WHY I STOPPPED TAKING CONFERENCE CALLS (AND WHY YOU SHOULD, TOO)

As a photographer with over two decades of experience, I’ve grown to truly value connecting with clients over the phone or via Zoom before our shoot. It’s an opportunity to get to know each other, understand their vision, and brainstorm ideas and locations, ensuring we’re fully prepared for a successful session. However, there’s one type of meeting I’ve come to dread: the conference call. After participating in dozens of them over the years, I can confidently say they rarely lead to anything but a waste of time.

Before you dismiss that as overly negative, let me explain. As a freelance creative, I genuinely love what I do. Photography and design aren’t just jobs for me—they're my passion. I didn’t choose this line of work for its guaranteed profitability or as a fallback to pay the bills; I chose it because I enjoy it. I’m excited about every project I take on and eager to get to work. But I’m also a goal-driven person, and I don’t like wasting time. Whether it’s because I’ve got another project lined up that I’m equally enthusiastic about or because I’ve carefully managed my time to make room for personal pursuits—like traveling, gardening, or playing soccer with my kids—the perks of self-employment allow me to focus on what truly matters to me.

In contrast, salaried workers often face a different challenge. They’re required to work within set hours, and when they finish one task, they’re immediately handed another. This constant cycle can foster a mindset where efficiency and conciseness are undervalued—why rush through a task when there’s always more waiting? Even if someone enjoys their job, this approach can lead to a feeling of futility.

And that's where the conference call comes in.

Frankly, it’s mind-boggling to witness: the informality and sheer skill people have in wasting each other’s time just to fill the workday. It’s almost impressive—if you’re not the one on the receiving end of it. I’ve never seen people so joyfully squander time under the guise of productivity.

In the music and entertainment business—especially in roles like PR, assistant managers, and art departments—long, drawn-out conference calls seem to provide the illusion of being productive, especially when a supervisor is present. Ideas are tossed around, details that could’ve been easily covered in a short email are discussed at length, and conversations are stretched out unnecessarily. People hop on and off the call. The artist we’re working with might drop in for a few minutes, offering something agreeable like, “Whatever you guys decide is fine with me,” and then disappear again.

And yet, despite all the talking, the conclusion is always the same: no real decision is made. Instead, we hear the dreaded, “Let’s think on this and circle back.” Every single time, we end up reiterating what was already agreed upon in emails days or even weeks before. We’ll have a shoot for Artist X, at Location X, on Date X, and it will be great. Now that we’ve heard each other say this over the phone, we’ll all agree—again—that it’s what we’re going to do. And just like that, we’ve successfully burned through time. Awesome. Maybe we can even schedule another call to, you know, confirm everything we’ve already covered—just for good measure.

Meanwhile, I’m sitting there, watching the minutes tick by, knowing that while others are getting paid to waste time, my unpaid time is being consumed unnecessarily—time I could be using productively on projects I truly believe in. Even though we’re all supposedly “on the same team” when working on a job, the rewards are anything but equal. It’s a concept that only becomes glaringly obvious to those on the losing end of the equation.

After years of enduring these pointless calls—listening to art directors, assistants, PR agents, and the like waste my time—I finally started declining. Instead, I’d say something like, “I’ve got a busy week; can you send me an email with the conclusions, and I’ll weigh in if needed?” Or, I’d take a more direct approach: “I’d be happy to speak with one representative or the artist directly at their convenience, so we can get straight to the point without wasting everyone else’s time.”

And you know what? Every time I’ve said that, the client almost always replies with something like, “That sounds like a great plan. Thanks for being so accommodating.”

By taking the initiative, I’ve saved myself hours of wasted time, boosted my own productivity, and freed up personal time for the things I care about.

So, if you enjoy long, unproductive meetings, by all means, keep at it. I hope you’re being compensated. But for me? Time, energy, and effort are valuable. If you’re wasting my time just to validate your own, don’t be surprised when I politely bow out.

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I'm an Asheville based photographer, web designer, writer, and creative director with over twenty years of experience creating imagery for hundreds of clients in Western North Carolina and beyond. My studio photography specializes in headshots for business and corporations, law firms, artists, entrepreneurs, models, and actors, as well as stylized theme portrait sessions for personal branding, maternity, local and regional musicians. Photo services are available throughout the south, including Raleigh, Charlotte, Winston Salem, Greenville, Columbia, Spartanburg, Knoxville, and Johnson City. Photo sessions are fun and easy, and consultations are always free, so drop me a line and let's plan something amazing together!