Re: [Leica] Definition of a Professional

[Alan Ball <AlanBall@csi.com>]

Bob,

From GMT+1 I realise this is cold for you (and a sleepless night for
me), but I do not understand why you would want to protect the guys.
There are professions which do require academic proof of levels of
knowledge and skills: pilot, doctor, lawyer, etc. Others that do not:
President of the United States, writer, CEO of Microsoft, painter, sales
manager, consultant, photographer, etc.

In Belgium, it is in theory FORBIDDEN to sell pictures if you are not a
'professional photographer' recognised by a protectionist clique on
basis of academic credentials. The 'official' reason at the beginning
was to protect the public against shaddy characters that would trap
innocent victims in their dungeon studio. The real reason was to protect
the guys from the competition of the laymen. The consequence is that the
PJ scene is almost dead here, that magazines have gotten used to buy
from international stock agencies or from local agencies using anonymous
slave laborers.

This corporatism has killed the market here. Things are changing due to
the European Union and the fact that Belgium's legislation is impossible
to maintain in an open international environment.

The proof of the professional photographer MUST only be the tax
declaration !

BTW, I've got government papers here stating that I am a
'journaliste-photographe'. I do not consider myself as such, but
sometimes use that qualification to sell images. That is a marginal part
of my current income.

I do not want protection of the title. I want an open market for
photographers.

Now, a good photographer, or a relevant photographer, or a creative
photographer, these are qualifications to strive for. The proof is in
the portfolio.

'Professional photographer' is a job just like professional salesman is
a job. Good salesmen are important people. So are good photographers.
But, to the public's eye and to most of us, it is sexier to be a
photographer than to be a salesman ;-)

Alan

RBedw51767@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Good point Mark.    Then, if you have the skill to receive funds for your work
> you are a professional.   Unfortunately I think that this is the bottom-line
> and it doesn't have to be 50% or more of your income.  It becomes a self-
> applied title and I just don't like this.  It is not fair to those that put
> their heart and sole into it.
> 
> Bob Bedwell
> 
> << No, I think its a question of commitment and somebody gives you a dollar
>  for a print at one point. >>