Just because someone is a professional photographer doesn’t mean he embraces the highest levels of photographic professionalism. Inversely, just because someone is not making his living from photography does not mean he does not embrace image making with utter professionalism.
Ideas about exactly what defines a “successful photographer” and how this relates to “photographic professionalism” have been on my mind since I talked with Richard Anderson on Sunday, then Howard Ruby on Monday.
Richard Anderson is a professional photographer, a digital standards expert and the driving force behind dpBestflow.org. On Sunday he was talking about how this is the true golden age of photography. In relation to his best practices work, Anderson noted how all serious photographers must embrace digital imaging best practices if they want to reach the highest levels of professionalism.
“You can shoot something in the morning and post it on the Web in the afternoon,” Anderson said enthusiastically regarding why this is the real golden age of photography. “You can have a million eyes seeing your image faster than you could have processed film before digital.”
I agreed that this is exciting, but I didn’t see exactly how it related to professionalism. After all, doesn’t this observation apply to everyone with a digital camera and very basic Web skills?
“People can still tell if professional ability has been brought to bear in an image,” Anderson told me.
Anderson’s observation seems right on target to me. Sure, it seems like every day I find myself saying “Wow” to a great image taken by a novice photographer. However, although I say “Wow” a lot, it’s not often that I find myself saying, “Wow!, Wow!, Wow!”
When I am truly awed by a group of images created by one photographer I do indeed detect of level of image making professionalism that is hard to ignore. This is at least part of what Anderson is referring to, I believe.
Happy accidents (luck) and a certain level of talent (whatever that is) can help individuals make great images here and there, but professionalism is required to constantly deliver stunning, above-average images — and allow photographers to share them in the most meaningful ways.
Howard Ruby is a highly successful businessman, the Chairman and CEO of Oakwood Worldwide. I interviewed him on Monday for a piece I am writing about the intersection of photography and retirement (of people who are not professional photographers). Ruby definitely applies professionalism to his photography, and yet he is an amateur or hobbyist by the strictest definition: he doesn’t make his living through photography.
Take a look at Ruby’s site, and I challenge you to find anything about it that is “amateurish.” Not only are Ruby’s images and presentation truly stellar, but his site even features a TV news report and other press highlighting Ruby’s successful work in conservation photography.
Anderson told me that there are plenty of professional photographers who hand off their unprocessed files, and who have very little idea of what happens later in the digital workflow. This, he told me, represented a real lack of professionalism.
One of the clear, definable benefits that Anderson explained about professionalism is that it allows one to “take the best advantage of technology with the most efficiency.”
The greatest risk of not embracing professionalism, Anderson said, is that photographers will not be prepared for the constant, sweeping evolutions that are constantly coming our way.
This was an tangible point interested me greatly, and Anderson and I discussed it at some length. He helped me see that mastering current photographic techniques is only part of photographic professionalism. The real key to professionalism in terms of image making is to be constantly engaged in the learning that allows one to take advantage of future technologies, both in terms of producing and distributing.
Ruby is keeping up with image making evolutions and finding more ways to share and his images. For a clear example, check out the “Global Warming” section of the National Wildlife Federation’s website. Ruby has helped foster this site with his entrepreneurial business skills and donating the photography featured. Ruby is not getting paid for his photography for the NWF, but clearly his volunteer efforts for the organization illustrate his photographic professionalism.
By definition, a professional photographer is one who makes his living with his photography. And so, one can easily argue that making money is more important than embracing image making with professionalism. But as I thought more about Anderson’s words and considered the work of Ruby, I decided that professionalism in one’s approach to image making is a critical ingredient in what distinguishes great image makers from casual image makers.
I agree with Anderson that this is the most exciting time in the history of photography. How one does or doesn’t make money in this golden age of photography will continue to be a challenge. But whether or not is focused on making money from photography, thoughtful photographers trying to make great images must continue to take advantage of evolving technologies. This requires addressing the craft of photography with professionalism.