Dealing with No-Shows and last minute cancellations

"No problem! Let's reschedule soon." As a photographer, we are willing to take the rejection because we care that much. But it's a bad habit we should break. A no-show or last minute cancellation is a virus towards a successful photoshoot.

So you are a little shy and decide to do a No-Show on your photoshoot day...Don't!

Communicate with your photographer at all times

"Are you coming today?"

"Is everything okay? I haven't heard back from you. It's past 30 minutes, where are you?"

"You are not picking up your phone or responding to the messages."

"If you are not coming let me know. I have been waiting for an hour now."

The above are just some of the text messages I send to models on the day of the shoot when any of them tries to do a No-Show. And it's annoying because these (unprofessional) models who are usually not bad to communicate with but happens to show lack of professionalism on the day of the photoshoot very conveniently. But little they know, there's alot more to it.

A lot goes into planning a photoshoot. While it might seem to models that they are just going to "hang out and take some photos," a lot of preparation goes into it. I can talk specifically about me, but I am sure it is the same with any professional photographer. The photographer needs to choose a location, research and come up with numerous concepts to select from, prep the gear, and spend their time going over the various creative details before snapping a photo. That whole "hang out and take some photos" line is an effort on our (photographer) part to keep you relaxed. To us photographers, it's serious.

Now, I understand that schedules get crazy and sometimes things fall through. It's part of life. As a photographer, I am used to people saying no to photoshoots. It's not going to hurt my feelings. In fact, it hurts much less to hear "I'd love to, but the next few weeks are really busy for me," than it does to show up at a location on the day of the scheduled photoshoot with a bag full of ideas only to have it be a waste.

Almost once or twice every month, there will be a model or two who will plan for weeks to prepare for an upcoming photoshoot, confirm the night before to recap everything and on the day of the shoot will do a no-show. In fact, I could list so many models on Instagram who happen to say they are professional and still carry the bad habit. But by listing, would they care? Maybe not!

Everyone appreciates a well advanced notice or a text to inform if they are unable to make it. Things happen, I understand. But the usual practice with such models is not even a courtesy text message. When you call the model, they won't reply back messages or pick up calls. And these are common practice that they like to repeat. As if they instantly had a change of mind. But, not always! There are times, when one out of five models will send a last minute text message. So, when I get that text one or two hours before a shoot that says, "I"m soooo sorry, but we are going to have to cancel the photoshoot today" the mind sends a disappointment signal. All the time prepping, packing, and hauling gear is now for naught. All those ideas about shoots will have to sit in wait, and possibly be forgotten. Inspiration falls away. It's a big let down. Not to forget the model just threw away the healthy and professional relationship to the waste basket.

Models forget that alot of photographers also have to pay for the location reserved, sets, gadgets and gears if rented, pay MUA/HS if appointed for the shoot, and not to forget the entire scheduled time or the day got wasted. Do the models ever realize that? Maybe not! As I mentioned earlier, a no-show is a virus towards a photoshoot.

It's a teamwork - model(s)/photographer/MUA/HS. Everyone plays their role to complete a successful photoshoot. When any one of these member shows unprofessionalism towards their role, the plan goes to a waste.

Please share your experiences. The questions below can apply to both photographers and models. I am sure at times models may also have experienced the same with their photographers. Afterall, no-show can happen on both sides.

• How many times have you been stood up by models/photographers?

• How did you handle the incident(s)?

• Do you ever schedule shoot with no-show individual - models/photographers?

• How do we break such habits?

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