the computer screen.
3. Professionals provide solutions. A professional photographer is a creative problem solver who helps their client by finding a way to realize their creative vision. You need to shoot underwater? Aerial? Capture a bullet leaving a gun? It is the professional photographer who will figure out the best way to accomplish what is needed.
4. Experience. As we all know there are many advantages to working with a seasoned professional. A professional is more likely to do the job right, on-time, and on-budget.
5. Service. Most of the commercial photographers I know are proud of the level of service they provide to clients. A professional photographer wants to provide good value to their customers and develop a long-term relationship with the customer. Many photographers will gladly help a client with every phase of their project to serve them better. When you hire a professional you are getting someone who is committed to making your project a success.
What do you think?
Posted in: Editorials, Features, Photographers, Stock Art Buyers, Stock Photo Companies
Comments(6)
post a comment »Silas Swaim, August 23, 2005 [#]
I think you have a good solid foundation for the newly explored Digital Photography.
I am a striving, new photorapher, just shooting less than 2 years...and what i see in this blog, is things i strive for, and goals i have set for myself. I agree, that the old One Shot therory is no longer a factor, what use to be one good money shot in 3 rolls of film is now easily disregarded with the ability to delete the 60 some shots that suck and keep the one that does,…
Not only do i try to be consistant, but i try to better myself, finding new styles that appeal to me, and molding them into my style…
Thanks for the post..much needed.
http://www.photosapien.com/photo-1003.html
Rob, August 24, 2005 [#]
A professional photographer does not necessarily have to be an artist. And that seems to be true in view of a description(s) you gave above.
But being an artist gives the professional an edge over an amateur. Artist has a knowledge of visual design and a creative approach to the task at hand, so he/she produces compositions that consistently beat the work of an amateur or even of a poorly trained professional.
The progress we’ve seen in the digital photography industry in the last couple of years is mind-boggling and it, indeed, gives amateurs very potent tools.
But a tool is just a tool. If you don’t know how to use that tool effectively - you either need to learn and become more skilled, or you just keep producing mediocrity.
You’ve mentioned a free photo-sharing web site. There are tons of those places and each of them overflows with mediocrity. Most of the posters on those web sites are in awe over the technical quality and ease of producing pretty-looking sunsets, clouds and flowers. They think that a pretty subject equals good picture. They think they are at the edge of a nirvana. In reality, only a very small portion of those photographers even try to go beyond pretty scenics.
Being a professional and an artist takes years of effort, education and creative thinking. I don’t think you got a reason to be afraid that new digital era threatens your livelihood…
Anita, November 15, 2005 [#]
Hello!
I think i’m one of the amateurs who threaten the livelihood of professionals. I myself wouldn’t really concider myself much worth in the field photography, but since i’m engaged in microstock photography and all professionals are bashing us constantly, i guess i’m a threat then after all.
Anyway, i’ve been selling my images via microstock for last half a year. I’m currently using mainly these three portals - shutterstock, dreamstime and bigstockphoto and my monthly income is around 400 US dollars.
Enough to buy extra camera gadgets etc.
The way i see it - photo prices have always been outrageously overpriced and i have no moral problems making myself money on microstock sites and utilizing my small hobby. I may be rubbish photographer or maybe not, but the fact is that my creation sells and i feel good actually doing something with my photos instead of just keeping them locked on my hard-drive. Professional photographers will always feel that this is cheating and bad behaviour because prices have gone down and they can’t accept it.
They are just going to have to understand that market is changing and they’re not going to get back
their glory days when only few chosen ones knew how to operate 35mm camera. The digital photography age actually embraces amateur photography and the process will continue.
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In case you’re interested - here are the links to these portals where i sell (with my referal codes in the end)
http://submit.shutterstock.com/?ref=3525
http://www.dreamstime.com/res20742
http://www.bigstockphoto.com/?refid=6djkZEOYu9
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Cheers, Anita
Colin MacInnes, September 19, 2006 [#]
Your description is a good succinct description of professionalism, yet very general. The five headers and much of the content can be applied to any industry, with simple changes to the variables, i.e. expert rather than artist, or using copyrighted sources rather than shooting an image of a model.
I guess this underlines the importance of professionalism in the industry and how it differs little from other industries… begging the question of pay scale (another discussion).
Another question concerns recognition of professionalism. In many unregulated professions, (i.e. no code of ethics or certifying body), professionalism can be recognized by achievement or association. These can be a competent means to establish a level of quality in work or archaic buddy reward systems. Does anyone have any recommendations of respected associations or awards of achievement which competently recognize professional quality in photography?
Hawaii Wedding Photography, February 25, 2008 [#]
Hey you should make it out to Hawaii, there are plenty of inspirational photos waiting for you to take!
PS: Im proud of the services i offer, and the quality that i deliver to my clients.
Viktor, March 30, 2009 [#]
A professional photographer is a creative problem solver who helps their client by finding a way to realize their creative vision.