Être à l'heure aux prises de vue me semble indispensable. En général, mes photographes sont exemplaires à ce niveau : en 30 ans de carrière, je ne me souviens que de deux séances photo où un photographe a pris du retard. Ce sont plus souvent les personnes à portraiturer qui arrivent en retard, souvent de manière imprévue et sans prévenir. Pour ne pas risquer de compromettre la séance (et d’éviter de ternir les traits du visage !), on ne leur dit rien, en général, et on supporte cet inconvénient avec un sourire de Pokémon... Dans le respect du planning de chacun, la ponctualité est un pilier fondamental. Pour prévenir tout malentendu, j'envoie toujours un rappel de la séance photo la veille.

Punctuality is a lifestyle. It is not just waking up 15 minutes earlier. It involves modifying your habits and fine-tuning your discipline, so it becomes something you can do consistently. My teams are mostly made up of hired freelancers. They tend to be punctual. Depending on the circumstances, they may have the chance to arrive late one time. The only content I can share at that moment is the amount of production money that is wasted because of the tardiness. The rest of the crew arrived on time, and it has become customary to pay hourly/daily rates for most of the members of any team, so the total cost per hour is easy to estimate. Whoever joins my production teams, quickly realises how much I value punctuality and act accordingly.

Speak privately with the team member to discuss their lateness. Avoid public confrontations as they can lead to embarrassment or defensiveness. Explain how their tardiness affects the team and the workflow, especially for photoshoots, where timing and coordination are crucial. Ask if there’s a specific reason for their lateness (e.g., personal issues, scheduling conflicts, transportation). Understanding the root cause will help find an appropriate solution. Make it clear that punctuality is a critical part of professionalism, particularly for time-sensitive events like photoshoots.

Make sure your team members understand the importance of being on time. Communicate the start times for meetings and the impact their lateness has on the team and the project. Demonstrate punctuality yourself. When team members see you valuing time, they are more likely to follow suit. Have a one-on-one conversation with the team members. Express your concerns and ask if any underlying issues are causing their tardiness. If the behavior doesn't change, consider implementing consequences, ranging from a formal warning to more severe actions. Plan meaningful discussions or briefings at the start of the day, motivating team members to arrive on time. Utilize scheduling tools and reminders to help keep everyone on track.

Set your tone Model behaviors Refresh, remind, redirect Keep your customers in the middle to frame the ‘why’ behind expectations. A team member consistently arriving late is disrespectful and disruptive. It will negatively impact culture and customer's experience. Prevent that behavior from disturbing your company’s milieu. As the contract holder, set clear expectations at the start. Model and refresh it regularly. Encourage those exhibiting the desired pattern. Document respectful individual coaching for those who are off defined path. Continue until there is change: improvement or departure. Ensuring your team is aligned to the best customer experience wins every time.