Yellow Pickup Trucks And Red Ferrari’s – How Clients Ruin The Best Laid Plans

Yellow Pickup Trucks And Red Ferrari’s

Imagine a photo shoot with the perfect setting for Red Ferrari’s, a sleek-looking sports car; that offers endless opportunities. Now, image the same ideas with yellow pickup trucks included in the same shoot.

In my entire career as a professional fashion photographer, I have met many clients. I have heard endless thoughts on how the wish for the end product to look like, and what they wish to be included. Where most times I am able to bring the client down to a point where they see sense, other times I am unable to even comprehend the state of shock I am in.

But I have to agree the worst of them all are clients that decide to spring last-minute additions to the shoot. For instance, I met with a client and we decided on the theme, location, models, and props for the shoot. I planned everything according, and even set up the entire place for the perfect shoot. However, moments before we started shooting the client informed me that they would like to add yellow pickup trucks, along with red Ferrari’s. I might not have managed to get the words out of my mouth, but my expression did show a lot of confusion.

[pullquote] Sadly, there are only a few that actually understand that my experience is at their disposal, and instead of taking advantage of it, they see my opinions as running their plans. [/pullquote]

To top it all off, they added “we know you can make it work”, and decided to take a back seat. How, is my question. How will I incorporate the yellow trucks, and red Ferrari’s in one shoot that has been already been planned and set up keeping in mind just red Ferrari’s. Apart from the color clashes, they really do not fit in any way possible. At that time there are two things you can do as a professional. Either you can suck it up, and let the client ruin your plan; as you are so close. Or you can discuss the matter with the client.

I would recommend you keep in mind, that if the client has waited till the last-minute to tell you, they are not up for negotiation. In which case, you do have to suck it up, and start thinking of ways you can. I know I have had to, and still to this date thinking back to that shoot makes me cringe.

The issue is, when the client images a photo shoot with Red Ferrari’s he envisions something different, as to a professional fashion photographer like me. I am not saying my way of thinking is superior in any way, I am saying that my way is tailored to ensure that the end results will be ideal.

However, most clients fail to see that it is their shot, and their plan, and my opinions are here to help them get the most out of their photo shoot. I am the professional they have hired to ensure that each element is perfect, and adds up to make an excellent end result. Sadly, there are only a few that actually understand that my experience is at their disposal, and instead of taking advantage of it, they see my opinions as running their plans. When in reality, they are ruining mine, and in the end their own.