I am about to hit the submit button with a bit of trepidation here. I just finished composing my on Professional status. Please, no throwing of old film cans at me. I am not one that is comfy with being negative but just needed to get this off of my chest.

The professional tag is the one I have the most difficulty with. There are many out there that tag them self as such. Just because you want to play in the game does not a professional make. I think it is ridiculous that one can tag them self as such with out paying the proverbial dues. I think that one should have to apply to an organization (run by professional peers) that specializes in granting professional status and then, at that time and only after that permission has been granted can you label yourself a pro. You would have to submit examples of your work, maybe and essay, maybe an exam. The market is becoming glutted with people who take decent images, but have not a clue how the image got that way, get a little encouragement from folks, then all of sudden, attach a title to their name - "professional" and then, feel the right to charge people these ridiculous fees for what they do (or in many cases what a decent dslr can do on auto or a helper mode). I think a proving ground is needed to be a true professional. In the days prior to digital, you had to know your craft inside and out to have consistent results... you paid your dues. The bar for a professional should be raised. A professional should be one of few not one of many. A professional used to have a sophistication attached to the title and now it seems that the professional is no more than someone who "decides" that they are such.

Personally speaking, I am a hobbyist. People have solicited my skills. It has gotten to the point that I no longer feel that I can give away what I do as I have a lot invested in equipment and reading materials, pp tools, time etc. I charge a very minimal fee to those that solicit me it and then get hammered from others that I am driving down the industry with my fees. I have not asked for the business, nor have I ever called myself a professional. I love to take photos. I want to know all that I can to produce the best piece that I can. I have no plan to make a career out of what I do.

I know I am standing pretty tall on a soap box here. It just frustrates me for those who really have earned the title.