The question here is....What is a photographer?
In today's context, anyone with a DSLR is considered a photographer. To the really the ignorant, as long as you are carrying a DSLR, they think that you are "pro". We all know this issue with regard to ignorant security people at certain events who try to stop people from taking photos with DSLR.
But WE know, that person carrying DSLR, is 80-90% of the time amateurs or hobbyists nowadays. They are not professional. Even if we call it professional, how do you define professional photographer? Someone who gets paid to do a job? Is that alone to be considered a professional photographer? Or how about someone who has a photographic company? Or owns a photographic studio? Is that a criteria to be called a professional photographer? Or, earns his living as a photographer? As far as I know, there is no official definition but many well accepted ones as listed above. U can know nothing about photography, but as long as you own and use a DSLR, anyone can slink by with being called a photographer, and if u manage to get a paid job, hey...pro photographer. But does that mean that if someone who has been paid to do a shoot is necessarily a good or competent photographer?
Perhaps one way to really elevate the status of photographer instead of just GWC or Guy With Camera, is to have some kind of licensing or examination. In that way, at least when someone is called a photographer, we know he understands things about aperture, shutter speed, lighting, and how to use a DSLR or camera effectively. Everyone else should basically be Guy or Gal with Camera. At least, when finally we are called photographers, in a way, it has been earned and people with these titles should have been known to have achieved a certain minimum standard and knowledge in photography.
But whatever the case, photography is not really one of those things that is do or die situation. No building is gonna collapse, no people are going to die, so really, this is all just plain musings unless enough people feel strongly enough about it.
But in a way, the emcee is not exactly wrong. In Singapore, dun study also can become photographer. So long got DSLR, can already. Maybe it was not meant to be insulting. But of course, we also know, if the photographer markets himself or herself well, monthly income of 4-5 figures are common. Afterall local wedding shoot already around 1-2 K, overseas shoot (which are more and more common now), average 8k for 2 days??!! So why you care what people call you as long as u are making the money.
