As promised... more.

What does it mean to be a "semi-pro" photographer? It's an unusual moniker, but it fits a small niche of photographers who earn money with their photography but do not do it full time. I describe a semi-pro photog as a photog who shoots pro but hasn't quit his day job.

Maybe it's easier to describe what a semi-pro photog is not. A semi-pro photog is not an amateur who wants to be a pro. For those of us who take the title of semi-pro photog seriously, we're no less a professional photographer than those who do it full time.

Our images are not "semi-pro." For serious semi-pro photogs, our images are every bit as good as our counterparts who shoot full time. For many of us, we have trained for years to perfect our craft. We have gone to the same schools as the full-time pros, shot the same circuits as the full-time pros. We use the same gear and the same print labs. Nothing in our products identify us as semi-pro vice full-time pro.

The semi-pro photog struggles sometimes, though, to find his or her place in the photographic community. Some of this is our own fault because doubt creeps in. Is my work good enough? Am I less of a photographer because I don't do it full time? We wrestle with all these nagging questions that keep us up at night.

Some of the struggles are brought on by the ease of getting into the photo game these days. Anyone with a grand to spare can get into good pro-quality gear now, which leaves us with guys running around with cameras (GWCs, as they're known in the modeling world) who call themselves pro photogs. Just like buying a tool box doesn't make you a mechanic, buying a pro-quality camera doesn't make you a photographer. GWCs hurt the community and cause problems for semi-pro's because they create a credibility issue. It's hard to separate GWC's from semi-pros, pros for that matter, by how they're dressed. The proof is in the product.

A third way semi-pro's struggle in the community is with our relationship with the full-time pro's. This is understandable to a point, because in some ways, the semi-pro is in direct competition with the full-time pro for market share. I've encountered full-time pros who appear to be threatened by the semi-pro and tend to ostracize the semi-pro from the community. My thought on this is that if you're good enough, there's no reason to feel threatened. There's enough work out there for all of us, and if there is a demand for your product, you'll prevail. One could argue that semi-pro's are at an advantage in the market because we don't have the overhead costs that a full-time pro has, but if you've bought camera equipment or lighting gear or paid for advertising or booth space at expos you'll quickly find that vendors don't give a "semi-pro" discount. In many ways, we have the same costs as the full-time pro's. I'd argue that full-time pros have the advantage because they can focus all their energies into their photo business, where the semi-pro still has the rigours of maintaining his day job.

Whether it's our own self doubt, GWCs spoiling it for everybody, or contention with full-time pro's, the semi-pro photog has challenges to overcome. In my experience, the best approach is to hone your craft, be a professional in all aspects of your work, and don't worry about what others think of you.

Pro's, whether full-time or part-time, will find a way to make it work.

More on "making it work" next time.

Welcome to the Semi-pro Photographers' Blog

This is the first official post to the Semi-pro Photog Blog.

Much more coming soon.