Travelling across the globe to attend different gem and jewellery exhibitions, private events, and showrooms is a big part of my life; at the end of the day, I am hunting down the best of jewellery out there, and every country has its own outstanding designers who astonish with their creativity. This means scheduling between two and four business trips a month, which, you must agree, is quite hectic! And when we are in a rush, we are more prone to making mistakes, like accidentally booking the wrong travel dates, running late for a flight, forgetting something on board a plane and many more. So here are some fun and horror moments to remember from my experience and also some inputs from my fellow bloggers.
Tech Troubles
Tech troubles are the bane of any blogger's existence. Earlier this year, during Haute Couture Week in Paris, I found myself running low on iPhone memory just as I needed to continue filming during the busy week of high jewellery launches. I was frantically deleting files as I darted between shows, but there was no time to properly manage the storage space on my phone. In the end, I dashed into a boutique and bought a brand-new iPhone with maximum storage capacity, just to keep up with the whirlwind of events (a panicked decision, but the right one, as I am still using that phone!).
Forgetting key equipment is another nightmare we all face. While photographing a new collection for Gübelin in Switzerland some years back, I opened my camera only to discover I'd left my SD card in my computer back in Paris as I was editing some images. It was sheer panic! Thankfully, a kind staff member rushed to the nearest electronics shop for a replacement. In another mishap, during a whirlwind trip through Geneva and Dubai, I accidentally erased my entire SD card of content in a moment of fatigue. I was able to recover it later, but that brief terror of losing everything after a month of shooting is not easily forgotten.
Liza Urla of @Gemologue had her own tech mishap when she accidentally forgot to press record during a crucial interview. It might seem like a tiny slip, but in the fast-paced world of blogging, it's the sort of oversight that can turn a golden opportunity into a hilarious disaster. Picture the dread of discovering mid-interview that you've got nothing but empty silence—definitely a moment worth a hearty laugh (and perhaps a few tears)!
Battery Blues and Equipment Concerns
There's nothing more stressful than watching your phone's battery die at a busy event. Preeta Agarwal knows the feeling well: "My power bank stopped charging my phone in the middle of a hectic day. Of all days, it chose that one to die permanently." It's not just phones, though—equipment failures can strike at the worst moments. Fellow blogger Tracy Ellison had her tripod break just before the JCK fair, but luckily, I had a spare to give her. It's why, over time, I've learned to always carry backups—whether it's extra chargers, batteries, or equipment—to avoid the inevitable scramble. Preparation is key, but even the best-laid plans can go awry. The trick is staying calm in the face of these technological mishaps and finding quick solutions to keep everything running smoothly.
Lighting Fiascos
Lighting can be a fickle friend or a formidable foe. I've often found myself battling with harsh, unforgiving light or erratic flickering bulbs that can turn a perfectly planned shoot into a scrambling mess. Imagine arriving at an exhibition only to be given a mere 15 minutes to capture what should take an hour—a recipe for sheer panic and creative frustration. The frantic dash to get every shot right amid such constraints can push both your ingenuity and your patience to their very limits. It's a high-stakes game of timing and precision, where every second counts and every detail matters. Yet, despite the hurdles, the quest for that flawless shot remains at the heart of every successful shoot, turning these high-pressure moments into memorable, albeit nerve-wracking, adventures.
Packing and Travel Mishaps
Packing for a shoot can be an event unto itself—meticulously assembling outfits, shoes, accessories, and filming equipment, only to realise something crucial has been left behind. The real horror unfolds when travel goes awry. Renu Choudhry of The Diamond Talk recalls: "I arrived at the Venice Film Festival only to discover my luggage had been lost. It was a nightmare, as I had nothing to wear on the red carpet." I faced a similar calamity when travelling to Russia for an awards ceremony a few years ago, only to find my luggage stranded in France. With the event rapidly approaching, I had to scramble for a new look—thankfully, my stylist came to the rescue, and we managed to hire a dress that was even more beautiful than the original one I chose for the event!
