So what exactly is the difference between a proffessional and a hobbyist? I was in a town about 3 miles away, and at the moment in the mall they have one of those portable studio thingies... biiiig sheet of white plastic, 1 white backdrop, 1 professional (are they?) photographer and about 3 or 4 computers with bored people sitting playing with potatoshop. I was waiting for the other half today for about 5 minutes and watching one of these girls playing about with her mouse doing a... well, not so much a picture as a 'playing about thing' like you do. Obviously the boss has took Solitaire off the machines. Anyways, she did the main body of it, half of which was composed with text, and started messing about with filters on it - nothing decent just the textured canvas, colour inversions etc. Anyways, by the time our lass had finished and come to collect me ("tch tch, here boy!") she wasn't far off where she'd started from, 'cept the text was blurrier. I couldn't resist it. She hadn't noticed me.... as I walked nearer to go past I looked over her shoulder and says "The text was better before, try it with a drop shadow, it'll look good!" I got a smile from her anyways ;-) oh, btw - I must thank her if she's still there next time i'm in - her picture gave me a pretty cool idea for a picture of my own!!! It came to me in a hardware store...... (",)

the way i see it... a hobbyist is someone who just digs photography and does it for fun. takes pics to please herself. a professional...someone who digs photography, does it for fun, and gets paid to do it (regardless of how good they are). they usually have to please their clients.

"takes pics to please herself." So hobbyists are female then? LOL - only joking shiela :D Yep think you got the definition sorted so that the end of this thread - lol Never seen that Mike - they are taking portraits in the mall ? how very enterprising taking pics of people all red faced and loaded down with shopping :)lol

And every one said, 'If we only live,
We too will go to sea in a Sieve,---
To the hills of the Chankly Bore!'
Far and few, far and few, Are the lands where the Jumblies live;
Their heads are green, and their hands are blue, And they went to sea in a Sieve.

Edward Lear
http://www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/ns/jumblies.html

You know what it's like Onsy, they catch the young mums when they're out with the kiddies and grannies, the grannies see the demo pics of brats in 'cutypie' poses and think the sausage-roll smeared brat beside them will look the same..... 35 for 3 little pictures later, they know different ;-P It's actually a very proffessional-looking setup though, to be honest, and they do bring out the best in the 'models'. I had a nice time watching them turn a girl of about 18/20 into a wannabe model. You could happily picture her on either page 3 or your bed. Or both, if you're called Mikey ;-) (",)

We have had a very similar crew here, they got all the good digi camera kit PS etc, but from what I have seen the images are at best basic, with little thought to artistic compo. For me a pro is at least: A professional industry recognised qualification and can do both digital and film/darkroom and light room (PS) (Ok maybe not so these days) Must earn 70% of their annual income from photography or the photographic industry. Have a business address and or studio. Be registered as a professional (my opinion) An Amateur/hobbiest Does it for fun and may or may not get some income from it. As a foot note, I have seen both excellent and very poor photography from pros and amateurs alike. The title pro or Am is not an indicator of the said persons artistic ability.

The Truth is Out There

They doin' P3 shots in the mall ! I think I will have to take a look down there sometime. Suppose that is why one photographer and 3 or 4 on PS - LOL

And every one said, 'If we only live,
We too will go to sea in a Sieve,---
To the hills of the Chankly Bore!'
Far and few, far and few, Are the lands where the Jumblies live;
Their heads are green, and their hands are blue, And they went to sea in a Sieve.

Edward Lear
http://www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/ns/jumblies.html

wondered if anyone would comment on my choice of gender pronoun!!! LOL!! :) we have professional photographers at the amuzement parks. kids take your pic and try to sell you a copy.

Ah yes! I've seen them! They're all over the place during Christmas actually! And I also had a closer look and I thought their portraits weren't that good to be honest! (some of them anyway) I'm no professional but I can see when a pic is over or underexposed! And I thought, man, they actually sell this?? What a bunch of thieves!

Lol - y'know overall the tone of my post turned out wrong, but it led to an interesting read. What I was getting at was that here were two different people both with obviously the same interest, one getting paid and one not. Ironically the one being paid was bored..... C'est la vie. (",)

Ooooooooooooooooooooooh! Mickey, u should try to be a 'lil clearer about ur intentions in the future!! I didn't get ur point AT ALL here! LOL!! Oh well!

ppphhhhhhhhhhhtttt! ("u)

U offended?? Yea right!

Offended? No - I'm just treating the comment with the contempt that it deserves. (",)

LMAO! Get lost!

ME GET LOST?!? YOU'RE THE FLIPPING STALKER!!!! ROFLMAO (".)

Am I now!!! Man!! LOL!!

I think you're just posting so you can say you got the last word.... THAT'S NOT HAPPENING!!!!!! (",)

ROFLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!! Oh well! I'm gonna give u the last word anyway cos I have to go to eat now! I'm starving!! I'll catch up with ya later though! Don't think u gonna get out of this so easily! ;P

Na naaah na na naaaaaaaaah! QUITTER!!!!!! :-P

ROFLMAO!!! U're so silly!! Ok! I'm gonna eat now, for good!!

That's nothing - I can do better than that too!!! I'm signing off for the night to go to bed. So THERE!!! gently whistles as strolls off into distance ......Anything you can do, dum de dum dum dum....... ....I can do anything.. tum te tum tum....... (",)

LOL LOL LOL!! I have finish eating now so I'll catch u tomorrow since u went to bed! Who's the quitter now? :P

Not me...............(",)

Hehe!! Had a good night?? Ready for round 2? ;P

FFS Tibby, don't you know just WHEN to give in?!? sigh (",) p.s. You'll probably be on later than me tonight anyways. I'm knackered, and judging by the time of your posts you don't get up till at least lunchtime anyways. Tch. women. Wassup, Trisha too interesting? rofl.....

Lunchtime?? U're kidding right? That's far TOO early for me!!

Have the last word for tonight if u want - I'm off to bed! (",)

Good night sweety! :D

.....and I'm at work now! (",)

Now that's too bad!! :( Poor u! I'm at home! :D

Me too now. And you know what? I wish I was back at work for the peace. sigh (",)

Oh my!! Sounds fun at ur place!! O_o