There are photographers and then there are those who hold a camera. A photographer doesn't mean that the person has a shopfront or the full frame DSLR - photography to me is a passion, an interest. I've seen pros and shops who run a business - if there is some empathy between the photographer and the subject, then you can feel it - otherwise, standardised poses, standardised lighting and backgrounds gives the photographer best buck for time - it's a job / business, your aim is to make money not art. There are all kinds of business mechanisms that encroach into the picture taking. Whether you are a MWAC or a pro with a shop, if you let go of the passion and it becomes a job, then it's just a job to get money.

You're gonna need to define $US!o for me. I have enough trouble working out how much !o is in Australian dollars, let alone converting it to US dollars.

Speaking as someone who was interviewed for this very article, I am appalled with how it came out - it did not come out anything like the interview. Although yes, there is a significant amount of women grasping at the concept of becoming photographers the easy way.... Personally, it looked like the agenda was sexist in nature. I do not have a baby on my hip, nor do I charge $10 for an 8x10, nor do I do portrait parties or hand out biz cards at playgroups, yet I was addressed and lumped into the category of MWAC... lovely. Notice the "established studio GUY" was in a different category.

I need to stop rambling... I could not believe my eyes when I saw that article.