Dream Merchant
6th of December 2007 (Thu), 07:31
Hi,
I have this unique predicament. I'm afraid it's a bit long, and ask that you bear with me.
We've all heard of photographers having problems collecting payment, but I am in a situation where I don't feel happy collecting payment because the results aren't what was planned/envisioned.
It is also, very clearly not my fault, a fact that was acknowledged by the Client (also have a disclaimer). But at the same time, not collecting payment or requesting for a lowered fee may set a precedence with this repeat Client, who, for the most part, are decent.
I was hired to shoot an important marathon where there would be about 40,000 athletes not including spectators, crew, security and all the rest. Our agreement was to shoot the company's runners in the masses as they go by a cheering team, and then onto the finish line. Objective was photos that reflected 'team-work and team-spirit'. The shots had to be real-life ones and not a re-enactment or posed shot.
I spent about a week talking with the organisers about logistics and obtaining security clearance, and finally had a plan, which I ran by the Client with maps and detailed outlines etc, and after a lot of initial problems and changes, we finally settled on a plan, and a back-up.
Knowing that there was room for too much error, I heavy-heartedly sent my Client a disclaimer outlining the potential problems (on their side - they did not do what was supposed to have been arranged by them) and that I would more than try my best to deliver. Client acknowledged the disclaimer within moments of receiving it. I guess I should point out that refusing to accept this assignment was out of the question as I've been their exclusive photographer for several years now.
On the day of the race, the most important factors were the positioning of the cheer team, my spotter with a radio walkie-talkie placed >100 meters ahead, and for the runners in the company's corporate gear to run in the extreme left lane close to where the cheering team was (supposed to be). All these were confirmed to be very possible on race day itself.
This is where everything went wrong.
The cheer team never made it to the agreed position, and despite repeated call attempts as well as text messages, I could not locate them, get an answer or the person in charge to pick up the phone. It might be noted that this person was not entirely happy leading the cheer team in the first place.
As the runners approached the shoot zone, the spotter radioed my assistant who then alerted me, and I just shot them as individual runners running their own race, while all the while frantically trying to look out for the cheer team. Shooting conditions were challenging in very harsh morning side-way sunlight.
After probably what was half of the company's runners finishing the race, I finally spotted the cheer team, on the opposite side of the lanes, away from the runners, and about 200 meters from the agreed cheering position. I promptly sent my assistant to get them to move to the correct position, but they simply refused out-right.
Another two factors were that the runners did not run in the left lanes, and not all of them were wearing the corporate attire. Hence, I could not spot and shoot more than half of them!
After the race, I spoke to the MD of the company, and while he was clearly disappointed, and that more than half the runners were missed (because they were not in corporate gear or in the agreed left lanes), I had to repeatedly point out that it was due to a clear lack of co-operation on the part of some of the staff. His disbelief in that the cheering team refused to move forced me to call in my assistant to be a witness.
Now, as I go through the editing work of the miniscule amount of photos, I feel fairly disgusted at the results - I can imagine deriving absolutely no satisfaction in delivering these shots and even though the Client is aware of the problems caused by the staff, and that there's a disclaimer in place, I just do not feel like collecting more than costs. I fear that this may somehow send a message to the Client that the dismal results was in some way my fault (Clients in my neck of woods are funny in that way - it's a cultural thing), even though it's crystal clear to me it wasn't, unless I missed something along the way. What possible negative (to me and future dealings) precedence do you think this would set?
How should I act? After all, like I mentioned earlier, they are decent clients and I thought of doing something to 'soften the blow' for the lack of results, which were, and I emphasize, not my fault IMHO.
Am I being totally crazy?
Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts.
I have this unique predicament. I'm afraid it's a bit long, and ask that you bear with me.
We've all heard of photographers having problems collecting payment, but I am in a situation where I don't feel happy collecting payment because the results aren't what was planned/envisioned.
It is also, very clearly not my fault, a fact that was acknowledged by the Client (also have a disclaimer). But at the same time, not collecting payment or requesting for a lowered fee may set a precedence with this repeat Client, who, for the most part, are decent.
I was hired to shoot an important marathon where there would be about 40,000 athletes not including spectators, crew, security and all the rest. Our agreement was to shoot the company's runners in the masses as they go by a cheering team, and then onto the finish line. Objective was photos that reflected 'team-work and team-spirit'. The shots had to be real-life ones and not a re-enactment or posed shot.
I spent about a week talking with the organisers about logistics and obtaining security clearance, and finally had a plan, which I ran by the Client with maps and detailed outlines etc, and after a lot of initial problems and changes, we finally settled on a plan, and a back-up.
Knowing that there was room for too much error, I heavy-heartedly sent my Client a disclaimer outlining the potential problems (on their side - they did not do what was supposed to have been arranged by them) and that I would more than try my best to deliver. Client acknowledged the disclaimer within moments of receiving it. I guess I should point out that refusing to accept this assignment was out of the question as I've been their exclusive photographer for several years now.
On the day of the race, the most important factors were the positioning of the cheer team, my spotter with a radio walkie-talkie placed >100 meters ahead, and for the runners in the company's corporate gear to run in the extreme left lane close to where the cheering team was (supposed to be). All these were confirmed to be very possible on race day itself.
This is where everything went wrong.
The cheer team never made it to the agreed position, and despite repeated call attempts as well as text messages, I could not locate them, get an answer or the person in charge to pick up the phone. It might be noted that this person was not entirely happy leading the cheer team in the first place.
As the runners approached the shoot zone, the spotter radioed my assistant who then alerted me, and I just shot them as individual runners running their own race, while all the while frantically trying to look out for the cheer team. Shooting conditions were challenging in very harsh morning side-way sunlight.
After probably what was half of the company's runners finishing the race, I finally spotted the cheer team, on the opposite side of the lanes, away from the runners, and about 200 meters from the agreed cheering position. I promptly sent my assistant to get them to move to the correct position, but they simply refused out-right.
Another two factors were that the runners did not run in the left lanes, and not all of them were wearing the corporate attire. Hence, I could not spot and shoot more than half of them!
After the race, I spoke to the MD of the company, and while he was clearly disappointed, and that more than half the runners were missed (because they were not in corporate gear or in the agreed left lanes), I had to repeatedly point out that it was due to a clear lack of co-operation on the part of some of the staff. His disbelief in that the cheering team refused to move forced me to call in my assistant to be a witness.
Now, as I go through the editing work of the miniscule amount of photos, I feel fairly disgusted at the results - I can imagine deriving absolutely no satisfaction in delivering these shots and even though the Client is aware of the problems caused by the staff, and that there's a disclaimer in place, I just do not feel like collecting more than costs. I fear that this may somehow send a message to the Client that the dismal results was in some way my fault (Clients in my neck of woods are funny in that way - it's a cultural thing), even though it's crystal clear to me it wasn't, unless I missed something along the way. What possible negative (to me and future dealings) precedence do you think this would set?
How should I act? After all, like I mentioned earlier, they are decent clients and I thought of doing something to 'soften the blow' for the lack of results, which were, and I emphasize, not my fault IMHO.
Am I being totally crazy?
Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts.