As a company, we fully understand and are aware of Mission Creep
Mission creep is the gradual or incremental expansion of an intervention, project or mission, beyond its original scope, focus or goals, a ratchet effect spawned by initial success.
The most frustrating aspect of mission creep, in my experience, is the almost unavoidable extra time required in post-production.
Even if you manage to capture additional images within the original timeframe, the increased volume means more effort spent sorting, captioning, cropping, and toning.
As a result, the client often feels like they’re getting more images for the same fee, regardless of the added workload and because you are working for them, they belive they are entitled.
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve carefully agreed on the details of an assignment with a client, only to discover on the day of the shoot that they’ve added a few “small extras.”
It might be a job where we agreed on a dozen shots or web pages, only for them to tack on another six or seven. Or it could be a business prospectus shoot scheduled to finish at the end of the working day, only for them to casually mention over coffee that they’d like to include an after-work club that doesn’t start until long after I was supposed to leave.
The most extreme example I can recall involved splitting the job between Portsmouth and, unexpectedly, a location three hours away on the outskirts of Exeter.
Mission Creep: The Sneaky Sidekick of Creative Projects.
Ah, mission creep—the unexpected plot twist in every creative professional’s journey. It’s the stealthy expansion of a project beyond its original game plan, like a Netflix series that was supposed to wrap up in one season but somehow ends up with six. It usually starts with one tiny addition and snowballs into a full-blown production odyssey.
The Hidden Cost of “Just One More Thing”
The real kicker? For photographers, designers, web developers, and video editors, mission creep almost always means more time in post-production. And let’s face it—post-production is where dreams go to procrastinate.
For a photographer, it’s not just snapping those extra shots—it’s the sorting, the captioning, the cropping, the editing… and the silent sobbing into your coffee when you realize the client expects this all-inclusive bonus without an all-inclusive fee.
When Clients Go Rogue
We’ve all been there: you lock in a project’s scope with a client, everyone’s nodding enthusiastically, and the plan seems airtight. Then, on shoot day or midway through a web design sprint, the client casually drops the dreaded, “Oh, and could you also…”
Maybe it’s a “quick” request to add six extra headshots when you signed up for 12. Perhaps it’s the school that suddenly wants after-school club photos—despite your day wrapping up at 3 PM sharp. Or the pièce de résistance: an assignment in central London that magically morphs into a surprise road trip to Exeter. (Thanks, Google Maps, for telling me it’s two hours—one way.)
A Survival Guide (With Humor!)
Channel Your Inner Contract Wizard: Always, always define the scope in writing. Make “just one more thing” sound like a forbidden spell in your terms and conditions.
Keep a Poker Face: When the client says, “It’s just a tiny change,” smile like they’re offering you cake—but remember, it’s probably a fruitcake.
Invent the “Mission Creep Tax”: This is a fancy name for “You’re going to pay me extra for this.” Present it with a professional yet slightly cheeky tone, like, “Of course! I call that the Deluxe Extra Surprise Package.”
Pack Snacks (and Patience): For those unexpected trips to Exeter or equivalent drama, you’ll need both.
Remember, mission creep is a rite of passage for anyone in a creative field. Embrace it, laugh about it, and then bill for it. You’ve earned it!
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