saige-sirena asked: I found your response to the anon to be quite interesting, and I found that I agreed on some things. But pardon me if I may share a few of my own. I do this in the search for conversation, not to berate or belittle you. They’re just thoughts. 

Photography is important to me, to put it simply. It’s something I’m constantly working on, and an art that I love and yet beat myself up about all the time, because I strive to do well. 


I do not consider myself a photographer yet, but I am working on it. I don't want it to be a "career." Doing senior photos and the commercial aspect etc is not what I find appealing, but when I am asked by a dear friend I will not turn it down. What drives me is the more artistic venture...to tell stories, express... I do not want a business. I do not want to set my career based upon this skill. I can change the world in other ways. But it is much more to me than a hobby. Now, I have a long way to go by anyone's standards, but mostly by my own.

Therefore, I'm either falling into the amateur category, or the taking-photos-of-friends-but-not-a-photographer category.

by your determination then, I shouldn't be charging the few people who ask me to do photos for them. While this is good judgement in the grand scheme of things to protect those who have spent their time and money into becoming a professional, it is not always in the best interest of the PEOPLE. Not everyone can afford a pro. But that does not mean they should not be allowed to record special moments in their lives, especially when they wish an outsider's eye to capture it for them, so that their effort is not taken from the moment itself. Everyone has the right to those memories no matter the size of their purses. 
And yet very few people are willing to let another do that for nothing at all. 
This is why I accept payment. And I undercharge because I AM aware of the inferiority of my work, and I will not charge more than I deserve.

Yet, in all honesty, I find it quite saddening that the industry is so expensive. Yes, I understand it must be because the equipment is such an investment. The time itself is an investment. The work it takes for certification, schooling, etc makes the monetary difference practical. 

Yet, the industry itself is not practical. It is expensive, when the world is striving for cheapness. 
Amateur photographers are not the culprit. 

It’s the general striving for the inferior, because it is easier and inexpensive. 

I am a photographer in my own right. I do not call myself that because I still believe I have room to grow. But just because I do not have a degree does not change that a photographer is who I am. 


I hope you do not find offense in this, Ashley-Jayne. I just felt that I needed to share it.

No offense at all, Ruth. Likewise, I hope I didn’t bring offense to you or anyone else. I’m glad you shared your point of view. You make a lot of valid points, and definitely prove me wrong in some aspects. I generally agree with what you said. I was mostly referring to the kinds of people who have lovingly been dubbed “fauxtographers”. But there are exceptions to every situation I named in my last response. Again, everyone has to start somewhere. 

I could go in-depth with what I agree and disagree with about this message, but I’ll just put it up for others to read. That way, both sides of the ‘argument’ are represented. I didn’t want it to spark a big debate. Thanks for speaking your mind. <3