Professional Question

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ittigger

ittigger

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Feb 1, 2011
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Cesar said:
Question

I bought a very nice camera and took some pictures of a Bride at a reception I was djing. I liked the pictures and put them next to the table i meet my potential clients to sell them on my DJ service. Bride commented on how nice the pictures were and if i would be interested in taking pictures at her reception for a price. We agreed on a price and booked the date.

Am I now a professional photographer? For those that say "Yes" please explain.
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This could be interesting ... for those that say no, please also explain.
 
We would have to see if you will accept the definition of a professional as.............

One who earns a living at their profession.

It does not say supplement or in addition to another revenue stream of income.
 
We would also have to see if you will agree that a professional will have to put the needs of his clients ahead of his own interests and that is impossible to do if the needs of your other employer come before your other needs.
 
Cesar, don't get into the weeds yet. Professionals can meet a variety of conditions. Let's see what the results of your initial post are first.
 
Nah, yer just a wannabe weenie... xf:D

Technical speak -- a professional is one who gets paid for doing something. But realistically, you actually have to be good at it, not just one time, but on a continuing basis.

For example:

I would consider myself a professional programmer. I've got degrees in it, and a whole boat load of experience. I've gotten paid lots of money for that job. I do it every day.

On the other hand, I can run a farm. But I have no formal training or degree. I have lots of experience, but have never been paid for it. So I couldn't consider myself a professional in that field of work (pun intended). Handy yes, professional no.

Boat Captain: I never renewed my license. Even though I had formal training, lots of experience, and got paid -- I can no longer consider myself a professional in that area, because it requires a license.


It's such a vague area, that unless you are doing something on a daily basis, I doubt you can call yourself a professional with any integrity...
 
You can't DJ and take pictures at the same time so I really hope you have someone doing the introductions and someone to have the music cued up for processional/recessional/cake cutting songs etc. If you don't you won't get the necessary pictures as you won't be in place to get them. As far as being a professional goes that term is completely subjective so unless you define professional your question can't really be answered
 
First, I know a LOT of "professionals" that aren't good at what they do. Second, I DO NOT agree that you need to earn your living at the profession to be a professional, just as I don't believe you have to have a certain brand of equipment to be a professional.

While there are fields that require certification to be a legal "professional" (doctor, lawyer, mechanic) .. DJing, Photography, Videography, Sound Reinforcement, MCing aren't one of those, at least in the US.

So if you agree to take pictures for a price .. you're a professional. You may not get professional results, you may not dress like a professional and you may not act professional .. but you're still one (IMHO).
 
Cesar said:
We would have to see if you will accept the definition of a professional as.............

One who earns a living at their profession.

It does not say supplement or in addition to another revenue stream of income.
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I'm sorry but this line of thinking in this day and age and economy is bullchit...

Whether a person derives their main income from being a DJ is in no way a gage on their professionalism in its performance, period.
 
Some of you guys are not using common sense here. We all know what it takes to reach a certain level of professionalism in the DJ Business. Again, some may feel the need to give themselves big names and labels because they got a few dollars early in life. Thats fine. I really don't need a "definition" to tell me something that is very fundamental in my industry.

We can go on and on about different scenarios but truthfully I think people are mixing up amateurs with true professionals. Being able to install a ceiling fan does not make me an electrician nor a professional, even if someone pays me to do it. Being able to change a tire for someone does not make me a mechanic, even if someone pays me for it. What about those who call themselves DJs yet don't even know how to hook up their own equipment? I really think we are splitting hairs here.

There might be such a thing as a Professional Amateur! I would gladly accept that terminology for someone new into the business.
 
I disagree with your bullchit assessment of this day and age and economy.

I guess you would also say the number of events a person does is not a way to gage their professionalism or performance also.
 
I could agree with a new term also

*************Apprentice Professional ***********

When you hit the mark where you can as a adult (25 years or older not living at mom and dads home) take care of yourself off your DJ Income then you have hit professional status.
 
ahoustondj said:
Some of you guys are not using common sense here. We all know what it takes to reach a certain level of professionalism in the DJ Business. Again, some may feel the need to give themselves big names and labels because they got a few dollars early in life. Thats fine. I really don't need a "definition" to tell me something that is very fundamental in my industry.

We can go on and on about different scenarios but truthfully I think people are mixing up amateurs with true professionals. Being able to install a ceiling fan does not make me an electrician nor a professional, even if someone pays me to do it. Being able to change a tire for someone does not make me a mechanic, even if someone pays me for it. What about those who call themselves DJs yet don't even know how to hook up their own equipment? I really think we are splitting hairs here.

There might be such a thing as a Professional Amateur! I would gladly accept that terminology for someone new into the business.
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Canute .. are you a professional DJ or a professional picture guy (sorry .. don't know what your day job is called)? Seems with your definition, you couldn't be one for both, as a true professional would need to be focused on one area and surely there is no overlap between the two.

Not every one on this board is a full-time DJ only. Many, and I would suspect most, do this as a second job as you do. Doesn't make them any less capable, knowledgeable or professional, even though DJing "supplements" their income.
 
Steve there has to be a term to seperate the full time wedding vendor that makes his living off the profession he has chosen in the wedding industry from the person that does it 10 times a year and get's paid for it.

What should that term be?
 
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