I think we are all pretty familiar with the actual definition of the words hobby and profession. A hobby is something you are passionate about but it is not necessarily a strength. It is an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation. A professional is one who makes their living at the pursuit or practice.

Just for fun I would like to share another definition a friend of mine came up with one day. My friend, Julie, likes to take pictures on vacation, of her garden, and at business events. She does such a nice job of it that I assured her that she was ready and worthy of stepping up to a better camera.

Julie shooting all the sights in Hawaii.

She told me she liked the images she has taken on her vacations on her walls at home because she took them. “It’s all about me,” she said. “I know this is just a hobby and that is it. I have no interest in posing anyone, dealing with lights, or doing what you do.” 

That’s when it occurred to me that another description of hobby and a profession might sound like this too: A hobbyist might say, “It’s all about me.” And a professional photographer would be more inclined to say, “It’s all about you.”

As a professional photographer I want to make people look terrific on camera, teach them what to wear, how to pose, get great expressions from them even if they are a bit uncomfortable in front of the camera. It is an honor and very satisfying when I can be a part of improving someone’s self esteem, decorate a home with priceless memories, or take the last portrait someone will have taken.

As a person with the Maximizer strength I also desire to help my client friends get the most out their time and experience. I am not happy just doing a picture, I want the image to be the driving force of their brand. For a business client, I am interested in their website, business cards, and wardrobe all coordinating for a consistent feel. For a portrait client I want the image to become part of their home décor. A show piece they can treasure. So we talk a lot about the style and color tones during our consultation time.

I attended a wedding once as a guest and my heart was breaking watching the “professional” she hired struggle to do her photographs. The photographer was obviously not experienced enough for the job and I could not help but rescue the bride from totally sloppy posing. So I jumped in and straightened the train, and did the posing work. Boy was he relieved and glad for the free assistance! And the bride still thanks me many years later. That is how important photography can be to us all.

So if you find you can hardly keep from jumping out the pew to help, you too, may be a professional photographer at heart.

About Barb 

Barb Gordon, of www.BarbGordonPhotoCoach.com, is a Master Photographer, Photographic Craftsman, and Certified Professional Photographer with the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) to which she has belonged since 1984. She is a nationally published and award winning photographer, entrepreneur, speaker, and author including being published in the prestigious PPA Loan Collection 2006, PPA Showcase 2003, twice named Iowa’s Top Ten Photographer of the Year, and 2010 Iowa’s Master Photographer of the Year.