I had a job recently with a new client, a project that was going to be a somewhat large and challenging production. I’m happy to say we pulled it off beautifully. But we have our productions down to a science, so I never had any doubts!
Still, it was great to hear the boss was really happy with our work. Here is an excerpt from an e-mail distributed within the company that someone was kind enough to forward to me:
“Wanted to Congratulate everyone on their participation in the shoot. I was very impressed with the photographer, who was very professional and no drama, the other photographer we have been using is super creative, but so high maintenance, it made yesterday a pleasure.”
It brought to mind a quote by Polly Mellen, an iconic figure in the fashion world. I just wish I could remember it exactly…… The jist was that Polly only wanted to work with photographers that were especially high maintenance and difficult, because she felt they were the only ones who were creative enough to do great work. (Bonus points for anyone that can send me the actual quote).
When I started as a fashion photographer, this sentiment was on my mind. I worried that I might not ever be successful because I just don’t have it in me to be a diva. Sure, I can have a strong opinion on how I would like a shoot to look, and will certainly make that known. But I always prefer to have a relaxed, collaborative and nice mood on my sets. And ultimately my job is to make the client happy with the work they are paying me to do for them. Sometimes I might like to shoot something a bit differently than the client prefers, but at a certain point we just have to let go and get the job done.
Thankfully, I have managed to build a successful career, and never even had to resort to becoming a high maintenance diva!
Okay, enough patting myself on the back 🙂