The Silence After I Hit 'Send': A Photographer's Confession
I’m going to confess something that many of us in the creative industry - photographers, designers, artists - feel constantly, but rarely talk about: the agonizing silence after we deliver your final work.
You might think that after pouring my heart, expertise, and countless hours into your gallery, the moment I hit the "Send" button would be pure relief. And for a second, it is! But then, the clock starts. The seconds, the minutes, the hours, and sometimes the entire day that follows, without so much as a confirmation, is a psychological gauntlet.
My Brain on Post-Delivery Panic
When I deliver your photos, I'm already anticipating an ecstatic, all-caps email about how much you love them. When that immediate rush of excitement doesn't arrive, my professional confidence quickly evaporates. I start to descend into the Post-Delivery Panic Spiral.
Suddenly, I’m not the confident artist you hired. I'm a mess of anxious thoughts:
• Did I miss something major?
• Are the photos not what they expected, even though they saw the sneak peeks?
• Was this project the one where I finally failed to deliver?
• Is this the beginning of the end of my career?
We, as commissioned artists, care deeply about the work we put out, and that deep care transforms silence into an imagined critique. Every minute that passes without feedback feels like a mountain of unspoken disapproval growing taller.
The Truth I Have to Keep Telling Myself
The hilarious, painful truth that I have to drill into my own head over and over again is this: 99.9% of the time, that anxiety is completely unwarranted.
You, the client, are probably just busy. You're at work, in a meeting, wrangling the kids, or, most likely, you're slowly and happily scrolling through every single beautiful photo I sent you, savoring the experience. You are living your life, and while my delivery is a huge moment for me, it is just one wonderful item on your busy to-do list.
I have to consciously remind myself that you booked me because you already saw my work, you already loved my style, and you placed your faith in my ability. The photos I delivered are exactly what you commissioned. The love and trust you showed by hiring me are far more powerful than the fear my anxious brain is generating.
The Cycle of Relief
And then, the email lands. It’s always glowing. You love the photos. You can’t wait to share them. You are grateful.
The wave of relief that washes over me is immense. The mental weight—the fear of failure—is instantly lifted, and I swear I'll never worry about the silence again.
...Until the very next delivery. This is the artist's curse!
📣 A Cheeky Request from Your Photographer
So, here is my cheeky request, not just from me, but from every artist, designer, or professional creative you hire:
Please, please, please... don't leave us hanging!
We know you're busy, and we know a full, thoughtful email might take time to craft. But if you could possibly spare two seconds as soon as you open the gallery or receive the file, just drop us a quick line.
A simple, "Got it, LOVE the first look, thank you! Full email coming later," is enough to pull us out of the anxiety pit and let us breathe again. You have no idea the panic you avert with a two-second text.
We care about your experience, and the most rewarding part of our job is knowing we nailed it for you. So next time, help your artist skip the spiral— we’ll be forever grateful!