johnloumiles Posted August 21, 2012 Share #21 Â Posted August 21, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Who are these "professionals"? The guys that are really worth a salt I have to read about in magazines or other media. They aren't walking around my city or hanging out at the local coffee shop critiquing my equipment. Â My point being there are only a handful of real pros out there and the ones that are don't feel the need to tell others how to be "pro". Â Do your thing and let this other guys have their DSLRs and figure out what you need as your work starts to blossom. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 Hi johnloumiles, Take a look here Wanna be a pro? Buy a DSLR. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
MichaelRabern Posted August 21, 2012 Share #22 Â Posted August 21, 2012 On the weekend I shot photos and video for an Elvis impersonator gig. Normally I use the 5D Mark II for paid work, but this time I also took the M9 and Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5. Â The Canon, with the 24-105L, was fast and versatile and produced very 'realistic' looking images. The M9 gave me images with a lot more character and that unique look which is a combination of the Zeiss lens and M9's sensor. The client will get a combination of images from both cameras. I am not confident enough in my M9 skills to shoot all paid work with it, but I'm more than happy to do certain aspects. The 5D Mark II and a few good zooms is just much more versatile and easier to use, and I can get more reliable results. Â Right! You shoot your primary and when the situation calls you switch to your secondary. The tools worked for you. Very cool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelRabern Posted August 21, 2012 Share #23  Posted August 21, 2012 Who are these "professionals"? The guys that are really worth a salt I have to read about in magazines or other media. They aren't walking around my city or hanging out at the local coffee shop critiquing my equipment.  My point being there are only a handful of real pros out there and the ones that are don't feel the need to tell others how to be "pro"  Do your thing and let this other guys have their DSLRs  Best advise ever, "Do your thing...." That's the attitude of a winner. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted August 21, 2012 Share #24 Â Posted August 21, 2012 On the weekend I shot photos and video for an Elvis impersonator gig.... Â Surely an Elvis tribute artist... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnloumiles Posted August 21, 2012 Share #25 Â Posted August 21, 2012 Best advise ever, "Do your thing...." That's the attitude of a winner. Â Haha thanks. I just don't get the camera war stuff. You go on Leica rumors and there are these people that feel the need to comment on almost every post that Leicas are jewelry for rich people that don't actually shoot pictures. I didn't know I was rich...I wish they would have told me a long time ago! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted August 21, 2012 Share #26 Â Posted August 21, 2012 Look. Professional photography is about making money from taking photos right? Equipment is as relevant as you let it be. It obviously has to do the job but beyond that its personal preference (I've known photographers who had little preference as long as their gear did the job and worked). Â I've made my living from freelance photography for over 20 years and as far as I am concerned its all about using the right tools for the job, and far more important is SELLING the photos. The two are linked of course. And yes I do sell shots taken on M gear, but far more shot on dSLRs. But forget gear for a minute, being a pro is about running a business first and foremost. If it isn't profitable then gear is irrelevant. There are more cost effective solutions to gear than Leica M - I'm fortunate in having built up an M 'system' (2 bodies, 3 lenses) over the years and have made it pay for itself, but its in addition to my dSLR gear - and I'm a specialist with that as well. Â Also FWIW trading is tough at the moment, more competition, less and lower paying work. Its not a good time for high investment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxofrome Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share #27  Posted August 21, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Look. Professional photography is about making money from taking photos right? Equipment is as relevant as you let it be. It obviously has to do the job but beyond that its personal preference (I've known photographers who had little preference as long as their gear did the job and worked). I've made my living from freelance photography for over 20 years and as far as I am concerned its all about using the right tools for the job, and far more important is SELLING the photos. The two are linked of course. And yes I do sell shots taken on M gear, but far more shot on dSLRs. But forget gear for a minute, being a pro is about running a business first and foremost. If it isn't profitable then gear is irrelevant. There are more cost effective solutions to gear than Leica M - I'm fortunate in having built up an M 'system' (2 bodies, 3 lenses) over the years and have made it pay for itself, but its in addition to my dSLR gear - and I'm a specialist with that as well.  Also FWIW trading is tough at the moment, more competition, less and lower paying work. Its not a good time for high investment.  Thanks for your words. Is all clear and I agree that is not good time for high investment. I will move carefully in the following weeks deciding where put my saving . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted August 21, 2012 Share #28 Â Posted August 21, 2012 He could be talking about a prostitute of course! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted August 21, 2012 Share #29  Posted August 21, 2012 An interesting thread for an amateur, I hadnt even considered that you might not be seen as serious with a heap of large clobber around your neck.  