When I was asked to contribute some insight from a photo producer’s perspective onto the scene of what we do here at OnRequest Images, I wondered what should I say? At first thought, I was like is there anything interesting to talk about? I rummaged through my mind for clues… What about that time I had to call up accounting at midnight, and ask them to up the limit on my Amex card. I needed to purchase a ticket for a photographer to go to Bulgaria then Turkey then Cairo and finally back to the UAE. .. Accounting…can this wait til 8am? Me…No, the Bulgarian Embassy in Dubai closes in two hours!
Or what about the time the photographer got stuck on an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico, because there was bad weather, and the folks on shore and on platform were backed up since the helicopter hadn’t been making it’s daily run. Oil Platform Crew Chief…Sorry, but the photographer is the lowest priority…I’m paid to make sure the platform is running. It may take about a week for things to get back to normal. That was quite a storm. Me…Do you know what that photographer’s day rate is? I need him back on shore!
Or speaking of helicopters, what about the time, I mistakenly asked the police officer in charge of permits at the Municipality of Dubai, as they were just about to grant my permit after numerous hoops being jumped through…What would happen if I wanted the helicopter to stay air born another 15 minutes, then was previously scheduled? Police Officer…The permit will have to go into processing for me to answer that. Me…Okay…why don’t we just stay on course and go with the permit we have approved. Police Officer…Sorry, we’ll have to wait to get the permit back from processing, now that you’ve requested a change. Me…But, I don’t want it to change…it will be fine just as it is without the extra time. Permit Officer…Sorry, once you’ve asked me about any changes, I’m required to send it back to processing whether we agree to the changes, recognize them or refuse them.
How about the time there was a last minute schedule emergency, and I tried to get in touch with the only person at a foreign location who spoke English well enough to communicate with me. Me…So you are saying Mr. X is not in today, but you can give me his mobile number? Them…Yes, won zarrow zarrow numerous unintelligible syllables won numerous more unintelligible syllables Me…My apologies, but I am sorry I can not understand what numbers you are giving me for Mr. X’s mobile. Can you repeat that? Them…won zarrow zarrow numerous unintelligible syllables won numerous more unintelligible syllables Me…Sorry what was the fourth number? Them… won zarrow zarrow numerous unintelligible syllables won numerous more unintelligible syllables Me…Okay, I’m going to start with the first number, and count up. Stop me when I get to the right number okay? One…Two…Three…Four…Five. Them…yes, Fwahl Me…Okay 5…next number…One…Two…Three… I have to admit, they could have spoke in their native tongue all day, and I wouldn’t have been able to solve it. Their English is far better than my lack of any hope of speaking their language, but still when you are on the phone, it all seems a bit silly at best.
Not long after that call I remember hanging up the phone one day, only to hear one of my co-producers tell someone on the other line, they were going to need more guinea pigs to choose from. Scout was okay, but didn’t they have more pictures…maybe something with a more flattering angle. The client wanted something cuter.
On second thought, yeah, I guess I can probably come up with a thing or two to share. Seems like there is always some challenge or funny circumstance just waiting around the corner.