As I recalled the importance of Networking back on a post in January, today I will tell you another story that if you follow me on Twitter you may probably read my desperation tweets as it was happening.
Today I was called by a friend and good client to take some shots of the bread and bakery he works at, because they are going to be featured on a Magazine article and were in very desperate and urgent need of some good shots. The Magazine called them that they were going to be one of the featured business on the article, so they needed shots by Saturday the latest.
I got the call around 11AM. By 11:30AM I started prepping the camera, checking the batteries and when I started setting up the camera to basic settings (something I do so I can easily tweak them on site more quickly than having, let’s say the ISO at 800 with long exposure), when I started noticing that something was not right. I take a couple of sample shots and I see a couple of dust points on the shots (from the display screen in the camera). So, I download the pics to the mac… and there they were. I panicked. I try to clean the camera and some of them go away, but I had a huge spot on the top left side of the shot – every shot. I cleaned it again and no luck. Finally decided to call the Canon reps here and after explaining the problem, they said that it would be better if I took the camera to them and they can give it to me back on Monday morning. OK, it’s cool… What? Monday? I needed to do something, and fast.
Mentally I start going through a list of photographers, pick up the phone and call a friend of mine that’s a freelancer too. Luckily he had the afternoon free so he was up for it! We’re splitting what the client is going to pay, but we have each other’s back. He has a much nicer camera and glass than I do (I have a Canon Rebel XT and he has a Canon 50D), and he’s such a cool guy that we both took pictures and helped each other out when talking angles and shots. Tomorrow we take the final shots on the Bakery side, so the editing will be done by me late tomorrow.
Now, the importance of getting along with your colleagues is underrated. Some might think that colleague it’s equal to competition. It’s not. It’s lending a hand to a photographer in need, to a designer with a stuck computer or InDesign trouble, it’s playing nice with others, and when the time comes when you need help, some one will pay it forward to you. Some one will lend a hand. It’s karma.