Is it okay to call myself an aspiring photographer?

I've been saving up a lot of money for my first camera. At the moment i just take snapshots on my iPhone and post them to and account on Instagram. Somebody told me i can't be an aspiring photographer because i'm using my cell at the moment. Am i in the wrong? I just love taking pictures and right now all i have is my cell and i really to aspire to become a photographer some day.

Yes

The person who told you no doesn't understand the word aspiring. Yes you are an aspiring photographer. Good luck with your camera. Have you considered taking classes at a college to learn all that you can about your chosen profession? I wish you success and please stop listening to other people who don't share your dream.

I don't see why not

Photos are photos. If you take them, you are a photographer. Perhaps now you are a hobby photographer, but the best way to become a professional in something is just to keep doing it! Everyone starts somewhere. And honestly, you don't have to be paid in something for it to be real. I'm glad you enjoy taking photos! It's good to do things you enjoy.
There are always people in the world who tear others down. What they say tends to reflect more about them and their character than it does about people they are insulting or dismissing.
I think you might like this book I read before called Show Your Work! It really helped me in my creative pursuits. I'm going to go look it up and attach a link in sources for you.

For context, my parents are both photographers. My mom took portraits as a side job for many years. My father is currently very active and popular in the instagram photography community but does not sell any of his work, despite requests. He just likes taking the photos.

Sure you can. Aspire to your dreams and be bold.

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Purists will not accept a multi-purpose gadget such as the smartphone as a camera but technically, a photographer is someone who takes photos and if you can do that with a phone then so be it. You're already a photographer. Aspiring? Maybe for a better camera - one that doesn't ring when your mom calls you.

Sir,

Why not? Compared with the long lost past

Photographers.

Your a futurist so deserving of the title of

Futurist photographer, or even Photographer!

Have fun and enjoy your new title, perhaps

Even upload them to Instagram or Flickr!

And make a buck?

Very Best Wishes

Mars

Source. Photography school.

Without getting into semantics too much, if YOU hope to be and wish to be and plan to be and ASPIRE to be a photographer, then you ARE "an aspiring photographer" by mere definition. Whoever says you are not, correct them by informing them that they do NOT define what is or isn't "to be aspiring" anything, and that you DO aspire to be a photographer, so therefore you ARE an aspiring photographer because you are saving to buy a DSLR camera, plan to LEARN all you can about photography and even TAKE photography classes, and you don't need either their approval or their definition of what you are or not. Start watching instructional and tutorial videos on Photography at Youtube.com; see videos on aperture+shutter speed+ISO, on camera built-in meter, composition, how to use light and shadows, exposures, etc. It's all common sense, nothing to memorize.

Yes, it is. You don't even need a camera.
People should look up the word " aspire ".