How difficult is it to go pro?

I had a load og crap written here. Decided it wasnt worth it in the end.

I know what you were going to say. A definition is just that, a definition.

I wouldn't call the dude who sits in the street with a muk n druk and a printer taking pics of tourists for a living a professional, although strictly speaking he is.

But its all semantics anyway.

aaaah man it was a good post! i was keen to see how many feathers it ruffled

missed it..

short version: being pro means deriving most of your income from photography? so the guy on the street with an el cheapo camera hooked up to a printer charging R10 per photo for a living is a pro? the full length version was better

lol I am almost sorry I deleted it.

I have always had a problem with the definition of "professional" pertaining to photography. This fellow being talked about, is professional as per the definition, but I am sure his work is far from professional quality and this goes for many other people too.

Christo, don't know why you deleted what you said originally, I didn't see too much wrong with what you said.

you should never rant and write.... it makes you delete stuff in a huff! there was nothing wrong with the post, was just a bit of a temper tantrum

please repost

I deleted it because Monique reminded me that I should stop bitching at professional photographers since I am probably going to end up one lol

BUT here goes, to the best of my recollection.

Much has been said by some (note I said SOME) professional photographers on this site about "non pros" who are somehow sub standard and who bring down the industry.

Now, "pro tog" is apparently defined as a photographer who earns the bulk of their income through photography.


If you walk out of the Golden Acre in Cape Town, underneath Strand Street you will se a guy standing there with a point-and-click camera, and a small printer. Stuck on the wall behind him is his portfolio, that my 8-year-old niece could have shot and a price list. Dont quote me but I think he charges R10 for a jumbo print.

You walk up to him, he aims, he clicks, he prints and you pay him and walk off with your pick. He earns the bulk of his income this way and he cant be doing too badly else he wouldnt have been there 5 days a week.

So, if the "pros" as so zelous of their status and so proud of what makes them pros, then I am more than happy to be classified a "weekend wannabe" because at least there quality of work and not status is what matters.

Now, let ma add a little extra. Much has been said about weekend togs undercutting the pros and therefore bringing the industry down.

Here are some facts. The pro togs on this site charge anything between R1500 to R2500 for a walk-in shoot. Yes you have paid your dues and you are very good at what you do and you have loads of talent and equipment that costs more than my car.

REALITY is that most South Africans can not pay that much for a fiew nice pics for hubby. Shit they struggle to pay that much for wedding pics.

There is a HUGE market out there that is ignored by the pros who want to be paid commercial rates but when someone else tries to tap into that market they somehow bring down the industry?

So what? if they cant pay your rates no-one else can have them?

Now I am not saying that people like Dave, Matt, Mark and Gerrit should start charging R500 a shoot. That would be rediculous, but then dont crucify soneone who takes the client who can only pay R500.

Like anything else it's a balance of the three, income, conduct and quality.
The oke with his muk and druk selling prints wouldn't take that same setup to action sports or a large commercial shoot.
By the same token those guys (and gals) wouldn't run their setup for the kind of work he does. Different business models altogether, but they all derive an income from their profession.
Theres so many different fields of photography within the profession as a whole anyway, much like other proffesions such engineering, finance, journalism etc.
It's as that ballie, Freebs stated... semantics.

Thats my point Dino and just as there are different fields in photography so there are different markets too. If you dont want to cater for a cheaper market, then dont be angry if someone else does.

yoh. your spelling and typing were much better in the original post!

yes I know. My lisdexia comes and goes lol