What stage is professional?

[MileCreations]

At what stage do we have the right to call ourselves a professional at our work, because there is always going to be someone, somewhere that's better than me.

Is it the years of experience? Is it if we are working 38+ hours (or so) a week in our craft? Is it if we own gear that is considered of a professional standard? Is it simply when we start charging a fee that is considered professional in the industry?

I've watched an awful lot of videos of small businesses that claim they are professional. Many of them indeed appear so. Their website is well made, their prices are nice and high (professional=expensive?), they have short demos demonstrating quality and they advertise how many decades they've had of "experience in the industry".

However I have seen a great many with the professional tag that have hideous websites (hideous!!), half-standard demo videos but prices that are perhaps only just below the average rate.

Now I'm an 18 year old self taught film maker. With 'over 5 years' experience. I own gear that while it's not at the top the range I know very well how to use and generally to the average eye I can produce content that appears similar to 'professionals' twice my age with 4 times the budget (I'm not talking about people in the actual industry. I'm talking about small businesses with usually only one or two employees who film small tv commercials, weddings and other random things). I tag myself as professional only because without my price and jobs would have to go down. Now clients are never worried about the fact that I am 18. Times where I was employed directly by a professional (in this case I refer to someone with the gear, with a 38+ hours a week job filming and editing things) and I talked to the client first in person before the other guy and they just assumed that I was the leading man and had no judement towards me.

Here's my problem: My friends who I know think I'm stupid for labelling myself as 'professional' and some even mock me for it (which ain't too nice ).

This is partially a rant but I'm also very curious as to what others perception of the word professional is.

 

[Cracker Funk]

I hate to say it, but while some of your friends are being dicks, by mocking you, they might be correct.

There is an actual definition for "professional". Your profession is your livelihood. You pay your bills with it. You feed your mouth with it. You survive with it.

I don't say this as an insult, but if you're still in school, still living with parents, then by definition, you don't have a profession. That doesn't mean that you don't behave in a very professional manner. But in order for you to say that you are a professional anything, then that thing needs to be your primary source of income, and your means for survival.

 

[Cracker Funk]

That being said, I wholly support your use of the word "professional", to mean that you take something very, very seriously. If the use of that word gets your point across, then use it.

For example, by the literal definition of the word, I'm NOT a filmmaker. But I find that that word most easily helps people understand what I do, so I use it. So, if "professional" works for you, use it!

 

[MileCreations]

But in order for you to say that you are a professional anything, then that thing needs to be your primary source of income, and your means for survival.

This is currently my primary source of income. I am no longer a student, I graduated last year (goodbye student benefits :/) but am living under my parents roof

That being said, I wholly support your use of the word "professional", to mean that you take something very, very seriously. If the use of that word gets your point across, then use it.

For example, by the literal definition of the word, I'm NOT a filmmaker. But I find that that word most easily helps people understand what I do, so I use it. So, if "professional" works for you, use it!

Good point

 

[jax_rox]

My take on the word 'professional' is to mean that you are getting paid for what you do, it is your main source of income and you derive your livelihood from that income.

Owning 'pro' gear can lead to paying jobs and the eventual formation into yourself becoming a 'professional' but simply owning the gear does not mean you are a professional - you can easily buy gear and not get one single paying job from it.

I would also say that there's a difference between a professional and creating work to a professional standard. Indeed, a professional should be creating work to a professional standard, but one is certainly able to create work to a professional standard, even if they are not a professional themselves (look at all the amazing student films etc. you see).

I would say that whilst video/film work might be your primary source of income, if you are not deriving a livelihood from it (ie: if you moved out of home and could not support yourself based solely on the income you receive from your video/film work) then I'm not sure if I'd classify you as a professional. That said, say whatever you want to get business. If selling yourself as a professional gets you business, and you can deliver work to a professional standard, then I don't see why you shouldn't bill yourself as such.


From Wikipedia :

A professional is a person who is engaged in a certain activity, or occupation, for gain or compensation as means of livelihood; such as a permanent career, not as an amateur or pastime.

Many companies include the word professional in their store name to imply the quality of their workmanship or service.

The main criteria for professionals include the following:

Expert and specialized knowledge in field which one is practising professionally.
Excellent manual/practical and literary skills in relation to profession.
High quality work in (examples): creations, products, services, presentations, consultancy, primary/other research, administrative, marketing, photography or other work endeavours.
A high standard of professional ethics, behaviour and work activities while carrying out one's profession (as an employee, self-employed person, career, enterprise, business, company, or partnership/associate/colleague, etc.). The professional owes a higher duty to a client, often a privilege of confidentiality, as well as a duty not to abandon the client just because he or she may not be able to pay or remunerate the professional. Often the professional is required to put the interest of the client ahead of his own interests.
Reasonable work morale and motivation. Having interest and desire to do a job well as holding positive attitude towards the profession are important elements in attaining a high level of professionalism.
Appropriate treatment of relationships with colleagues. Consideration should be shown to elderly, junior or inexperienced colleagues, as well as those with special needs. An example must be set to perpetuate the attitude of one's business without doing it harm.
A professional is an expert who is a master in a specific field.

 

[MileCreations]

I would also say that there's a difference between a professional and creating work to a professional standard. Indeed, a professional should be creating work to a professional standard, but one is certainly able to create work to a professional standard, even if they are not a professional themselves (look at all the amazing student films etc. you see).


From Wikipedia :

This is a very very good point.

Gotta love Wikipedia

 

[Scorer]

To me, being "professional" is when it becomes your job/career/primary means of income.

It is the same in nearly everything. Even fighting, you become a professional when you stop taking amateur fights and go up to the pro level, which has slightly harsher rules and pays more.

 

[Sweetie]

There are also varying levels of professionals too, there are also ebbs and flows of industries.

To me, being a professional is when you are getting paid enough to make a living. It doesn't necessarily mean you are earning enough to live comfortably, it doesn't mean that you're an expert commanding a premium for your time, it doesn't necessarily mean that you're the best of the best commanding millions per project.

To me, it does mean that people have to be willing to pay for what you have to offer. Enough to pay the bills.

 

[rayw]

Don't how you Aussies do your personal income taxes, but here in the States our 1040 tax forms straight out ask you what's your occupation (for auditing purposes):

If you could claim the same or similar... then you're a professional.
That said, is it possible to be a full time something-else + a part time filmmaker with relative compensation? Of course you can.
You or I could be a full time dentists and part time filmmakers. Professional at both.
So... it depends.

I know how to fell a tree, limb it, and cut it up for firewood. But I wouldn't say that I'm a logger or lumberjack.
Same thing.

 

[CraigL]

To me, being "professional" is when it becomes your job/career/primary means of income.

It is the same in nearly everything. Even fighting, you become a professional when you stop taking amateur fights and go up to the pro level, which has slightly harsher rules and pays more.

In sports, it's means a bit more. All the things I've been involved with, when you're amateur, you can only use the money from your sport exclusively for said sport. You can't just "live" on it, technically. And many forms of competitions require that amateur status.

Going pro means you can actually use that as your general source of income, but will disqualify you from certain competition circles.

I wonder if it isn't more about that word(s) that follow. Calling oneself a professional filmmaker when the work is predominately web, shorts or TV spots, could be misconstrued; that conjures up images of people making full-length features and the like. A videomaker, or videographer, etc. though, wouldn't.

I say, professional is a state of mind. But technically, it does imply that it is, in fact, your profession by way of employment. As far as where you actually live when practising your profession... pffft, that doesn't even begin to factor in.

CraigL