The Job From Hell
When readers of tomorrow's Press & Journal see this photo, or one of the others from the piping and drumming course at Carbisdale Castle, they'll have no idea how much effort went in to making it…
If you do photos for newspapers then you'll meet lots of random people at random locations doing random things. And you'll encounter lots of random attitudes. Most people are polite, co-operative and enthusiastic; some are embarrassed, nervous or shy; and occasionally there are the ones that are downright rude and discourteous.
But today was unique. Today presented a challenge that I never saw coming: Someone who requested publicity and then tried to sabotage it. How on earth do you handle that? How do you work with that person?
The day got off to a bad start as soon as I arrived at Carbisdale Castle to do photos on the first day of a week-long piping and drumming course. The press release had stated that the course started today but it actually starts tomorrow, so I was told immediately that there wouldn't be anything to take photos of. Now that leaves me with a big problem: The paper is running the feature tomorrow, and they've booked me for today, so by 6pm I need to send them some photos.
I quickly arranged to do a set-up photo with the organiser's son and his friend, in full Highland dress with bagpipes, and we went and did some okay-ish photos at the back of the castle.
That was when the day took a nosedive…
As soon as we'd finished doing the photos, the organiser asked if he could get some for the piping school's web site. Of course he can, I tell him, we'll work something out later. "I'll even put your name under the photos," he says. Uh-oh. I think I'd better make one thing clear, so I explain that there would be a charge for the use of the photos. He comes back with all the usual nonsense about other photographers giving him photos for free, so I explain that those guys must not be as serious as I am about doing this for a living, and if I give him free photos then I'm taking paid work away from someone else. Eventually he backs down, saying that he totally understands my point. But I didn't realise what I'd just let myself in for!
So we go and put the first photos on my laptop and they're a bit disappointing, too ordinary for my liking. There isn't one stand-out picture. One of the lads says something that gives me a great idea for something else to try, and we're just about to do it when in steps the event organiser, huffing and puffing about how the lads don't have time to do any more photos. He reels off a list of jobs for them to do and they disappear. I disappear too, off to formulate a cunning plan…
It was obvious that the event organiser was now going to make life difficult for me, so I needed to find a location where he wouldn't see me. Well hey, I'm in a castle! Hmm, lemme think. It was surprisingly easy to get the key for the tower, and I went up to see what it was like, all the way up through half a dozen flights of steps, two trap doors (really) and out on to the turret. Awesome location, awesome view, so back down the stairs to find a willing volunteer.
There was a young lad in the reception area so I asked if he was a piper, which he was. We checked with his mum if it was okay for him to put his Highland dress on for a photo, and she was nodding in agreement when our friend the event organiser butted in, talking down to me and angrily lecturing that they're all very busy preparing for registration. He starts berating me for taking up so much of his time (even though I haven't said another word to him) but fortunately the young lad's mother interrupts to say that it's fine to do the photo. The lad starts getting changed but because we're being pressurised by the event organiser I decide to do the photo from the waist up so he doesn't need to change in to his kilt.
Back up the tower! We spent about 10 minutes trying a few ideas, found one that worked well and blasted away at it. The lad did great, his mum was a huge help in making sure that his shirt and jacket were immaculate, and we went back downstairs to look at the photos on my laptop.
That, I will concede, was foolish. Because as soon as I've got the photos on the laptop screen, the event organiser appears behind me. "That doesn't look very good," he says. There's a standard response to that comment, so I ask: "Is there anything in particular that you think should have been done differently?" He points to the lad's tie, or rather his lack of tie. "That will reflect badly on the school. You can't put that in the paper. I'm telling you right now that you don't have my permission to put that in the paper."
Now I'll be the total professional right to the end, but part of that is not being a pushover so I ask the guy if we can have a chat away from everyone else. Off we go, and I tell him that I think he has become obstructive since I said he couldn't have the photos for free. Now he gets angry and starts telling me that I've been taking too long, causing him too much inconvenience, and he will complain to the paper about me. Then, his exact words: "Pack up your photo things and get out."
I left my "photo things" right where they were and went to call the picture desk again. I'll admit that by this time I was getting a bit upset, as in boo-hoo, not angry. I'd done absolutely nothing to antagonise this guy and he was doing everything he could to make sure I'd be leaving without any useable pictures. I informed the photo editor of the situation, advised her of the threatened complaint, and told her I was heading home to send the few photos that I'd been able to get.
