On occasion, someone will approach me while I’m out shooting and ask if I’m a pro or ‘just an amateur’. I’m always troubled with how to respond. Although the english definition of “amateur” defines the amateur as a nonprofessional enthusiast, the original French word means simply “lover of”. It says nothing about compensation. In our culture, it is somehow assumed that if you’re being paid to do something, you can’t enjoy it. I am a paid professional but I love photography! If the primary goal of the artist is for anything other than creating art and honing his/her craft, the art cannot help but be effected. (That’s one reason I always have a personal project I’m working on. Personal projects allow me to do exactly what I want to do without any outside influence.) But don’t get me wrong. I understand we all have to make a living and there’s nothing wrong with pursuing a better life for oneself. So then, how do I answer that inevitable question when it comes? Even though it might fly in the face of those with the ‘I hate my job’ mentality, my standard answer while handing them my card is, “I’m blessed for being a professional amateur!”