Does everyone want to be a photographer now?

[Steve Axford]

Giraffes?

Everyone who takes photos is a photographer. Then there are exceptional photographers, and then there are professional photographers. We tend to get confused about which is what.

[Terri]

I kind of missread your meaning from the title. I thought you meant, does everyone want to own a camera and take pics (be a photographer)? Probably, the answer is most people! But, I think of myself as a photographer, but have NO aspirations to ever be a pro photographer. I guess it's like, if you have a guitar and play music you're a musician - but that doesn't make you a pro musician.

In my opinion (not terribly educated on the matter) what will change the landscape for pro photographers will more likely be photoshop and other editing tools. The company I work in, every one of the IT guys has a DSLR. Whilst I think I take better photos than them, I certainly don't edit better than them... and as for one of their friends who's also a web designer... his work is amazing.

Of course, none of it looks "real" anymore - but one more generation and I reckon "real" will become irrelevant.

[ameerat42]

Giraffes?

Everyone who takes photos is a photographer. Then there are exceptional photographers, and then there are professional photographers. We tend to get confused about which is what.

QED.