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Do churches have to much power at weddings?
- Thread starter Fox123
- Start date
Never. Been to many and never heard one complaint. I feel sorry for alot of folks in this thread too. Guess we agree on that.
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Rudi - Phounder Of The Phart ... CATS member #100 > ^..^
My Homepage: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman
My Pharts: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman/pharts
Favorites: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman/my_favorites
Alaskan Cruise 2004: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman/alaska
Everything in my galleries, God Made. Its just my job to show them.
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Rudi - Phounder Of The Phart ... CATS member #100 > ^..^
My Homepage: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman
My Pharts: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman/pharts
Favorites: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman/my_favorites
Alaskan Cruise 2004: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman/alaska
Everything in my galleries, God Made. Its just my job to show them.
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Forrest41926
Veteran Member
They're the only ones who can truly answer the question.
But I see two vastly different sets of expectations here ... which is also a common problem in IT in poorly run ships. ( Like instead of a list of requirements, some people actually expect mind reading. )
But I see two vastly different sets of expectations here ... which is also a common problem in IT in poorly run ships. ( Like instead of a list of requirements, some people actually expect mind reading. )
Nothing difficult about that. In fact, that should always be a requirement of all professional photographers.
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Pbase:
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Comments are welcomed.
Sheldon Bowles
Veteran Member
No, I wasn't thinking of a seedy motel --- the hotel I was thinking of was a Four Seasons and the Vegas wedding parlors I've seen, while tacky, tacky, tacky, weren't seedy.
I suppose I should have thought of an outdoor wedding, but at 64 I've seen too many bride's wedding days turn to disaster days, courtesy of Mother Nature who is even less co-operative than some church types! In other parts of the world though weather may be better. I wouldn't want to count on Maui in January, or February, but come April it's probably a reasonable risk.
Cheers, Sheldon
I suppose I should have thought of an outdoor wedding, but at 64 I've seen too many bride's wedding days turn to disaster days, courtesy of Mother Nature who is even less co-operative than some church types! In other parts of the world though weather may be better. I wouldn't want to count on Maui in January, or February, but come April it's probably a reasonable risk.
Cheers, Sheldon
BenT
Active member
Well, boo-hoo that you weren't allowed to turn a wedding into a photo-shoot. The event in question is, first and foremost, a holy sacrament and a life-affirming event. It is NOT enhanced by an intrusive photographer bobbing and weaving and firing flash to suit his taste.
I am not a professional photographer, but I have done many weddings for friends and family. I have NEVER felt that I was unable to properly document a wedding just because I remained invisible.
In fact, when I attend a wedding as a guest, I HATE obtrusive photographers or videographers who think that they are the MAIN EVENT. I am almost as intolerant of photographers and newlyweds who make the reception guests wait an hour while an incompetent photographer takes post-ceremony photos.
I believe that a wedding can be recorded for posterity very effectively and beautifully by a photographer who is unobtrusive, out of sight, and in the back of the church. The photographer can and should be invisible.
In short, the church doen't have TOO much power - the photographer has TOO high an opinion of himself!
BenT
I am not a professional photographer, but I have done many weddings for friends and family. I have NEVER felt that I was unable to properly document a wedding just because I remained invisible.
In fact, when I attend a wedding as a guest, I HATE obtrusive photographers or videographers who think that they are the MAIN EVENT. I am almost as intolerant of photographers and newlyweds who make the reception guests wait an hour while an incompetent photographer takes post-ceremony photos.
I believe that a wedding can be recorded for posterity very effectively and beautifully by a photographer who is unobtrusive, out of sight, and in the back of the church. The photographer can and should be invisible.
In short, the church doen't have TOO much power - the photographer has TOO high an opinion of himself!
BenT
captainzeb
Member
Do your homework and ask the wedding coordinator, bride or minister if there are any photo restrictions prior to the event. If you think someone is being unrealistic double check with the the bride, etc. and have them deal with it. Otherwise take your pics, get your paycheck and move on. Don't sweat the small stuff...
Just my two cents...
Just my two cents...
Theres a photographer in our area that not allowed to photograph weddings at like 3 churchs. When a bride comes to that said church and says I want a wedding here. They say thats cool but that photographer cant shoot here.
jonrobertp
Veteran Member
It's not fair when the UC minister directs me not to use flash, and then 3 or 4 audience members stand up and shoot the register item from 4 pews back while I'm way in the back. Restaging an event is not wanted by anyone except the minister, certainly not the bride or photographer, in my experience. It's just not the same. Usually the bride declines that.
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Life is about choices...See Cuba & NEW YORK CITY here:
http://www.jonrp.smugmug.com
you can also tell who has a problem with religion and authority. Kind of funny what I might see as common sense others see as an infringement on their personal rights as if, dare I say it, they were God. I read through all of the posts and pick out a few posters and think to myself, I really am a little smarter than some folks. On the other hand, I did reply to this thread.
KR
KR
Forrest41926
Veteran Member
In fact, the bride and groom PAID HIM to turn the event into a photo shoot - so they'll have photos to look back on.
Not fair? I suppose you think life is also unfair.
