If you have a expensive camera you can call yourself a photographer!?

The camera you are using is about 3 or 4% of what makes you a photographer. It's all about having the observation and composition skills, and the ability to predict how they will appear in the final result, that make you a competent photographer.

As to the Pro/Am debate: many amateurs actually turn out better results, because it's a labour of love, and they spend more time on getting the pics right! Also a pro will be concerned about getting results, not using the most expensive or trendy equipment out. Remember, if you want it to be your profession (ie, what earns your daily crust) you will need a lot more than photographic ability... you need business sense, the ability to balance your books, and the ability to make pragmatic rather than open minded decisions when it comes to choosing equipment.

Having an expensive camera and calling yourself a pro would be like owning a Subaru Impreza WRX and calling yourself a rally driver... a long way from reality!

The discipline of studio photography is excellent, as it teaches you precise control of light, and developes good working habits.

A final word of warning: turning pro from a hobby is often a surefire way of killing the romance you feel for your hobby, and the enjoyment you get out of it!

Some of the best photographers out there hadn't been to school a day in their life. Personally, I wouldn't waste money on photography school. If I could afford it, sure, I would go, as I'm sure that I would learn a lot. I can't blame you for going. But that alone does not make you a talented photographer either.

Learning good photography requires a lot of trial and error that is best done by kids with nice camera's that will take peoples pictures for free or cheap on craigslist. Yeah, some of them aren't that great, but they will learn. I do think that studying under a more experienced photographer is the best way to learn. That's how I learned :-) I don't think that even the most experienced photographer will ever think to themselves that they've arrived to the level of perfection though. You're work is constantly evolving, if not, you've got problems!

But yes, sometimes it does drive me bonkers! Especially if the lighting is bad, or if they have 10 pictures of the same pose, or lots of their cat. :-D

Check here a good photography course online:

http://photography-course.info/

You can be like the masses of humanity and buy a camera you can afford that has auto this and that for worry free picture taking. And learn through trial and error how to use something like aperture or shutter priority auto modes or even attempt to use the thing on full manual mode.

You seem to know already there is some thinking to using a camera and to take pictures. A good place to start is by reading the owners manual that comes with a camera. Read the information and look at the illustrations with part names and look at the real camera. Handle the camera and take pictures. Let me rephrase that. Take pictures to learn how to use the camera and maybe even to keep some. Don't start with important stuff you cannot photograph over again such as birthdays, a toddlers first steps. That puts picture taking out of the learning phase and puts the pressure and emphasis to taking pictures for real and to keep.

These first pictures are for you to learn how to use your camera. And you have learned how to use your camera when you can take pictures with it and can teach others how to use it. Honest. You can also go to a college in your area and take a beginning photography course. There you will be taught the basics even a pro must learn and do in their work. Camera handling and use, taking exposures with film and/or digital cameras, and maybe even some photo assignments to get some real time learning. In this learning do not take serious pictures you must keep as that detracts from the learning aspect of the class. Do so only if you have mastered the use of your camera before class is over.

It's like growing up in a way. And I am happy you know there is a way to learn how to use a camera and take pictures. It's like learning how to drive I suppose. Someone can teach you or you can get taught at a driving school. Both will get you a drivers liscense. One though will really teach you the fundamentals you can use for the rest of your driving career.

No, having an expensive camera does not make you a pro photographer.

If you make your living from photography then you can consider yourself a pro. It does not necessarily have to be your only means of income but you do need to get paid for your photography on a regular basis. Whether that be as a wedding photographer, Sports, journalism,portrait, product or any other type.

Selling photos on Deviant Art, or Photobucket for $20.00 wouldn't count though.

I think you are working on semantics.

Anyone eho enjoys taking photographs or takes pictures is a photographer.

Someone who gets paid to take photographs, could be considered a pro photographer.

So really the difference is between pro and layman.

Besides, you are way too early on in the game to be this cynical. I've only been doing pro photography for a few short years now and I do have some issues with people pretending they are pro photographers and charging people for substandard work.

Keep learning, keep working hard, get your education and experience and become a pro if you wish.

Just know that whether or not YOU consider yourself a photographer, other peoples perceptions of you may be different. If you are not comfortable with them calling you a "pro", then by all means correct them.

If you walk you are a walker,

if you read you are a reader,

if you use a camera (expensive, cheap or anywhere in between) to take a photograph then you ARE a photographer.

A professional..no, but still a photographer.

A pro photographer is a different kettle of fish, even some of them cannot agree what defines them as a pro. To me it would mean they make their living taking photographs. But as always I reserve the right to be wrong!

I like to take photos and well have only been doing it seriously for the past year. Having your photos critiqued by photographers who have been shooting for 20 to 30 years is very humbling.

I will say this it took my wife 10 years to take photos that she considered great and well it's mostly failure.

Taking amazing photos takes experience and the ability to see things differently. When you start to photograph seriously your whole perspective on things change at least it did for me . It also requires lots of patients as well as the ability to take rejection. I have a bunch of great cameras and well I don't consider myself anything. But I see wear you are going.

Photography Master Class gives you all the knowledge you’ll ever need to take photos that dazzle. It takes you step-by-step through every aspect of photography – from the absolute basics right through to the cutting-edge techniques used by the world’s most celebrated photographers. Whether you want to launch a new career as a professional photographer or simply learn to take better pictures, photographymasterclass. puts you on a fast-track to success.

https://tr.im/901e7

Getting a camera and saying you're a photographer is like saying you're a marathon runner just because you have legs.

anyone who takes photos is a photographer. but just because you have an expensive camera doesnt mean you are a photoagrapher. if you put it to good use then yes you are but if you just got it for the looks then no, you are a not a photographer. good luck on your photography quest!

:D