When Can you Call Yourself a 'Photographer'?

Yes, exactly when can someone call themselves a photographer? Does it really matter?

I know many photographers who get irked by people ‘less professional’ or experienced than them who refer to themselves in bios or conversation as photographers. Why do we care so much about how people label themselves?

It’s a situation I’ve seen time and time again, and yes it used to bother me years ago, but nowadays I’d rather encourage aspiring photographers than berate them.

Given that photography is a personal art form, I believe some photographers want to keep the community/industry small and niche, only available to the lucky creatives who have that natural eye for a good shot.

Allowing new people into this world, who aren’t naturally talented and need more time is sometimes seen as ‘diluting the pool’ and disrespecting the experience of others by calling themselves photographers as soon as they’ve got their first DSLR.

This kind of snobbery leads to trolling of newbies and means less people may enter the hobby entirely which will only be a bad thing in the long run.

Who honestly cares if someone calls themselves a photographer and they aren’t professional? Surely it’s better to let your work speak for itself and let your audience decide who is an accomplished photographer and who is a beginner. It’s not like Barry (who’s just bought his first camera last week) is going to be direct competition for Edgar (a 20-year veteran who only shoots with Leicas) - and if he is then Edgar needs to up his game and stop being lazy.

New photographers are needed in whatever form possible - pro, serious hobbyist or a total beginner. So personally I would love to see more people passionate about photography calling themselves photographers. It gives them a label to aspire to.

What do you think? Am I wrong? Should there be a demarcation to this label to separate true artists to students of the craft? Get in touch, I’d love to hear.