What, exactly, is a “professional photographer”?

I’ve been dealing with a question that a lot of other photographers and YouTubers have been dealing with.

Chelsea Northrop had a whole “Picture This” podcast episode on it. I’ve seen it all over the place:

“What is a professional photographer?”

I have two answers to that.

One answer is a simple one: A professional photographer is somebody who approaches the craft of photography with a professional mindset.

I consider myself a professional photographer. I don’t make as much money as it as I’d like – I’m still building my business out – but I approach the craft of photography with a sense of professionalism. I even take snapshots with the sense of, “This is a craft that I do.”

The other answer that I like is is one I half stole from the Angry Photographer. (You should follow him to if you don’t mind being yelled and cussed at!) So I’m going to borrow from him and add to it a bit:

A professional photographer is a master of composition and the manipulation of light who can take a good picture anytime anywhere with anything.

It’s still a question that I’m dealing with, and I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section of this article’s YouTube channel. While you’re there, please consider giving the video a “thumbs up” and subscribing to my channel?