Quote Originally Posted by RYANNNNN View Post
You do not need any qualifications or formal training to be considered a professional. If you are skilled at your job, know what you're doing and have been doing it for a little while you can be regarded as a professional.
There are two definitions of professional but the generally accepted one is you do need formal training. However in no instances is he professional. At the very least you have to be earning a living from it. Again, you too need to look up the definition of professional, it doesn't mean you're good at something. Darren seems to think it means you earn money from something, in that case I'm a professional: Flash Designer, Website Designer, iPhone Developer, Cake maker, Carboot seller and so on.

Quote Originally Posted by RYANNNNN View Post
Regarding your second point, I'm assuming you're roughly the same age as Darren. You work in McDonalds, he's taking photographs for his income/living and is aiming even higher. I'd probably stop posting in this conversation if I were you.
Firstly I don't work in McDonalds, like I said "if". But I don't really see how you can look down on people working there, atleast they are trying to get a bit of money.

Secondly he isn't taking photographs as a living, his parents paid for all his equiptment I believe and are carrying on paying for all of his stuff. As are mine.

Thirdly, actually I'm working with a professional Media and Software company full time over the summer and part time during term time. I have generated a large amount from doing this and I'm almost certain its more than Darren has made but am I professional? No. My parents are financing me so I can't be.