The Dilemma of Postponed Shoots: The Freelance Love Affair

Imagine you’re in a promising situation-ship—everything is going smoothly, the chemistry is there, and it feels like things are finally aligning. Then, out of nowhere, you get hit with the dreaded “I think we should cool things off for a while” text. Sigh! You weren’t expecting this curveball, and though no one’s really to blame, the sting is still real.

In the world of freelancers, a postponed shoot feels just like that. You’ve locked the dates, said no to other opportunities, and committed wholeheartedly to the project. You were preparing for that perfect “shoot day,” imagining everything from the first light on set to the last take. And then, in one late-night message or phone call—poof—the magic is gone, all that time and energy lost in the blink of an eye.

It’s like your partner saying, “Don’t worry, you’re free to see other people now.” But how? How can you move on when you’ve already turned down other offers? You had plans! And now, you’re left feeling like a jilted lover—empty, unfulfilled, and waiting for the next call, the next text, the next chance to get back on set.

And sure, it’s only temporary—just a few days, maybe weeks—but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating. It’s like dating someone who keeps ghosting you but promises they’ll be back. You’re left with all this time on your hands, feeling uncertain, maybe even a little heartbroken.

So, while the message “the shoot is postponed” might seem simple to the sender, to freelancers, it feels like a breakup. All the behind-the-scenes work, the hustle to make things perfect, the emotional investment—left hanging in the balance. And sure, we’ll bounce back, because that’s what we do. But in the meantime, we’re just here, with our coffee, staring at the phone, waiting for the next opportunity to swipe right.