One of the “philosophies†that helps us, and can help you, to succeed is “No Excuses!â€
We get paid to do a job, and we will do it, no matter what. At the end of day, clients are interested only to get the images that they commission us to get, not excuses – no matter how valid – on why we failed.
One time, John was in Mindanao to do photography for an annual report. The client remained in Manila, while sending him to various places in the south, with only a list of contacts who knew about his assignment. This was in the days of films and no cell phones.
He arrived at a major industrial plant and asked for the head of security. He was told that the security chief was called to an emergency meeting in another province. Since he did not have time to leave word with his subordinate, John could not secure permission to do photography at the plant.
John’s time was short. He only had about three hours there to accomplish his assignment before he had to leave for the airport for the next leg of his itinerary, but there was this security officer who was standing between him and his work.
“Look,†John said to the officer, “I have to leave at four but I cannot go back to Manila empty-handed. I understand that the chief is not here, and you were not given authority to let me shoot. But, if I went home without these photos, your company would have to send me here again. They would not be happy to spend again on my airfare and my fees. So, here’s my suggestion: If you will allow me to shoot, I will leave all my films with you. If, when the chief comes, he tells you that no, I had no permission to shoot – you can keep the films. If he says yes, I did have permission to shoot – then you can give him the films to send to Manila.â€
The security officer thought about it for a minute, and decided that he could not get into trouble for giving permission to a photographer who would surrender his films. He would be in control of the films, and of the situation, or so he thought. He said yes as John prayed he would.
At the end of the photo session, John, as promised, gave the security officer, a few rolls of films.
When he returned to Manila, he gave his client the same number of rolls (after processing). He submitted images, not excuses. Mission accomplished.
P.S. After three days, his client received a set of unprocessed films from the chief of the security office. John didn’t need to explain to his client about the incident with the plant’s security office. There was no need to – all the client was interested in were the pictures.