How many amateur and professional photographers are there in the UK?

I've had a bet and I want to find out how many amateur and professional photographers there are in the UK. Would anyone know the answer - if not, how do I find out this information or where can I look up these statistics or demographics?

The UK government don't keep this data and the problem is the Pro/Am sector and Saturday wedding photographers, who muddy the picture.

Nevertheless the official figures are something like 50,000 professionals in the UK (though there are about 15,000 or so who are members of the biggest pro groups). As for amateurs - how long is a piece of string when almost everyone takes photos? What is your definition of say a 'keen amateur'? I use indicators like the number of photo mags in WHS and their audited readership... it's about as good as you'll get.

Amateur 6,458,992.05
Professional: 282,634.33

What? How boring you are!

How many people have a mobile phone with a camera on it? They would all be classed as amateur photographers.

Probably you are looking at 50million+

Does that cover everyone who ever took a photograph?

Alot! haha

( and I agree with a previous answer regarding mobiles )

This question might be almost impossible to answer. Everyone at one time or another is an amateur photographer, especially when we go snap-happy on our holidays.

Actually I gave up taking holiday snaps back in the 1960s when I discovered that the best photographs of any location are always the postcards sold at the holiday destination. These are usually taken by the best local professional photographers, who always manage to get that perfect sunset and the blue sky and the sea.

My photographs were just a mess, usually full of leering drunks. My mates.

Try the link below for sunset snaps : -

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/sunset...

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I bet there are more than those who watch football - but how much space/time does the media give to photography as compared with footbore?