 M J |
Ethics Question - Photography Assistant Is it polite to take a phone call during a photo shoot? What if it's your assistant calling because he/she is lost? Is it unprofessional to ask the bride during a portrait session to excuse you for a moment to give driving directions? What is this is a volunteer assistant, getting paid nothing, who has driven for several hours and can't find the shoot location? This isn't an idle chit chat call so what is the protocol for this? Yes, this question is to settle an argument. I would just like to know if I was being unrealistic. Also, need to point out that I rescheduled my own company clients around his shoot to help him, got the client for him through one of my clients, set him up with the company wardrobe for the shoot, was lost an hour and a half to find the shoot and called him from a payphone 4 times and he let it ring a total of 16 times without picking it up, then took me an hour and half to find my way out of there (big city). So I need to know should I apologize for getting upset that he didn't pick up the phone and give me directions (I was around the corner apparently) and taken 2 minutes to do so. Did I overreact or was he just rude? The future of my attending and supporting any future photo shoots depends on this. I feel USED. :(
|
|
|
|
||
|
M J |
Need to add that I would have NEVER called and interrupted a shoot otherwise. That he was expecting me to be there and knew I'd only call if I was lost. I'm not a clingy girlfriend, this was an assistant job, the map he gave me was inaccurate and I TRIED to be there without calling or getting lost (asked directions from strangers 4 times - no one had heard of this itty bitty little park the shoot was held in (the bride chose the spot). He found it ahead of time so he knew where to go. I live an hour away so I don't know that town. We had other appts for work so couldn't ride together. So this isn't a "Should there be any phone calls during a shoot?" question but rather a "Should he answer his assitants call during the session?" or a "Should he answer his girlfriend is lost while trying to help him" call. Also this was not a paying photo shoot. He did this for his portfolio and to make some connections.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Raymond H. Kemp |
This sounds more like a question for Oprah. Anyhow, from what you have stated here, it seems you need to clarify with each other just how you will work and communicate when working on assignments. Whether he is being paid or not is irrelevant. Just sit down with him and work out what your work ethics will be (such as phone calls). Maybe this will head off any future issues? Good luck! Ray
|
|
|
|
||
|
M J |
Hi Ray, Thanks for your response. He's not budging. He won't answer any calls on any shoots even if someone is dying or in the hospital... his photography shoot takes precedence to the rest of the world. Fair enough, but it's not like he's taking calls from other clients or personal calls. What is standard for phone ettiquette at a photo shoot? What do other photographers do? I'd really like to know if I am being unreasonable in expecting the phone to be answered given the circumstances or if it's just standard procedure that all photographers ignore phone calls during shoots. I don't want him to be unprofessional either.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Raymond H. Kemp |
Then it sounds to me he is not too concerned if is assistant shows up or not and taking phone calls while on location are out of the question. Everyone has their methods as to how they conduct business and it looks like his are quite clear and that you will have to accept. I have a similar problem with my daughters calling. I’m a single dad raising my three teenage daughters since their mom died six years ago. Now I’m accustomed to a constant barrage of calls from them particularly during their moments of “sibling rivalry”. But if I’m working on assignment or on an accident scene, I seldom will answer the phone and they (my daughters) know why. It flat interferes with my work and I’ll get back with them later. So, it seems you will need to accept his methods and if you’re late or lost to the location that will be his problem to deal with since he will not take calls. Good luck with this! Sorry, I couldn’t help more. Ray
|
|
|
|
||
|
M J |
Hi Ray, I'm sorry about your wife. I lost a child so I know a bit about grief, though it's a different kind. 3 teenage daughters? Wow, you're still sane? I only called because I was lost. He knew that then when I was calling. Lost in the city (I'm a country girl - a traffic jam here is a cow in the road) and I was a nervous wreck and he knew it and left me hanging. I'm sure you wouldn't have left the phone unanswered if one of your daughters was lost. He's mad at me for being upset, says I have no right to be, should have never called him or expected his help - as an assistant or girlfriend. He just has very different priorities than most people I guess. Good thing I wasn't in an accident. It hurts, a lot, to realize where I stand with him, but I guess you're right. I just have to accept it if I want to be with him.
|
|
|
|
||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||