It seems sensible to me (obvious ?) that any professional will choose the right equipment for him/her, taking all factors into account. Some will choose DSLR some rangefinder some both. All of us are professional at something and make these decisions all the time  I just hope people aren't pursuaded by convention or other peoples perhaps biased or misplaced views. If I was going to become a professional photographer I'd relish the idea of being a little bit different than the norm and pulling out a rangefinder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmond_terakopian Posted August 27, 2012 Share #30 Â Posted August 27, 2012 LOL! What a ridiculous comment to make! Professional photographers choose the camera that works for them. I've yet to see in 23 years of photojournalism and commercial photography, any paper, magazine, agency, client tell me I need an SLR or any other bit if kit. For over 80% of my work, I've always used an M Leica (apart from when we had to switch to digital and there was no M solution; for me the M9 changed that). So, I've used M4-2, M4-P, M6 and M9s for all types of assignments from conflict zones through to studios, through to weddings etc... These cameras suit the way I work. I use SLRs for videos, long lens, fisheye, macro, tilt & shift; everything else is on the M Leicas. Â If these muppets tell you this comment again, perhaps ask them to look at some of the Magnum photographers, Tom Stoddart or even to Google me. Â One should use gear that works for them. If you're happy shooting with a Leica and like using the best lenses ever made, then good for you :-) Â Edmond Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Valdemar Posted August 27, 2012 Share #31 Â Posted August 27, 2012 I spent years in the publishing business. Â I have yet to meet even one editor who cares what camera was used to make an image. Â If the image is usable, they will buy it. Â * There is an exception. Many years ago some magazines insisted that photos be shot on a medium format or larger camera for the cover photo. But whether you used a Rollei or a Hasselblad, or anything else, they could care less. They wanted a well exposed, sharp shot, that's all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted August 28, 2012 Share #32 Â Posted August 28, 2012 He could be talking about a prostitute of course! Â I suspect they earn more money with less 'equipment' outlay... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Freeman Photography Posted August 28, 2012 Share #33 Â Posted August 28, 2012 I love these debates.. Â Having done freelance Sports photography for the English Premier League and various other sporting events, I can honestly tell you that the market has burst in terms of making a living from it anymore...WHY Â Example....English FA Cup Final...8 Getty Images photographers at the event, 1 in each corner, 2 in the stands, 2 behind the goals and of course the array of remote controlled camera's behind the goal..real hard work controlling a pre focused camera..you could get a 5 year old to do that.. Â Getting into one of these companies as a photographer is like waiting for someone to die...and now that Getty own Flickr, they have the choice of so much stock.. Â Take the olympics in London recently...remote controled camera's shooting 12 fps, located underwater... for the average freelance photographer you have no chance of earning money at these sort of events.. Â That's just my opinion on Pro Photographers..although there is always Weddings...and probably every wanna be Pro ...has done a wedding of some sort...but who wants to specialize in just weddings...PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ARTFORM and the leica M series gives you back the creativity lacking in todays world of digital technology.. Â My humble opinion and I'm not rich either and I now own a Leica...hmmm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larcomb Posted August 29, 2012 Share #34  Posted August 29, 2012 I love these debates.. Having done freelance Sports photography for the English Premier League and various other sporting events, I can honestly tell you that the market has burst in terms of making a living from it anymore...WHY  Example....English FA Cup Final...8 Getty Images photographers at the event, 1 in each corner, 2 in the stands, 2 behind the goals and of course the array of remote controlled camera's behind the goal..real hard work controlling a pre focused camera..you could get a 5 year old to do that..  Getting into one of these companies as a photographer is like waiting for someone to die...and now that Getty own Flickr, they have the choice of so much stock..  Take the olympics in London recently...remote controled camera's shooting 12 fps, located underwater... for the average freelance photographer you have no chance of earning money at these sort of events..  That's just my opinion on Pro Photographers..although there is always Weddings...and probably every wanna be Pro ...has done a wedding of some sort...but who wants to specialize in just weddings...PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ARTFORM and the leica M series gives you back the creativity lacking in todays world of digital technology..  My humble opinion and I'm not rich either and I now own a Leica...hmmm  There are more 'pros' than ever before, and more sub-professional photography than ever before. When something becomes easy, its value goes down. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitalpowershot Posted August 29, 2012 Share #35 Â Posted August 29, 2012 My definition of a pro is a photographer that derives (part of) his/her income from photography. So if you sell, let them yap....Plenty of Leica M pros on this forum. Â The term "pro" is really highly overrated. A hairdresser is also a pro by the above definition, but this doesn't mean he is a good one Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitalpowershot Posted August 29, 2012 Share #36 Â Posted August 29, 2012 The photographer around the corner doing passport photos is also a pro Most of them are not using a DSLR, instead there is a p&s camera on a tripod. Â But this has nothing to do with being an artist (the real pro). Let them all with the DSLR say you are not a pro, fine. But if you have sold photographs taken with your M I assume you are an artist. It's more fun Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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