Well as I walked back to get my "photo things" I was starting to feel a whole lot like a quitter, and by the time I got back inside I'd already made my mind up that I wasn't leaving without the photo I wanted. I found the piper lad's mother again and asked her, warily, if she would be willing to have her son put on the full Highland dress so we could re-do the photo. No problem! She was quite enthusiastic about the idea. We checked with the lad himself and he was a bit bored of it all by now, but he was willing to do it, so I went to get the go-ahead from the event organiser.
NO! He point blankly refused, saying that both the boy and his mother were too busy. I knew that I was dealing with a loose canon here so I very, very delicately told him that I'd already checked with both of them and they were fine with it, but he wasn't interested in that and he refused to allow any more photos to be done.
The next angle of attack… well, let's say that by now I didn't particularly care about this guy's opinion, so I went to check with the piper lad's mother if she'd be happy for us to do the photo without the organiser's permission. And unfortunately she wasn't, as the event organiser also teaches her son and understandably she was concerned of possible repercussions.
I still wasn't willing to drop it so I thought I'd go for the sympathy vote. I went and told the organiser (truthfully) that I've only been working for the P&J for a short time and I'm worried about the career damage if I leave without any good photos.
NO! Not his problem. "You had your chance."
Packed up, loaded the car, got in, started the engine. Uh, I'm quitting again. Turned the engine off, back inside for another go…
Now I try to appeal to his better judgement. I tell him that the photo of the lad without the tie is the best photo of the day, so I expect the paper will use that one. If it's as bad as he says it is then why don't we re-do it and finish the job? Get it done right? That's best for publicity, isn't it? Uh, hello?!?
NO! "I don't need publicity, I've got a full castle!" And then with dozens of people around he raises his voice and starts repeating, "no, no, no", even spelling it out and, I kid you not, writing it in the air with his finger. Several times. I left. I was starting to get the impression that he didn't want me there… 
The only other good photo idea that I could think of was to find a member of the Hong Kong police pipe band that I knew had travelled to the event. Ethically I knew that I was obliged to tell whoever I asked that they would be going against the event organiser's wishes, and for some reason I thought a policeman from Hong Kong was the most likely person to agree. And I found two of them! But they didn't have their piping uniforms with them, only casual clothes. So that was that.
And at that point I did quit. I was already an hour behind schedule and if I didn't leave then I'd miss deadline, so off I went. Defeated.
The haul from the day turned out to be not as bad as I feared. A couple of the first photos with the two pipers were acceptable…
And there was the photo I showed you earlier, an alternative frame from the one that the organiser complained about, in which you can't see that the boy isn't wearing his tie. So, job done.
But this blog is about advice. Every story should have a moral. I should be telling you that with hindsight I've realised how I could have handled the situation differently and made it work. But the best I can come up with is this: If someone asks you for free photos, just say something like "we can sort that out later". Unless you absolutely have no choice, don't mention that they'll have to pay for them!
Yes, it's a damn cheek for people to expect photographers to give free photos, and yes, it's a damn cheek for them to then sabotage your job when you say no. But I've learned the hard way today that for some people, a damn cheek is a way of life.
The whole time I was at this event today, I was either working around the organiser's mistakes, working around his interference, or trying desperately to work around his spite. And for all but the first few minutes he was treating me like a nuisance who was inconveniencing him.
How can you work alongside that attitude? The answer: You can't.
about 3 years ago
I ran into this type of situation when I was a reporter for the local papers. If you haven’t done so, I recommend reading “How To Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. It may be from the 1930s, but the advice in there is still good and has been quite helpful to me.
Best of luck!
about 3 years ago
Andy,
Perhaps the rude guy was upset you weren’t using the pics of his son , the ones you did at first?
Just a thought!
I’m fully sympathetic to this post – I work as the Strathy freelancer (same group as Ross-shire Journal) – my pet hate is when the organisers tell us a time to appear , make us wait for AGES , then say ‘you can have a couple of minutes!’
I love the ‘no tie’ pic by the way – nice and moody!
Fran
x
about 3 years ago
This sounds like one of those pain in the arse jobs that really should be straight forward.
