Comments on: The Benefits of Hobby

By: Mike Mahaffey

Mike Mahaffey — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:03:14 +0000

Wow! This spoke loud and clear and right to me! If you ever lose the inspiration for keeping your blog going… call me I’ll remind you how important it is to me and others in the same place. I was just coming full circle to the same conclusion and having a bit of trouble getting past the Pro vs Hobbyest moniker.

By: Gary

Gary — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:30:40 +0000

I have been subscribing to your posts via RSS google reader. These past two articles have been great.

I’ve been dreaming of doing photography full time since I enjoy it so much, but it is the Computer “Job” that pays the mortgage. I would have to be bring in 10 times more from photography to even consider it full time. In the meantime, I am in an “investment period” since the money I make from photography is used to buy photography gear.

I prefer lenses over postcards.

By: Deigh Bates

Deigh Bates — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:50:39 +0000

Thank You! so much for this latest entry. I find myself starting my day by reading your blog and lately you seem to have honed in to what has been rumbling about in my brain and given words to those thougths. I love doing and sharing the kind of photography that speaks to my heart and your comment a few entries ago about shooting “poems not instruction manuals” is permanently in the front of my head these days. As for a term that I use to describe myself and my relationship to photography the one I like best is “serious amateur” and the sticker on my desk in my home office is “Remain Humble”!! thanks again

By: Alex Saunders

Alex Saunders — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:48:23 +0000

Having already turned one hobby into a profession I think you’ve got some excellent points here. You really need to seek out the motivation behind your work. If this motivation leads you to persue a “profession” in photography, so be it.

I think too many of us chase a “photographic” lifestyle that simply doesn’t exist. It is like going somewhere on vacation and then wanting to live there not realizing that your life (bills, responsibilities, etc) are going to follow you no matter how beautiful Paris is in the fall.

By: Mike Palmer

Mike Palmer — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:46:55 +0000

“Part Time Professional, I like that = ) labels are labels , Why is it in the photography you have to label with pro, hobbyist, fine art etc… I never met a professioanl artist – only artists – or a professional musician – only musicians – I am sticking with photographer

By: Matt Brandon

Matt Brandon — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:19:21 +0000

I think you struck a cord with this one, david. You know I am working full-time in another career and do my photography part-time. My photography is “professional” in it’s quality, and I sell it only to support my habit, I don’t live off it. Some of us, just can’t make the leap right now, and that is as it should be. But if, as you have stated here, we remain true to our vision then the difference between the “pro” and the “hobbyist” (I hate that word) is only money and maybe time (My wife wold say I put in full-time hours.) There is a stigma to the label “hobbyist” with some, that makes me uncomfortable. I prefer “part-time professional”

By: Zach LeBar

Zach LeBar — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:49:40 +0000

Thank you so much for this post. It really helped to reaffirm my decision to pursue photography simply as a hobby/pastime. I’m a high school student, and currently have a job as a graphic and web designer and am really enjoying it. I want to get better at photography though because I am constantly in awe of what a beautifully photographed image can convey, what kind of an impact it can have. Your blog has continued to be a source of inspiration and guidence to me, and I ask you please to continue.

Thank you.

By: kate

kate — Tue, 27 May 2008 10:58:03 +0000

What I’d really like is a patron. Why are there no more patrons?

By: Alison Cornford-Matheson

Alison Cornford-Matheson — Tue, 27 May 2008 10:12:01 +0000

I’ve been subscribing to your blog for quite some time now and while I enjoy all of your posts, this one really struck a chord with me. There is way too much emphasis in our industry on who is ‘pro’ and who is ‘amateur.’ The images should speak for themselves, without any labels. Cheers!