Cruising The Seven Seas: Photog 2

Photog2

15^th June 2011

Yep… that’s right, I’ve finally been promoted to Photog2!

David pointed out that I was Photog2 on the schedule and I thought it was a mistake – it wouldn’t have been the first time. During the evening meeting after a day of working our backsides off, Reuben announced I was P2. I wasn’t the only one to be promoted either. Fede, the lab bitch (lab assistant) was also promoted from P2 to P3! He bloody deserves it too, more than anyone!

Let’s rewind to the start of the day. It’s Civitavecchia again and another embarkation has arrived.

This time Reuben is trying to come up with new ideas and improvements to get more photos, sell more and ultimately earn more revenue. Usually we get the new arrivals to stand next to “Welcome Aboard” signs. The only problem is that most of the European ports aren’t exactly the most picturesque. In fact, some are pretty darn ugly! So this embarkation we were going to take a leaf out of someone else’s (or should that be ship?) book: we were using backdrops. We’ve never used backdrops before but Reuben believed it’d be a better way of getting people to stop and have their photo taken.

Civitavecchia is usually very windy and embarkation is obviously very busy so a few of us were sceptical as to whether using backdrops would actually work and how safe the set up would be. The last thing anyone wants is someone to trip over the autopoles holding the backdrop up or the whole thing blowing over! It could cost us our jobs, ruin someone’s holiday, cost the company money in lawsuits etc. It would be a nightmare from start to finish. While setthing up we were all dubious and extremely worried. The wind was blowing the backdrops around and there was no chance of moving into the tent/terminal – security weren’t going to allow it.

Set up took a lot longer than normal as we were busy trying to get backdrops to stop blowing about and make sure there was no way anyone could trip over. 11.00 soon rolled around and the guests started arriving. We ran around like headless chickens connecting the cameras and pentabs. People just seemed to drop into position, shooters had their cameras around their necks, smudgers were in place and getting people to the studios.

I took a go in both smudging and shooting. Fede told me to speak up and if needs be, shout. A few people were getting past so we took the security approach. We stopped trying to persuade people to have their photo taken and just started shouting “okay guys, everyone have your sea pass out please”. It wasn’t long until we had a queue of people with their sea pass cards in their hands. It was then like sending lambs to the slaughter house.

Here’s the set up. Two backdrops – both featuring an image of the Mariner of the Seas. Each studio had a photographer (obviously) and a smudger. The smudger’s job was to get the guests sea pass cards and swipe them so the details are logged onto the pentabs.

There is a main smudger who stands before the studios. They basically stop the crowd, have the guests stand in line and wait for their photo to be taken. The main smudger also gets the guests sea pass cards, passes it on to the studio’s smudger and says something along the lines of “if you’d just like to follow (smudger’s name) down the second back drop”.

It wasn’t long before we were racking up image counts. People were quite happy to have their photo taken on the backdrops. Obviously you do get people who just want to get onto the ship. They are groggy after travelling for endless hours. As annoying as it is, it can’t be helped; slowly but surely I’m learning what to say to them and more importantly feeling less embarrassed/agitated about it.

Before, I’d feel almost ashamed to keep on at people to have their photo taken when they say "no". You’re effectively hounding people like paparazzi. Now, it’s becoming easier. I’m getting immune to it all. I still get my days where I can’t stand doing it though. I'm too used to working with people who actually want their photo taken.

A new hire was due to arrive today. She’s just finished her training in Croatia and is from Serbia. Having said that, Image normally get arrival times wrong (Hernan and I were supposed to arrive to our ship the day we flew out for Miami training).

During the day we did, however, get confirmation that Sanela was due to arrive today... but she missed her flight! Only one flight and she missed it! That provided a few laughs and raising of eyebrows in disbelief. How can you miss a flight? If you miss a connection flight because of a delay, it’s understandable, but one direct flight, from your home airport? Come on!

Most of our day was spent on embarkation. Later on some of us were in the gallery displaying the prints from embarkation. Two studios were set up – LSP and a backdrop from embarkation. The backdrop from embarkation was for those who either missed the photo opportunity (mostly through personal choice) or didn’t like the outcome of their original print.

The ship was almost dead. There'd be spells of 15-20 minutes without seeing a single guest. It's incredibly unusual for a ship with such a large capacity. Everyone was knackered from travelling and having an early night.

Once the guests came out of the dining room they were either off to the Welcome Aboard show at the Savoy Theatre or to bed. Rather than taking photos I spent most of my time in the studio pointing out to lost guests where the ladies’ toilets and Savoy Theatre are located. I even got people asking me for dining room table reservations. How many waiters/dining room attendants have cameras dangling from their necks?

Looking through the embarkation prints I could see what Reuben meant about using the backdrops. More people would buy these prints, they were far better than the type we were previously shooting.

During the meeting Reuben told us about some of the changes that were going to be made during this cruise. We’d finally had a delivery of cameras. Hernan and I have been here two months and never seen a delivery! This is mainly due to the earthquake in Japan.

We'd also had a delivery of gangway costumes. Cor blimey… some are bloody ugly! I now have a new Greek Goddess dress - it's a tent! Mine, which I purchased in Rhodes, is far better but Image want sample shots so I’ll have to wear it on gangway. There’s a Crete girl outfit which doesn’t look too bad. Hernan has got his sights on the Matador outfit for when we dock in Barcelona during the 7 day cruises (Italian Season). The Flamenco dress would bring a tear to any Spaniard’s eye – it’s awful and sparkly.

As it was the beginning of a new cruise it was also payday and guess how much I earned? A staggering $1. Reuben sent the remainder of the wages to pay off my Image account: $500 security deposit, $200 uniform and $700 Nikon D90. The way Reuben's been paying into my account I should be almost finished. It’s something I’ll have to check though, see how much needs to be deducted.

High fives to Fede for getting to Photog 3!!! It’s just a shame he’s due to sign off soon.

Gangway Costumes (New and old)