A few years ago, at my day job, I had failed to read an important email from a site supervisor. The email was requesting that I remove an error from an audit I had completed. There is a five days window for edits to be done; after that the audit becomes permanent. The correction was needed so that the error would not have a negative impact on the representative’s performance matrix. Needless to say, being the busy bee that I am, I overlooked that email, and over 5 days had passed. It was not until my supervisor questioned me about it, that I noticed the oversight. Nothing could be done, the form could not be edited and I was so upset with myself.
If anyone knows me they know I wear my emotions on my sleeve. So, the fact that someone was possibly negatively impacted by my error on my part, was (at that time) devastating.
As I was apologizing for my oversight, my supervisor turned to me and said “Christie, you’re not J.C.”. At that point, I looked at him, with one eyebrow up and my forehead wrinkled, not knowing what he was talking about. I naively asked him “who is J.C.?” He chuckled and said “Jesus Christ”. It was at that point a feeling of calmness came over me as well as a realization that I am not perfect… actually no one is.
As photographers we tend to hold ourselves to a certain level of “perfectionism”, especially when our livelihood depends on getting the “right” shots. When hired, our client may want us to emulate an image they saw in Vogue or Modern Bride. We will use our skills and talents the best way possible to get the shot (or shots) the client wants. However, there are times when you don’t get that “perfect” shot. Despite how hard we try, it just isn’t going our way, whether it’s user error, equipment failure or the lighting. All the while in the back of your mind you keep saying "I have to get the right shot".
When things are just not going your way, just stop and breath……… it will be “ok”. Maybe the shot in your mind was not going to be the “right” one anyway. My point is, missing the email, taught me that I am not Jesus Christ (not perfect). Mistakes will happen we don’t intentionally make mistakes; if we did they would not be mistakes.
Question: Have you ever made a mistake, which at the time you thought was “the worst mistake ever”? If so, what did you learn from it?
