ABOUT
There have been books written, blogs created and hundreds if not thousands of hours of podcasts recorded about the difference between amateurs and professionals - both for writers and photographers (and every other possible occupation I suppose.) Funny thing is most of that chatter seems to miss the point. Stick with me here.Amateur as a word traces its origins back to somewhere between 1775-1785 Middle French. The root word is the Latin amtor - lover (of). So basically an amateur is someone that does something for the love of it. That's Me! I write and and make pictures because I love it! I cant imagine not doing it.Nowthen - if receiving regular and consistent payments for a job is grounds for being considered a professional in that field (as it is according to Webster’s Dictionary) then amongst other things, I am or have been a professional: writer,editor and photographer, chef, baker, caterer (as well as a wilderness guide, chauffeur, farmer, blueberry picker, nanny, secretary/admin/office worker, painter, carpenter, gardener, mortgage banker, golf instructor, mechanic, horse wrangler, graphic designer, private equity firm researcher, road manager for a musician, concert promoter, plumber, electrician, travel/tour guide, music librarian, sandwich maker, and chambermaid.)All that is to say, I choose to write and photograph "professionally" specifically because I am an "amateur."
