Must You be Full Time to be Considered a Professional?

Dear Jasmine,
I am in the process of revamping/restarting my photography business and I am struggling with my identity. I have a full time job that is not photography related, but hope to build my business enough to have photography as my sole income.

My question to you is, do you have any advice on how I should approach the fact that I am not a full time photographer with my clients? I somewhat feel like a fraud – like I am pretending to be a photographer and I don't want potential clients to lose confidence in my abilities because I do not solely make my living on photography.

Should I “fake it until I make it” and only be forthcoming of my full time non-photography employment when asked, or should I be more forthcoming?

Sincerely,
Faking It

Dear Faking It,
Just after graduating college, JD, my twin sister, and I backpacked through Europe. Well, “backpacked” might be a stretch of the term. We took backpacks, but once we got a look at the hostels in Rome and I realized I wasn't really cut out for roughing it. But that's not the point. Right, let's get back on track: Italy.

My sister was an art history major in college, so we carefully planned our trip around every museum in the city. No, really, if there was a museum of pizza, she would have visited that too. She dragged us to countless installations of famous artists and explained in great detail what made the painting/sculpture/bust so perfect.

She also bought art. As we roamed the streets, she bought art based–solely–on what she found was beautiful. Now, did my sister ask if the painter was a full-time professional? Derive his income entirely off his art? Was his work less valuable because he only painted on weekends? No, of course not. She invested because she liked what she saw.

Which leads me to your question. There isn't a need to broadcast your part-time photography position (unless it affects your shooting/scheduling abilities) because your employment status doesn't change your ability to make photographs. However, if you're asked, always be honest. If a client won't hire you because you're not a full time photographer, then maybe that client wasn't meant for you. The key is to get commissioned by people who love what you do and support your talent…if they don't, they can find a photographer that fits their {arbitrary} requirements and you can move forward owning your ability to work two jobs until you can transition to photography full time.

I wish you all the best and I have no doubt your faithful clients will support your endeavors.
Thinking of Curating The Museum of Pizza,
j*