Thirteen photography horror stories. One very long career. And a whole lot of creative industry trauma.
Some photo shoots are unforgettable for all the right reasons. Others? Well, these are the ones you probably won’t find in the portfolio.
In this Halloween-inspired episode of Beyond the Image, I’m counting down 13 of the craziest, most unbelievable, and downright uncomfortable experiences I’ve encountered throughout my career as a professional photographer and creative producer.
We’re talking about a celebrity shoot where none of our lighting modifiers worked, a client’s husband who decided to demonstrate his martial arts skills by trying to choke me, a publisher who attempted to sabotage a client relationship, a shoot interrupted by an unexpected power trip, and plenty of other production nightmares.
From missing camera batteries and outrageous airline baggage fees to hungover clients, outrageous demands, and photos that nearly didn’t happen, these are the behind-the-scenes stories that rarely make it into the portfolio.
But there’s a bigger takeaway: business goes on.
Even when a production goes completely sideways, clients behave badly, or things happen that are entirely outside your control, you find a way through it. Sometimes that means improvising. Sometimes it means standing your ground. And sometimes it means knowing when to walk away.
Consider this a communal unpacking of creative industry trauma, one horror story at a time.
Have a photography horror story of your own? I’d love to hear it.
Connect with James on Instagram: @JPatrickPhoto
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