Work anytime, play anytime

People think that freelance photographers have it so easy. They think that because we don't have to clock-in and clock-out, it means we get to work anytime we want, take unlimited lunch breaks, and take vacations whenever we want. Well that's not quite true. I mean I did sort of just pack up and fly to China all of a sudden, but I'm not really on vacation. I'm supposed to be, but I'm not.

Anyway, it isn't true that freelancers get to work whenever they want. Remember all those school projects you had to do every semester? Due date was always right before school's out, so supposedly you could begin to work on them whenever. But whenever was always the night before they were due! Big fat C- for sloppy work and turning in late. No big deal, you told yourself, because after you graduate and enter the real world, you'll do excellent work and submit them on time.

In the real world, you better, or your clients will ditch you and hire your competition. But even when you do excellent work and deliver on time, this is what happens in the real world. This is what happens in real life. The real life of a freelance photographer.

You get a gig from a new client. Because you got the gig on short notice and you're used to how you work with your regular clients, you forget to tell the new client that you need to be paid in advance. No big deal, you told yourself, because you'll do an excellent job and deliver the work on time. And you do. The work couldn't be any better, so the client must hire you again and will pay in advance for the next gig. So far so good, right? Wait, you noob. I'm not finished.

Then the client tells you she didn't receive the work. You send it again and remind her about payment. A few days later you ask for the payment again. A few days after that, the client responds and says she didn't receive the work. You send her the work and remind her about payment, again. She tells you she won't pay until she receives the work. This goes on and on until you figure out that the client is an incompetent moron who couldn't receive my work because she doesn't know how to use a computer!

And now I'm thousands of miles away and still trying to get the money! The work was done! The work was great! I shouldn't have to deal with this! This was supposed to be my vacation!

Do you see what I mean? You do everything great and on time, and you still get screwed. You thought a C- was bad? Welcome to the real world. This is real life. The real life of a freelance photographer. At least an employee gets benefits and weekends. All we freelancers get is unlimited lunch breaks. Take my advice. Don't become a photographer.