What/Who is a Photographer?

Anyone with a camera is a photographer.  Or are they?  Most folks take “snapshots”, not “photographs”.  So what’s the difference?  Several years ago I photographed a wedding and I just had my “film” camera checked over and worked on.  I shot one roll of film before the wedding and was getting ready to photograph the formals when my camera stopped working, and I didn’t have a backup.  So I went to plan “B”.  I got the bride and groom’s “point and shoot” cameras and continued.  Since I wasn’t contracted to be at the reception, I gave them their cameras and film, and told them there was no charge for my time and service.  That was a very BAD DAY, a photographer’s NIGHTMARE.  A couple weeks later the bride calls and tells me what wonderful photographs I took with their cameras.  She had no idea their cameras could take such beautiful photographs. I informed her the camera had little to do with it, it’s the person behind the camera.  You have to know what to shoot, how to shoot it, how to frame it, and how to work with light. 

Uncle Henry may have a very nice camera and may consider himself a good photographer, and he may very well be.  You may even want him to photograph your event.  But remember, he wants to have fun, talk to friends and family and have a few drinks. If you hire a photographer, he/she is there to work, to look for those once in a lifetime photos, to be friendly but not get lost in conversation, to get those shots that the customer will be impressed with when they see them later.  Most of all, a professional photographer will never drink while working.