My OPINION

PRO or not to PRO - the ongoing debate!

To start, I want to say that I strongly believe that nobody should falsely say that they are a Pro and charge Pro prices if they are not.

I have to agree with some Peas that said the following:

-[“Can someone please explain to me why this seems to be such a huge issue on this board? I'm not being snarky, I'm being serious. I just do not understand why someone here would care about what someone else was doing in their PRIVATE life when it doesn't affect anyone on this MB."] --
["I have noticed a bitter tone to anyone who is trying to learn or maybe to those who are not quite where they should be and are trying to start a business already……but in my VERY humble opinion, if that's what they want to do and people actually PAY them to do it, then each to their own…"]

-[ think the title “Pro” gets everybody messed up. I agree with Chris on what would make up a “Pro” photographer. But I think somewhere along the line people automatically assume that because someone has gone into business and is providing that service that they are claiming to be “Pros”.]

["You may be talented, you may excell at a certain kind of work, but if you aren't ready for anything and everything, you really have no business calling yourself a pro. To do so is disrespectful to those who ARE ready for the whatever happens scenario."]

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However, all that being said, I honestly don’t understand what the big deal is about ARGUING over pros v.s. non-pros.

It is unfortunate that some of these prowannabes don’t have a clue, but as the saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” No one wants to be scammed and we don’t want to be outdone by our competitors, however, regardless of how good the photographer is, or what kind of camera they have – they should be able to sell their services if they wish.
You may not agree with me, but hey... that's okay! This is MY opinion afterall.


Since I’m a huge fan of analogies…..[drives my daughters NUTS]

1. Group 1. There are oodles and oodles of musical artists out there. Some are professional artists who are signed with a huge, recognizable label. They are famous and have a huge fan base. Their CDs are bought up by the millions and their tunes are sung by every Tom, Dick and Harry. Perhaps these 'pros' have been trained professionally, perhaps some not.
2. Group 2. There are some awesomely great artists with an independent label. Some of them might not be as popular or be as good as the others. Some can’t afford the expense of managers, labels and fancy advertising. Perhaps the sound quality on their CDs isn’t quite as top notch. Maybe they are as talented as Group 1, maybe not!
3. Group 3. Some artists are just starting out and make and record their own CDs. Then there are some artists who truly suck. They might have a one-hit wonder or they make one album and are never seen or heard from again. Once again, some of these artists could be as talented as Group 1 or Group 2!

Some of these Groups might do cover tunes from some of the other groups. BUT, all of these artists sell their CDs in the same music store. Some really bad artists have their CD sitting on the shelf right next to the Celine Dion’s or Bon Jovi’s of the music scene. [gasp!!] Some people download tunes from these artists for free off the internet or they are borrowed and recorded. [gasp gasp]

I can’t play guitar very well and my voice cracks if I sing anything higher than an A#, but if wanted to record a CD – who can tell me that I can’t? I can even go so far as making dozens of copies of that CD and distributing them. I can sell them for ½ the price of the most popular artists because I choose to, because I can. I might know nothing about the recording business or how to market my CD. I might suck, but SO WHAT?? If I want to record and sell my CD, don’t I have the right? My peers might laugh at me or cringe when they hear my voice. Oh well!!

To all this I say, SO WHAT?? It’s a competitive world out there. Always has been and I don’t see that changing any time soon. You see dozens of restaurants on one street but you don’t see ALL the people going to just ONE of those restaurants do you? [oops sorry, another analogy!]

I guess the term PRO is just too vague. It means different things to different people. For me it TOTALLY comes down to one thing and one thing only. Don't sell yourself as a PRO if you're not, but if you're not a Pro but you still want to sell your wares... I say, go for it.
Okay, I’m done now.


Please feel free to comment here. I won't bash you or insult you. I appreciate OPINIONS.