Gina Nero

We seem to not talk about this. So let’s talk about this. Sometimes we have what I like to call – a photographic misfire. The client didn’t disclose all of their wants and desires. They were under the impression that they hired – you – a photographer slash mind reader combo. You freestyled to excess, delusionally believing you had total creative liberty.

And boom. They don’t admit they dislike your carefully processed, scanned, selected, corrected mastery – they are merely disappointed and wondering where the extra one hundred photos that you never agreed upon are hiding. Why don’t you have them? It’s a calamity! But before you throw in the sponge and melt right down, remember this – some people are impossible to please. Just do the work and move the f on.

Even those superstar  got-everything-right [definitely not] photographers you so dearly idolize [me too] with the seemingly perfect, curated by a photo fairy feed of Mamiya RZ polaroid-back studio portraits and Forbes 30 under 30 magazine covers, jumbled amongst that off-kilter shot of a glowing poodle or a plate – have had these experiences too. In fact, agency represented artists have made huge blunders. Loads of them.  

Fault-finders are everywhere – in all areas of life, professional or otherwise. What is my lesson learned? Life moves in one direction – so move with it. You can keep your professional cock-ups a secret, or alternatively, share them with me. 

*Disappointment is an understatement for my sentiments towards the magnitude of needless violence and revolting greed we are seeing every day. Be kind. Be nice. Be like Yemen. Bypass toxicity and keep company with the sunny people who cherish your quirks and who – genuinely – like you. Guard your joy the way a Palestinian guards their home.