“This idea fascinates me,” says David Hurn; “the idea that a few seconds of watching a photographer in action can tell you their status in the medium. And it’s true. If you watch a photographer of merit working an event, they do not look like an amateur ….”

–Jay, Bill; Hurn, David (1997-10-01). On Being a Photographer

Pros don’t spot pros due to gear; they spot them due to work habits when shooting.

One year, I was covering a workshop for college students in Nashville, TN, when I walked into a theater; everyone in the class was down the front, and the teachers were sitting on the edge of the stage. So after shooting a few photos around the show, I went up on stage behind the teachers to get a good shot of the students listening to the instructors.

Just as I did that, the entire class broke up laughing. Talk about an awkward moment for me, but quickly Anacleto Rapping, one of the teachers, let me in on the laughter. He had noticed I was covering the meeting and was teaching these photography students that if they just waited, Stanley would come up on stage and take some photos.

My walking on stage to take photos in that situation would be very typical for a photographer doing reportage on the event.

When I teach students, I am teaching actions that will give specific results if they do. Put light and the subject here, and you will get a unique look.

What is critical to understand is while the results will vary from each photographer, most all successful photographers will fully explore a subject. They will move around the object and, due to physical limitations, will most likely avoid similar photos.

Photo by Dorie Griggs

How a photographer holds the camera is often a giveaway that they know what they are doing.

Would a professional photographer acknowledge that you are a fellow pro or a ranked amateur just by watching you work?

Most all professionals will not conclude that because of how you shoot, you are a great photographer; what they are completing is that from your actions alone, they would approach it similarly.

I can spot a pro even when they are using a point-and-shoot. Can you?