why can’t i just say “i’m a photographer”?!
When do you shift from saying “I do X” to “I am a X“ From, for example, I knit, to I am a knitter. I design, I am a designer. I like to write, I am a writer. There is an important psychological shift that has pretty fascinating implications for health-related concerns – I have diabetes –> I am a diabetic.
This morning I was reading through a ravelry forum about photography. One woman said something like “I am a photographer blah blah” and she gave a link to her work. I really love photography; I have favorite photographers, books about the philosophy of photography and how-to books; I have a folder of photos of favorite photographs. And I enjoy taking photographs. So I clicked the link to see her work and it was really not good at all. Very poor lighting, trite, poor quality of the images themselves, etc. And she is a
me and my camera
photographer. My photographs aren’t anything special, but they are considerably better than hers.
So my point is not to boast about my photographs, because I’m not doing that, but rather to think about the identity issue. I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to make those kinds of claims – it’s not as if it matters! I could walk around saying “I’m a writer,” “I’m a photographer,” “I’m a baker,” etc., and it would not make one bit of difference to the world or to anyone. But I can’t do it. I like to write, I like to take pictures, I like to make bread. I see other people making the claim, and I’m always in a bit of awe at their self-confidence.
I can imagine possible reasons for my hesitation: it feels like bragging; it feels like I’m saying “I am a professional X” when I’m not, and if anyone looked at 
my ‘work’ that’s exactly what they’d think, that I’m full of myself, or lying in some way. I think another aspect relates to my thoughts about writing and photography; books have always been extremely important to me, and I hold writers in very high esteem. They have a kind of exalted place in the world, to my mind. Photographers less so, but good photographers can transform people, understandings, even policy. To say “I am a writer” just feels impossible. Salman Rushdie is a writer. Cormac McCarthy is a writer. Victor Hugo is a writer. Jose Saramago is a writer. I am not Rushdie, or any of those.
I also think that saying “I am a” invites people to ask if they’ve seen/read your work. It implies public or professional acceptance and reward. At a party: “I’m a writer.” “Really, have I read anything of yours?” “No, I just like to write.” Clunk.
But that’s not what people mean when they casually claim these identities (I think). The ravelry woman is a photographer because she takes pictures. Maybe I just need to get over myself and quit over-thinking everything. I do have a tendency to do that. In psychology, there is a construct called “need for cognition,” the meaning of which is pretty obvious. People vary along a continuum in their need for cognition, and I’m way way way at the top of the scale. 99th percentile, I’d guess. 
[...] I guess this makes me a photographer. After my excessive rumination below, I guess this nagging issue is taken care [...]
You aren’t alone in this avocation/vocation dilemma! People seem to enjoy putting their identities in easy boxes, expecially discussing themselves online. But self-identifying as someone who does “X” is generally understood to mean that you (1) have attained a high level of skill in that area and (2) devote a significant portion of your time/attention there. Recognition/fame is nice but not necessary – there are so many who only achieved that posthumously and others who had acclaim in their day but wouldn’t be considered “good” today.
And of course, there are always people who lack skill and/or creativity in their chosen field(s). Always. Some hobbyists are way ahead on the learning curve than self-identified professionals. And doesn’t that feel good?
But wouldn’t it be amazing if they were good, all of them? With the baseline set higher, the world would have so much more zing and sparkle.
.-= On her own blog, perches just said ..weekending : in search of summer =-.
ah……yeah, that’s so right – it does also carry an assumption that you devote a significant portion of your time and attention to it. i’d completely left that one out.
i agree – it would be amazing. and your idea of a world filled with more zing and sparkle leaves me smiling. it would also be amazing if these kind of little categories weren’t so charged.
so here’s to a higher baseline! have a wonderful weekend!
What an interesting thing to think about! I certainly think that I am a knitter – is that one something you feel OK claiming?
The next step for me is – am I a designer? Well, I’m not a professional, for sure. I’ve had one pattern published, as an amateur (in the book Think Outside the Sox.) I have also released several free patterns, the most popular of which has 640 projects on Ravelry (which constantly amazes me.) I’m not entirely comfortable claiming that I am a designer, but I’ve probably said and maybe written it several times.
When it comes to photography and writing, I really do agree with you. I would never claim to be either of those. Thanks again for making me think!
On her own blog, Anne Campbell just wrote a post titled..Post 100
Yeah – I can easily claim that I’m a knitter. Why is that? The stakes are low? It’s very clearly a hobby, and few people knit professionally for a living, even if some people do make money selling knitted things on etsy, for example. But I think I’d be in the same position you are about designing; isn’t it funny – you probably say quite easily “I design patterns” or maybe “I’ve designed a couple of patterns” but saying “I am a designer” is a whole other thing.
I guess we could insert ‘amateur.’ I’m an amateur photographer, that’s pretty easy to say. Amateur designer, maybe. Amateur writer, what does that mean! Aren’t we all.