I was recently surprised to see an ill-advised article in Rangefinder which presented ideas for “professional” photographers who might be attempting to combat the “evils” of the AWACs (Amateurs With A Camera)(you can download the article here: rf1008_amateurs_kotsinadelis). I think Rangefinder made a very puzzling faux pas with the intent of this article.
To me, this article seems as if WPPI and Rangefinder are saying, “NO NEWCOMERS!”. It’s such a lame attempt at fear mongering. They’re attempting to scapegoat the new photographers in the industry for the results of a weakening economy and perhaps, the results of bad business practices by “the old guard”. The glaring oversight of this article is: we were all AWACs at some point!
What exactly is Rangefinder implying by this article: that a professional can only be those with the right education, the right equipment, and the right products? I think a “professional” is anyone who gets consumers to buy their photography.
Personally, I think AWACs are a terrific boon to our industry (especially because I used to be one…)
Wikipedia has this to say about an “amateur”:
Translated from its French origin to the English “lover of”, the term “amateur” reflects a voluntary motivation to work as a result of personal passion for a particular activity.
The translation from the French “lover of” is the key to my point of view, and if we “professional” photographers were simply honest with ourselves (and not just fear driven and greedy), we would all acknowledge that it was the love of photography that got us into this industry in the first place. In the beginnings of our journeys, most of us were AWACs, and if there are any of us who got into this field for the money or simply to have a job, their work is probably soulless and unimaginative (and most of those probably go of business).
In fact, that’s what troubled me most about the article in October 2008′s Rangefinder Magazine. It seems to me that anyone who is threatened by the influx of the AWACs’ and their new “untrained” and unbiased ideas, techniques and styles (and their appeal to the consumer), that they, and not the AWACs, are the real threat to our industry. They are the embodiment of the professional whose apathy to innovation have made them a dead-weight that is slowing down progress in our industry.
True progress in photography (and any art form) occurs when we are inspired by the new creative work of others, not threatened by it. If you’re scared of the competition, you’d probably better figure out why! Cooperation and networking are the keys to growth as a business.
And it may very well be that the reason these ensconced “professionals” feel so threatened is that any creative drive they may have had has shriveled up and died long ago, and they now run their studios on auto-pilot, depending completely on skills already learned, and totally unable to adapt or change to the new, younger and more vibrant creative force pressuring them from “below”, and they simply sit and complain as the face of photography changes around them!
In fact, I believe the wonderful result of a boom in the “untrained” and “uneducated”, in any art form, is the inevitable influx of new ideas and styles.
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It’s a wonderful thing to have new additions to the photography industry but there’s a big difference between an amature and a professional in one respect. One knows what is required and has spent the time and energy to learn to capture the shot the other still needs to make those investments.
This industry is complicated, for most to be successful they have to be both artist and business executive. To be profitable in this industry requires more then just a camera. To many people enter the industry thinking we just snap a camera and charge obsene amounts of money for a piece of paper.
Many people don’t realize that it’s not that simple, and actually can damage the industry more then build it up. It’s great if someone finds a passion for photography, but it doesn’t mean they should buy a digital SLR and start doing shoot and burn weddings for $500. That, that is the dis-service “Amateurs” give to our industry. Making it that much harder for clients to not see photographers as artist but instead just a service that and five year old can do.
@Zack -
I don’t see “shoot and burn” photographers at $500 a pop as competitors for my clientele! Those consumers were never considering me in the first place.
I don’t understand why the industry is considering that a threat to established professionals.
Plus, if you’re a young photographer, there’s no better way to build a portfolio than starting low.
Well I didn’t get a chance to read the article from Rangefinder, but I’m not sure I really want to. I think Trig has it right, every one at one point was an amatuer. My husband and I are definately what you’d call amateurs (me having a slight training from college in digital photography and teaching myself the rest). We haven’t made any money on what we’ve done, but we love doing it. I love being able to catch a shot in action. It’s all about timing. I may have a dream one day to make good money with a camera, but for now – I love it.
The people who are getting a photographer at $500 are just that. Making a start. Yeah they may do a couple at that price, but realize they need the equipment to capture needed photos. I have a friend who is willing to help out those with less money and shoot their weddings for cheaper. And she does great work, but in the end – to me anyway – there is a lack of experience. You can click the camera so much in a wedding and get some good shots, but its knowing what ARE the good shots. Its knowing when to shoot – when to not – what to shoot and how to do it.
heh. Someday maybe I’ll go into wedding photography, maybe I won’t. I don’t think photography would be the same without the amateurs. Without the fresh new look on things.