© John Neel

There are all kinds of photographic image-makers in this world. Especially now with digital and smart phones the act of photography has never been so popular or as ubiquitous. It seems that everyone is a photographer.

Yet we who claim to be photographers are not all motivated in the same ways. There are some major differences between what we do, why we do it, and in what kinds of imagery we produce.

Not everyone wants to be a Professional Photographer. Likewise, not all shooters are cut out for artistic work. Just because someone claims that they are a photographer, doesn’t mean that they are proficient at all that photography might entail. There is a wide range of what the title “photographer” can mean. There are many reasons why photographers make photographs.

There are differences between a “professional” who makes a living shooting for money, a “casual shooter” who makes images for recreation and a “creative photographer” who makes images as art. There are actually many subcategories within each of these classifications. Not many image-makers do it all and certainly no one can be the master of every kind of imaging there is. The subject is just too big and most of us do not have the time or resources to master much more than a few genres. Generally, you are either this or that kind of photographer.

The goals of each kind of image-maker are different and the choices and requirements can also vary for many reasons. I use the term “professional” and any such category loosely as there are no real standards in spite of what some might profess.

Photography is still a new innovation and there are no real rules and therefore no real categories. Throughout the history, there have probably been as many commercial works considered as art as there have been artistic works used for commercial gain. Numerous amateurs and professionals have attained artistic status. The art is in what the image is about. It has little to do with the equipment and even less to do with the shingle one may hang over their door.

As image-makers, the choices for what we use and how we use it depend on many factors. Sometimes the choices are dictated. Sometimes photographers are completely free to choose. In general most types of images tend to fall into these “pigeon holes” for the following reasons:

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Professional Photographer –  Most of the work produced within this category is commissioned, hired or bought for a specific purpose. This category might include sports photographers, portrait photographers, journalists, wedding, product photographers, architectural photographers, forensic photographers, aerial photographers, commercial photographers, scientific researchers and many others. A professional in these days of digital is almost required to use digital tools in order to be competitive. In most cases, he or she needs the speed and convenience of high-end DSLR cameras or digital backs and all the latest electronic and computer gadgetry. However, I know many professional image-makers’ who still rely on film for at least a portion of their work.

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Casual Shooter – This category might include weekend photographers, hobbyists, family pictures, travel shooting and many others. The majority of people shooting with their smart phones might fall into this category. The casual shooter might be best to use digital but certainly doesn’t need the high-end equipment that a professional usually requires. Nor does he or she require the same kinds of photographic skills and the knowledge base of a professional. Many in this category still love film and in many cases they use both film and digital.

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An Amateur photographer is usually a mixture of a casual photographer and a creative photographer. This category is open to anyone who is interested in shooting images as a hobby, a pastime or as a serious sideline (work). Common subjects generally intrigue amateur image-makers. The amateur is someone that dabbles in more serious subjects, but usually does not have much or any formal training in the arts. They usually know little about photographic history but at least read up on techniques, they find interesting. The amateur usually seeks out the knowledge base required for specific type of subjects using specific kinds of equipment. While the amateur is free to become any of the classifications shown here, they have a higher understanding of the use of their equipment than those who are more casual users. Because of their advanced interest, many amateurs are capable of producing beautiful results.

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The “creative photographer” on the other hand is completely free to use any technique he or she wishes. The full spectrum of photographic history has potential for creating images of any kind. The creative photographer has absolutely no limitations for using digital or analog or any combination to explore any visual process that might be useful for the creation of his or her artistic vision. Creative photographers can be as knowledgeable as their imagery requires. Due to the variety of methods available, the creative image-maker may in some cases have a need for photographic skills that most professionals will never need or use. This category might include fine art photographers, experimental imagers, concerned photographers, landscape photographers, street photographers, and many others. The creative image-maker tends to explore the possibilities of what an image can teach us about the world.

Each of these categories includes photographers who might overlap into any of the other groups.

While you may think that photography is photography, there are many different categories, areas of expertise and levels of knowledge. What you should realize is that we all have different reasons for creating our photographs. We also have different requirements for cameras, lenses and other types of equipment. The person that does weddings uses the tools that work best for that endeavor. Likewise, those who street photography generally have a need for smaller and lighter cameras that are inconspicuous and quiet.  If someone feels it is best to create with a digital camera that may well be what he or she should use. If on the other hand they are inclined to shoot with a large format camera, a pinhole camera or a stereo camera, that should also be a choice. The desired image and the photographer’s preference should be a part of the deciding factor.

What you shoot and how you shoot are ultimately what will make or break you as a true photographer. The most important part of being a photographer is being true to yourself, your subject and your audience. If you are good at what you do your audience will have a say and so will history.

There is one other category that I would like to mention. That category would be images that speak falsely. I would call those images and their makers Morally Corrupt. There are plenty of those in this world. They also belong in some of the groups I have mentioned. That type of work includes propaganda, counter information, advertising, pornography, and hype. These kinds of images are more than likely a big lie or at least, useless information. It tends to deceive, swindle, trick and mislead. It is the kind of work that I find repulsive, offensive, unethical and immoral. It tends to contribute even more chaos to the zillions of images that we are confronted with. It makes it harder to decipher and to differentiate the good from the bad.

In my mind, truth should be the goal of every image and the understanding of that truth, the prize.

No matter what the origin, the best photography is that which offers positive enlightenment. The best use of photography is for understanding the realities of living in the most truthful way possible. It gives us unvarnished insight into the good, the bad, or the ugly.

The one thing common to all photography is light! Illumination is what happens when that light smacks you in the heart.

I cover many photographic topics and techniques in my book.  – Great Photography book for any creative Photographer.

Please have a look at some of my other posts here.

NOTICE of Copyright: THIS POSTING AS WELL AS ALL PHOTOGRAPHS, GALLERY IMAGES, AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE COPYRIGHT © JOHN NEEL AND ARE NOT TO BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE WRITER, THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR lensgarden.com. THE IDEAS EXPRESSED ARE THE PROPERTY OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND THE AUTHOR.