I actually find the longer I do the job the less tolerent I get of people who bully photographers and indeed reporters. I may not be an old duffer but at 32 I don’t expect to get treated like rubbish by grumpy old men/women either.
I’ve worked with some really good event organisor/PR people who have really enhanced my pix with great ideas for set-ups. The ones like this I just politely get out of the way as quick as possible….if you can.
The fact that you got some decent pix and you did’nt quit says alot about your professionalism and determination.
It takes a lot of balls to go and do a job again when you know you hav’nt done enough. I did it recently. Same situation, difficult people at a drama speaking festival. Got crap shots and left. Later on in the day I felt so bad I went back and got some shots I was pleased with…
I would say though that you are opening yourself up to people being a pain if you show them the pics on a laptop. Often I don’t even show the shots on the back of a camera. Especially when your photographing women. They won’t like a single one..
The above pic is great for a pre-pic.
Give em Hell!!
about 3 years ago
Hi Andrew
It sounds like you went through all the emotions with this job. One thing I would bear in mind is that you work in a small area. As much as a pain in the arse this guy is you have to remember he will probably be the organiser next year and if you have to get a picture you are already on the back foot.
This turned on the fact that he felt he was doing you a favour by giving you time to get your image so in return he felt you should have gave him something back. I would have said yes he could have a pic for the website and see it as a way of building a bridge with a potential client. I would have let him know that you normally wouldn’t give images away for free but because he has been so helpful etc, etc etc. The hassle you experienced is not something you want to go through again. Remember word of mouth can be damaging. Let people think they are getting a freebie when in fact they have paid for it with time and goodwill. This ‘job for hell’ has made you more experienced and a better press photographer for the experience.
Just my thoughts.
Good luck.
P.S. you came away with a good image.
Shaun
about 3 years ago
Hi Shaun,
You can’t give in to bullies. Even if doing so might be to your advantage, it’s bad in principle.
I give people free photos all the time. The piper boy’s mother got a free photo, even though she offered to pay for it. But I’ll only give the freebies to people who deserve them, not to appease bullies.
If this is how that event organiser treated me then how will he treat some newbie photog on his first £10 work experience job? He’s going to want £50 of free photos or he’ll stop him from doing his job, knowing that he’ll be afraid of career damage. You MUST stand up to these bullies. You have a responsibility to do so.
I’ve since spoken to the picture editor about this incident and she said the paper was “entirely behind” me. I would hope that every editor would back a reporter or photographer in the same situation.
Andrew
about 3 years ago
I was at the event and I’m pretty sure I know who you’re talking about. He’s no prince that’s for sure. But you have my deep respect for going back and not giving up. I certainly wouldn’t have gone back into that situation. Well done.
about 3 years ago
Wow..I guess it’s different on that side of the pond. I’m a reporter over in the USS and we probably would have explained to the organizer very clearly how he had two choices — a favorable story with a good photo, or a bad reputation, no coverage, and a prolonged explanation to the parents and students who’d call later asking why their photos weren’t run (granted, i work in TV, but still…).
Bravo for working with the guy so diligently! After 9 years of dealing with people who believe they can control what members of the press do/say/shoot/tape about them, I’ve nearly given up on convincing.
about 3 years ago
I’d take my hat off to you for standing your ground against this guy.
The story angered me because I can identify with it completely, we’ve all come across these little Hitlers, who want their baby covered their way, and show no respect for your profession and expertise.
Whilst I respect your tenacity and perseverance when dealing with the situation, I would not have wasted any more time on the job after getting the the picture at the top of the tower. As the previous poster said, I wouldn’t have worked on the pictures on a laptop there, or even shown the image on the back of the camera either.
I would have got out of there, and before sending the picture, phoned the editor and explained how obstructive the organiser was, and how I only got one picture, I’m happy with before being asked to leave.
They would then be anticipating the worse, but would be pleasantly surprised when they actually receive the picture. The shot of the lad playing on the turret is great, by the way!
The organiser had his chance to collaborate with you and let you produce some great pictures of the pipers in their correct uniform, to publicise his event, but was obstructive and bullying.
The chances are that the editorial staff at the paper already know what an arsehole the organiser is, he has already provided an inaccurate and misleading press release (the course starts on what day?). With NO disrespect to you, it’s funny how they got a freelancer to do the job, as though the staff photographer(s) were hardly fighting to cover it themselves!