Own your mistakes.

My palms were sweating. I was scratching my head, looking any where but at the words on the screen. "There are a few things I'm not happy with". I couldn't figure out if it was my fault, or if I just wanted to blame someone or something. I handled it the way I was taught in the food service industry; politely apologize for the mistake, make an offer to fix it, and don't mention it again. That didn't work. Those industry tactics don't overlap. I still felt guilty and soured inside.

I wracked my brain for days to find a way to mend myself, because the client's problem wasn't the issue anymore it was me. I didn't handle myself in a way that I felt ethically and morally comfortable with. Yes, I resolved the issue, but when it would come full circle, I might have even made it worse. Don't get me wrong, I'm always professional in my wordage, but I felt like I passed the buck. My client, my amazing client seemed like she'd given up on me; she was willing to accept my mistakes and love her product anyway. But, my gut told me that wasn't enough. There was still this empty black hole where all her excitement and gratitude should be.

I messed up. It happens. I was poorly organized with the whole process, and I was honest about it. Once I told the truth about my mistake, I felt better. I finally thought of a way to fix the problem, to give the client exactly what she had hoped to get from the beginning and even though we took a few wrong turns and had to stop and ask for directions it has made all the difference to me.

When your business is your life, blood and tears; you own it. Not legally, not financially but emotionally. You better own it in every sense of the word. Own your mistakes, own your glory, own your failures and own your trials. Own every last detail, because girl, your repuation is your face in this industry. There's no hiding.

My client's remarks reinforced my decision to own my mistakes, she told me " I appreciate you taking time to do this and for the willingness to do this. It shows what a great person you are and how much you care about everything", and THAT is what I want her to go out and tell her friends. That her photographer messed up, but she completely fixed it and did so with grace and charm!