Wedding guests are guests, the photographer is hired help and, supposedly, can take good photos under adverse conditions. I too can be annoyed about guests using their point and shoot cameras but 1) the flash on those things is good for maybe ten feet so their shots are not going to real good 2) the flash on their point and shoot is not nearly the flare I get with my flash 3) If you do not like the rules put forth, do not do the shoot.
In days gone by a friend of mine was fond of saying, "If you want fair, go to divinity school. Otherwise, live with it."
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Shoot lots of pictures, always fill the frame
Forrest41926
Veteran Member
I agree with you 100% on all of this.
But saying you have no bias was jarring. If you have an opinion and no bias, you're likely the first. I'm not claiming what you said is wrong or ridiculous. Far from it...I feel much the same way...and I am biased, but likely not in the way you'd suspect.
Even that might not be enough. Depending on the time of the ceremony and the direction the church faces, it would be wise to pack some fast primes.
N
Najinsky
Guest
The transition from god fearing to godless society is far from complete. Until closure is achieved in this matter, the ministers have a legal duty of care to keep the business on an even keel. This includes not introducing financially dubious practices that will adversely affect the interest of the shareholders.
Remember, the market is the true king.
Naj
Remember, the market is the true king.
Naj
You can also pick out the judgemental people too
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Rudi - Phounder Of The Phart ... CATS member #100 > ^..^
My Homepage: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman
My Pharts: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman/pharts
Favorites: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman/my_favorites
Alaskan Cruise 2004: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman/alaska
Everything in my galleries, God Made. Its just my job to show them.
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Pretty sure i am involved in your judgement. Yes i have a problem with religion, not authority just religion. I've been a spirit-filled christian for almost 15 years. My problem is with preachers, pastors, priests, reverends etc. that has perverted the gospel of our Lord so bad that God himself doesn't even attend their churches anymore. Makes me sick to think of the innocent people that attend their churches. The biggest reason for atheism nowadays are christians who talk the talk but don't walk the walk. I'm sorry i even replied to this thread in the first place.
I'm not a pro wedding photographer and i'm not a wannabee. Just do it for friends and family.
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***********************************************************
Rudi - Phounder Of The Phart ... CATS member #100 > ^..^
My Homepage: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman
My Pharts: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman/pharts
Favorites: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman/my_favorites
Alaskan Cruise 2004: http://www.pbase.com/rudiman/alaska
Everything in my galleries, God Made. Its just my job to show them.
***********************************************************
severoon
Veteran Member
Of course, there are two very interesting sides to this issue, and I can't help but read all the posts in this thread and think that the majority of people are missing half the story.
On one hand, couples have a lot of pressures when they get married. They have to choose the right venue, maybe that means the particular church has some significance to them (I got married in the church where I was baptized and confirmed), or the presiding pastor, etc. Maybe they didn't have a lot of options for cost or timing reasons. So couples don't necessarily have total freedom.
However, they often want great pictures of the event, and the photographer is paid to provide that. For most people, marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime thing (well, maybe not most, but two max! Sorry lizzy taylor) so they have a difficult time taking the long view and lowering their expectations just because of a few rules laid down by the church. So, if the couples have high expectations, this can result in unhappy customers for the photographer, and that's not good for anybody.
Then of course there's the church that feel the event is sacred and must have a certain level of decorum. There's a lot of emotions bound up in religion and what one finds reasonable another might see as sacrilegious. So you've got three parties tugging in all different directions...B/G want memorable images, photographer wants to maintain a pro rep and get paid, and pastor wants his god's house respected.
As the photographer, I think the only out is to disclose up front--maybe assemble a portfolio representing ceremony shots from different churches: a liberal one, an average one, and a conservative one wrt photography. Then based on the rules, you can show the couple what to expect for that phase of the event beforehand. If they have a problem with it, they can take it up with the pastor, but then it's you and them against the church. As a professional, it's important to set things up so that you're always on the same side as your customer against the world.
On one hand, couples have a lot of pressures when they get married. They have to choose the right venue, maybe that means the particular church has some significance to them (I got married in the church where I was baptized and confirmed), or the presiding pastor, etc. Maybe they didn't have a lot of options for cost or timing reasons. So couples don't necessarily have total freedom.
However, they often want great pictures of the event, and the photographer is paid to provide that. For most people, marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime thing (well, maybe not most, but two max! Sorry lizzy taylor) so they have a difficult time taking the long view and lowering their expectations just because of a few rules laid down by the church. So, if the couples have high expectations, this can result in unhappy customers for the photographer, and that's not good for anybody.
Then of course there's the church that feel the event is sacred and must have a certain level of decorum. There's a lot of emotions bound up in religion and what one finds reasonable another might see as sacrilegious. So you've got three parties tugging in all different directions...B/G want memorable images, photographer wants to maintain a pro rep and get paid, and pastor wants his god's house respected.
As the photographer, I think the only out is to disclose up front--maybe assemble a portfolio representing ceremony shots from different churches: a liberal one, an average one, and a conservative one wrt photography. Then based on the rules, you can show the couple what to expect for that phase of the event beforehand. If they have a problem with it, they can take it up with the pastor, but then it's you and them against the church. As a professional, it's important to set things up so that you're always on the same side as your customer against the world.
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