While they might seem to be quite similar you may still be wondering what the difference is between a professional photographer and an amateur photographer. Is it the equipment used? Is it the hours worked? Maybe it is aptitude or information one has but not the other. Here we demonstrate the real distinction between the two, and maybe then you’ll know which group you fall into!
As professional photographers we usually use fairly expensive apparatus, including a wide variety of lenses, which include zoom. We don’t use jpeg; we use a more professional format and we utilize a wide range of apparatus to guarantee perfection in our work.
In addition, while amateur photographers may often take 2,500 to 4,000 photos at a wedding, trusting that they may give the customer enough great shots to fill an average wedding album, professional photographers are more discriminating in their choice of shot.
Opportunity vs. Structure
As a rule, an amateur photographic artist has many more aesthetic opportunities than a professional. A professional’s way of life is substantially more organized; they don’t get the chance to pick and choose the times and places they take pictures. Whatever the conditions, they need to take the photos and return with a result for their customers. Somebody who is simply doing it as a leisure activity takes photos for their own entertainment!
Methods and Sales
Professional photographers invest time arranging the shoot and conversing with the consumer or the models, as well as spending time advertising their business. To be a professional photographic artist, you must have procedures in place in order to offer your services and talents. Business promotion is fundamental to being a professional photographic artist, while an amateur does not need to do anything like this; they are not selling anything.
Contributing Time and Money
Amateurs spend money on their hobby and don’t expect to get any reward from it except personal satisfaction. They have no worries about taking a poor picture; after all, they have plenty more opportunities to take their perfect picture. If someone wants to buy one of their photos it is a bonus. Professionals have many costs to consider; for example, their equipment and transportation as well as protection in the form of insurance for it all. Once these things are taken into consideration they can then calculate their return on investment.
Bill Payment
Maybe the most evident contrast between professional photographers and amateur photographers is that amateurs don’t do it as a job. Professionals rely on upon offering their work and booking customers to pay their bills! An amateur treats photography as a leisure activity, and, although they do gain benefits from it, they don’t expect it to support them financially.
The line that separates amateur photography from professional photography can seem rather blurred. However, perhaps the true measure of amateur versus professional is the latter’s skill in using the tools of photography.
Your growing knowledge of photography as an amateur will build on itself as you continue to work on it further.