Forgetting essentials is another perennial hazard. Preeta Agarwal recounts a particularly stressful moment: 'I once left my travel kit behind while switching hotels and only realised it at 2 am when I needed to remove my contact lenses. I even had to bribe hotel staff to retrieve it from the previous hotel at 3 am!'
Nail and Make-Up Hiccups
It seems trivial, but chipped nails or missing make-up can quickly become a blogger's nightmare. Chipped or broken nails are my personal nemesis, and natural varnish has often been my saviour in such emergencies. But I'm not alone—fellow blogger Liza Urla once cut her finger on her luggage right before filming, leaving a conspicuous wound in every video that day. Meanwhile, Renu Choudhry encountered an even more frustrating predicament when she forgot her entire make-up bag, completely derailing her meticulously planned look.
Jewellery Disasters
Jewellery mishaps are every blogger's fear. Years ago, I left a butterfly bracelet—an irreplaceable gift—at an exhibition. Since then, I've made a point to avoid wearing my own jewellery to events, and this is why you will always see me with a bare neck, wrist and fingers at jewellery events. Then, recently, during a shoot in London, I left my diamond pendant on a tray of jewellery pieces. It wasn't until I reached the apartment that I realised it was missing. Thankfully, the brand couriered it to me the next day, and I had my pendant back in no time. But that was a reminder of why I should never wear jewellery for a shoot.
Then there are the heart-stopping moments, like Tracy Ellison's at the Couture Awards in Las Vegas. She recalls: "I was wearing a borrowed emerald ring from an exhibitor and realised halfway through the award ceremony that the 25-carat sugarloaf cabochon emerald was no longer in the setting. Thankfully, I was sitting with Liza Urla, who found the loose stone in the dark!"
Illness Woes
Sometimes, we're required to soldier on, no matter the circumstances. Years ago, I was set to walk the red carpet at the BAFTAs, an event I had dreamt of attending (it was my first time on the red carpet, after all!). Unfortunately, just days before, I was struck down with a severe case of bronchitis and found myself bedridden. Determined not to miss out, I begged my doctor for antibiotics, rallying every bit of strength to make it to the event. On the day, my make-up artist worked miracles, transforming my exhausted and feverish face into something red-carpet-ready. Even though I looked the picture of health, I felt far from it. As I stood in the freezing February air, clad in a sleeveless gown, I gritted my teeth for the cameras, determined to get that perfect shot. The adrenaline and excitement helped me push through the evening, though I paid for it afterwards, spending the following week back in bed. Despite the illness, it was an unforgettable experience and proof that sometimes, no matter how you're feeling, the show really must go on. This is just one of many examples of when a blogger needs to focus less on how they feel in order to deliver what is expected from them.
The Client Concerns
As content creators, we pour our hearts into every project, curating visuals and stories that reflect both the brand's vision and our unique perspective. But occasionally, despite the effort and thought behind the work, you get the dreaded feedback: "This isn't what we had in mind." It's a moment that can feel like a punch to the gut, especially when you've followed the brief to the letter yet infused it with your signature style. I always strive to ensure that my content aligns with a brand's identity and guidelines, but I firmly believe it's equally important to maintain my distinctive voice. After all, it's this authenticity that keeps my audience engaged and makes the content valuable to the brand.
Liza Urla once mentioned a similar experience: "There was this one time a brand asked for a rework because it wasn't 'on brand' enough. But the reality is, they came to me for my style, and that's what resonates with my followers." These moments are a reminder to clients that the value lies not just in the content but in the distinctive voice behind it. It's about finding that middle ground—where my creative approach can meet their objectives without losing the essence that makes the work engaging.
Blogging often seems like a polished and effortless world, but behind the glitzy façade lies a realm of frantic fixes, near-disasters, and moments of sheer panic. Yet, it's these very hurdles that forge resilience, creativity, and a deeper connection to the work. Each setback becomes an opportunity to adapt and innovate, turning adversity into triumph. When the dust settles and the content shines, it's a reminder that every hiccup is part of a larger, thrilling adventure. The unpredictability of the journey, while daunting at times, is what makes the success so gratifying and worth every effort.
