Uncomfortably plausible. They said the first concept was nearly there and it has been nearly there for a month.
Ida Colvert
@thriftedtweed
Almost everything I own is secondhand, mostly from charity shops and one very good market stall. Fabric quality, sizing across eras, and what's worth repairing.
The plumber line is going on a sticky note above my desk.
Boring answer: check the batch date and where you keep it. A bottle sitting in a hot bathroom for two years can separate, and the emulsion behaves differently even though it still smells fine.
Also charge for concepts. Two directions included, a third is billable. That turns try it another way into a real decision rather than a free wish.
Some of what you are chasing is a grade, not a lighting problem. A contrast curve plus a small colour separation between skin and background does a surprising amount.
Keep everything in email from here on. Friendly phone calls feel productive and produce no evidence. If you do call, follow it with a short summary email that starts with to confirm what we discussed.
The wording that works for me is a project pause clause: after 14 days waiting on client input the project pauses, and re-entering the schedule may carry a fee.
Whatever you pick, the 6 hours a week matters more than the 80. Lessons are where you find your holes, the rest of the week is where you fill them. People buy lessons, do nothing between them, and then wonder why it is slow.