So don't take the job...

[CobyPhoto]

This is posted for INFORMATIONAL purposes only! DO NOT start discussing the religous nature of this article. You know the rules, if you don't go read them and abide.

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2008/jan/08013004.html

Can't just indiscriminately turn clients down anymore! Going to be interesting to see how this one turns out. This link was pulled from an e-mail circulating in the PPA and Local Professional Guild's system.

CJ

[Craig]

IMO thats just crazy! I don't have a problem with the ceremony personally, but have issue that a photographer would be forced to shoot it.

[CobyPhoto]

That is my thoughts too! What ever happened to "We reserve the right to refuse service..."

CJ

[HutchPhoto]

Originally Posted by CobyPhoto

This is posted for INFORMATIONAL purposes only! DO NOT start discussing the religous nature of this article. You know the rules, if you don't go read them and abide.

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2008/jan/08013004.html

Can't just indiscriminately turn clients down anymore! Going to be interesting to see how this one turns out. This link was pulled from an e-mail circulating in the PPA and Local Professional Guild's system.

CJ

I reserve the RIGHT to refuse any business!!!!

But you can be hauled to court for any reason....


.

[carrbowl]

So does this mean I have to take photos of everything, even if I don't agree with it? Boy, there are all kinds of things that come to mind, that I would have no part of... I don't view this, the same way I view something like racial discrimination. Crazy where this world is headed..

[Abel]

I understand right to refuse service but I also understand there's a right and wrong way to conduct yourself as a professional photographer.

The smart way to have handled that situation as her the photographer was to simply to say... "I'm sorry but I am already booked that day.." and decline the job. That way her views were not brought into the matter, the potential clients were not offended, she wont be shooting the event and more than liking she wouldn't be in this article today.

The wrong way to have handled it is to make the statement she did since that is what fueled the couple's anger which led them to filing suit. Not good judgment on the Photog's side.

Very sticky situation.

[Resa]

I guess if it is something you do not wish to shoot, you could go with "I'm sorry I am booked solid" or something along those lines.

[Craig]

Abel, I agree with you on the smart way to handle the situation.

I think that this a crazy lawsuit though. I think of it in the same way that someone who breaks in to your house can bring suit if they get hurt doing so.

[J Eddington]

That is interesting. I was just hired last night to shoot a band. The first photographer refused to go with the image that they wanted. They just recorded a song "You don't deserve my vote". It is a political statement about not getting the type of candiates that they would like to vote for. It is not really any side but more about choices. Now they wanted to do photos to go along with the song and the photographer refused. BUt, did the shoot took their money and they did not get what they wanted. Now they hire me to do a reshoot that we are working together to get an image that will go along with the song and work for us both.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by Craig

I think of it in the same way that someone who breaks in to your house can bring suit if they get hurt doing so.

Oh, they're going to get hurt all right. LOL

[z-monster]

Originally Posted by Abel

I understand right to refuse service but I also understand there's a right and wrong way to conduct yourself as a professional photographer.

The smart way to have handled that situation as her the photographer was to simply to say... "I'm sorry but I am already booked that day.." and decline the job.

Well stated! Many of us have to simply swallow our prides and stick with this in order to protect ourselves.

Originally Posted by HutchPhoto

I reserve the RIGHT to refuse any business!!!!

But you can be hauled to court for any reason....

It's all about the words that are used my man. Every one of us a right to refuse any business so long as personal beliefs aren't involved. Unfortunately, personal beliefs are where any company/business will get nailed here in the United States.

With that said, I'm having a hard time thinking that seeking an injunction against Elane Photography that will forbid them from ever again refusing to photograph a same-sex ceremonies will stick. Elane can simply go under, change the name of their business, and not have to worry about that ever again.

Heck, the bars around Fort Hood that lose their licenses do that exact same thing by going under new management.

One thing I love about our laws, there are always loop-holes.

Just gotta find them.

[CobyPhoto]

Originally Posted by z-monster

With that said, I'm having a hard time thinking that seeking an injunction against Elane Photography that will forbid them from ever again refusing to photograph a same-sex ceremonies will stick. Elane can simply go under, change the name of their business, and not have to worry about that ever again.

Not exactly true. If the company is a sole proprietor, even a small corp, they can seek an injunction against the individual, not the company alone and that individual will then be held accountable. Don't fool yourself, just a name change isn't going to stop the injunction.

CJ

[JohnT]

This story doesn't surprise me at all. Personally, I think I should be allowed to refuse service to anyone for any reason without fear of prosecution. That's all I'm going to say.

[Jeff_Green]

So what we are advocating now is that a "Christian photographer" is to lie to people in order to not have to deal with the possibility of any lawsuits. If she actually is booked solid then there is no problem, but to say that a Christian should lie so they don't face prosecution seems silly.

[Wes]

Originally Posted by Jeff_Green

So what we are advocating now is that a "Christian photographer" is to lie to people in order to not have to deal with the possibility of any lawsuits. If she actually is booked solid then there is no problem, but to say that a Christian should lie so they don't face prosecution seems silly.

Jeff - you hit the nail on the head. To the Christian that actually takes their beliefs very seriously lying about why they are turning down the job would be just as much against their beliefs as taking the job would have been.

Before we start second guessing the photographers here let's remember that there's a LOT that we don't know about this case.

I applaud this studio.