I am Not a Professional

Two Skies, Denton TX [Mural: “Band on the Run” by Dan Black] I have had some success with my photography lately. By which I mean I've sold some stuff. At first, I was tickled to think I'm a professional photographer now! But on further reflection, I'm not, and I don't think I ever want to be. Selling a few things isn't the same as running a business. A professional anything (photographer, masseuse, carpenter, whatever) is first a business person, and second an artist. You rarely learn that from a teacher. You learn it from another professional, usually as their assistant. I learned photography from books, classes, and a lot of walking around. That alone should have tipped me off. I am also embarrassed by commerce. I mostly give my work to friends for free, in a disposable format (annual calendars). I will have a photobook made soon, say in the next couple of years, but I squirm to think what it would need to sell for to be profitable, i.e., businesslike. I'll probably give a few…