Helping when someone isn’t ready to seek help

by Stanley LearyPhotography

Where there is no guidance, people fall, but there is safety in an abundance of counselors.

Proverbs 11:14

One of the most challenging things I struggle with regarding my clients is wanting to help them, but I am not invited to the table.

Jeff Raymond listens to the story about Ashmir with the Storytellers Nathan Hiser and Lane Yoder during one of their many editing sessions. [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 16000, f/4, 1/250, Focal Length = 62]

I have learned from my 35+ years in the industry that I have what my friend calls “accumulated scar tissue.” I have seen so many things and been in so many planning meetings that I am bringing all of this to the table when I listen to your ideas.

Just on Facebook the other day, a photographer went to an event where they had the podium in front of a window. This makes it nearly impossible to get a good photo/video of the person on the stage. This is an excellent example that someone could have spoken into the planning that has the expertise of why you are doing the event – for media coverage.

Most of the time, people will not invite you in and hold a meeting to listen to you. They are not even going to invite you to the room.

They often fear that you may only give them suggestions that benefit you and not the organization. Even if you have built a reputation for giving them advice that doesn’t help you and them, they are still so cautious they are missing out on some counsel.

How to be present when the client isn’t showing interest

Be available – Do everything you can reasonably do without being a stalker to show you are there for them. Just check in with them. Be Supportive – You are not asking for work; you genuinely offer to help in any way possible.

Be Organic – Imagine allowing things to happen naturally, and things work out, and all you did was smile and watch. To do this, you must know what you can do. You let what is going to happen, happen. Accept the outcome, good or bad. Always try and learn from the situation. If you have this attitude, when your client talks about something they are working on, you will have the perfect opportunity to offer counsel.

Columbia Theological Seminary Classroom photos [NIKON D3S, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 6400, 1/500, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 300)]

Do your research – Nothing is worse than having an opportunity drop in your lap and ruin it. Those opportunities come seldom, so do your homework. This is very hard to do if no one lets you know what they are working on. This is like how the US monitors North Korea; they must ask China, Japan, and South Korea to give them intel.

Storytellers Abroad Multimedia Workshop Balkans [Fuji X-E2, XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 1600, 1/100, ƒ/5, (35mm = 29)]

Model the behavior – Have you ever noticed that you want your client to open up so you can help, but you haven’t opened up for others to help you? This is probably my weakest area myself. Find someone you can talk to to help you think better and develop the necessary patience.

Set Boundaries – Realize your limitations. Don’t become a pest. You don’t want to put pressure on them in any way. They should never feel pressured by you.

Don’t Avoid Them – This is strange that I should mention this, but sometimes we treat our clients like they have lost a loved one or have cancer. We don’t know what to say, so we withdraw from them. Amazingly just being there for someone can mean sitting in silence with them. Having answers and ideas all the time isn’t as valuable as just knowing when you don’t have an idea.