I was in an elevator with my camera and some guy asked me if I’m a photographer.

“I’m an amateur,” I demurred.

“An amateur!” he smiled. “Why set limitations on yourself? Why don’t you start out thinking you’re the best photographer in the world? Go ahead, say it: 'I'm not an amateur, I'm a professional!'”

“Okay,” I said. “I’m a professional.”

“Wonderful!” he exclaimed. “God bless you!”

Then he passed me some literature about how Jesus died for my sins and if I didn’t accept this I would suffer in the fiery pits of Hell.

What the man didn’t realize was that I don’t consider “amateur” a negative thing at all. On the contrary, being an amateur is what makes photography fun.

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