Amateur or Professional!

[mybeautifultease]

Thanks all for your input, there has been a good level and variation of responses the the question I posed.

I agree with the general if it's published or for commercial use using pro standard gear statements in defining a pro.

Personally, in shooting my content, I can't honestly say i've gotten off to it as I might one of OEJ's videos, not because it's not appealing but because the mechanics of editing it together and creating the various elements for an update has in a way removed any pleasurable element to it - with content I produce the 'climax' and pleasure is publishing it. If that makes sense.

It is easy to get a web site, hell its even easy to get a video uploaded and streamed to thousands. I would say that the standard of professionalism shouldn't necessarily be judged by the content itself but rather the package; quality of the content, the site, the marketing, the fees, costs, budgeting, gear, models, audience, negotiations, recruiting etc...

I enjoy what I'm doing it, I find it fun and entertaining; always full of interesting moments and scenarios just not available in the 'regular' 9 to 5 world.

[sparky]

"Also an amateur can be very experienced and a professional a beginner"

My point is every year loads of students get certificates for their professional qualifications and / or training in educational institutes. However they still need work for considerable time in real world employment before they are experienced and can work with minimal supervision, checking of work etc.

[videokim]

It is harder than you think to make amateur movies look amateur when you have been filming & taking photos for years, we recently done a poll to people who watch our films as John wanted to go HD but we were told by most of them it would spoil the films so for now we will keep our original format.

For an experienced cameraman to shoot a film like an amateur is hard work..a bit like a adult trying to draw a kiddies drawing to look like a kids drawing, since the AVC club ended 12yrs ago we have established a name for ourselves making amateur movies hence the 'Kims Amateurs' name.

Lots of people we work with choose the same style as us because amateur has a large slice of the UK market & with things going like they are its proving to be good in the US & Europe where they also love British Amateurs so why shoot gloss at an higher expence...

Its easy to shoot a clear movie now days with HD cameras & lights being sold for peanuts but it takes a pro to understand a niche & where & how far you can go with it, we don't & would not have an outlet for top end gloss but we do alright in what we do.

The moral to this is don't always judge the quality, lighting & money as being pro because most of these guys don't last longer than 5 years.

[Matt P]

I consider myself a learner that has worked with professionals top class.
To be honest I've been humbled by watching 1st hand how a pro stud does it & the stuff I learn on each shoot.
It's fantastic there are people I've worked with that've had the paitence to answer my questions as until "Idiots guide to porn performance" comes out I'd have no way of finding out.
I hope I can stay in the business I love

[mybeautifultease]

Its easy to shoot a clear movie now days with HD cameras & lights being sold for peanuts but it takes a pro to understand a niche & where & how far you can go with it, we don't & would not have an outlet for top end gloss but we do alright in what we do.

Knowledge of the industry, knowing your market, target audience, working hard with a niche. Is in part what I was referring to as the 'wider package.'


The moral to this is don't always judge the quality, lighting & money as being pro because most of these guys don't last longer than 5 years.

Point taken videokim.

[planeterotica]

I have been shooting adult material for more years than i care to remember , stills and vids which i have sold to magazines and adult channels but it has never been my main source of income therefore i consider myself to be an amateur, mind you Pro-Am has a nice ring to it !wink!

[randyandy]

For me Amateur will always be as it is in any other field.

That is someone doing something because they want to do it and are not being paid to do it or in the case of porn charging a fee for it to be seen.

As soon as any fee is taken then it becomes Professional even if the quality etc. is 'Amateur' / lower than a 'Professional' site.