Unprofessional Behavior

[a2rob]

Wow great article in this Months Professional Photographer magazine:

A growing number of priest, ministers and rabbis have reported photographers shoving the minister aside to shoot the ring exchange, crawling up the aisle during the ceremony to get a shot from the floor, constant verbal direction to the couple at the alter, even talking over the minister and wearing inappropriate atire that grabs attention from the couple.

Are you one of these?

I have to check NO to all of the above, I seem to interact well with all I come into contact with on wedding day.
What say you?

[Wes]

Nope. Not me.

I don't do weddings.

[a2rob]

Originally Posted by Wes

Nope. Not me.

I don't do weddings.

I guess that this actually can apply to portrait and especially sports photographers when speaking to school staff, Athletic Directors and coaches...

[Wes]

Okay. Still not me.

OMG!!! I can't even imagine doing any of those things. And we wonder why there are church ladies with a stack of rules when we walk in.

[cjphotog]

Wow, that is just incorrigible.

Photogs observe and shoot the moment, not "craft" the moment.

[CobyPhoto]

Originally Posted by a2rob

Wow great article in this Months Professional Photographer magazine:

A growing number of priest, ministers and rabbis have reported photographers shoving the minister aside to shoot the ring exchange, crawling up the aisle during the ceremony to get a shot from the floor, constant verbal direction to the couple at the alter, even talking over the minister and wearing inappropriate atire that grabs attention from the couple.

Are you one of these?

I have to check NO to all of the above, I seem to interact well with all I come into contact with on wedding day.
What say you?

Well, PPA, WPPI, and other companies sponsoring these 'un-professional photographers' are to blame. I read an article about Joe Buissink and his "advice" to photographers was ignore the rules and get the critical shot.

Quoted from a WPPI Rangefinder Article:

"If I don’t take the chance I’ll never know,” says Buissink. His risk-taking philosophy extends to the day of the shoot. “Don’t ask for permission, ask for forgiveness,” he says. “I’ll go into a church and start blazing a trail until the church lady tells me I have to leave because I can’t do that. Then I’ll back out apologetically, shooting pictures and saying, ‘I’m so sorry.’ Click!”

“I’ll go into a church and start blazinga trail until the church lady tells me I have to leave because I can’t do that. Then I’ll back out apologetically, shooting pictures and saying, ‘I’m so sorry.’ Click!”


Link to entire article: http://www.rangefindermag.com/reposi...f/Feb08_34.pdf

So with the so-called professional organizations publicizing un-professional behavior and making "stars" out of idiots such as this, what do you expect?

You end up having these young, inexperienced "rock-star" photographers out there who have little to no experience listening to this then they run out on the speaker circuit and tell people it is all about the shot, ignore the rules etc. etc. and they really don't have enough experience to even begin telling anyone, let alone other real pros how to do what they do.

What else would you expect? I have been in business 25 years and have NEVER had a problem with what a priest requested of my photographers and myself.

I approach this as a business and adhere to any and all rules; in addition, I understand and honor the sanctity of the service. It is a religous ceremony and one of the most important days in a couple's life. Who am I to disrepect them and ignore the rules?

CJ

[klynam]

I too had issues with Joe Buissink's forgiveness vs permission methodology. Sure he gets some great shots, but at what cost? To me, a great photographer doesn't just get "the shots," but gets them without being noticed.

[Tom]

Wow, I can't believe some people. While I am a big believer that it is easier to get forgiveness than permission, I would never be outright rude to someone like:

Then I’ll back out apologetically, shooting pictures and saying, ‘I’m so sorry.’ Click!”

If I was the groom, I would kick him in the junk and hope that Aunt PnS's pics come out good.

[Jenny Z]

Ugh!! I can't imagine being so brash...

[ngoduyviet]

I love Joe Buissink's work, but really question his shooting tatics. Aside from wannabes, it's sad that people with such talent could be so ignorant of the consequences / impacts of their actions on the industry as a whole.

[110240]

Originally Posted by cjphotog

Wow, that is just incorrigible.

Photogs observe and shoot the moment, not "craft" the moment.

If you're paid to take a photograph, how you get the photo is beside the point. The end result (image) is.

Respecting rules and tradition comes down to: How much you know about the rules/traditions, the type of person you are and the situation. Also known as ethics.

Example: If you were paid to take a photo of a person eating vegetables:

If you went ahead and fed someone spinach, then you are an "evil" person (this has nothing to do with photographic ability).

If you made the photo look like a someone was eating spinach then you're a great photographer.

I really could care less how someone got the person to eat spinach because as a viewer of the image I will never know.

However, if bad ethics were used to get the spinach eating then that damages the industry.

And if magazines sponsored by major vendors and organizations promote bad behavior and ethics then they are worse than the jerk who took the photo.

Is Joe's work nice? Yes. Does the beauty of his images offset his bad behavior and ethics. NO! There are plenty of other talented photographers out there to write articles about and have as vendor representatives.

[klynam]

If you're paid to take a photograph, how you get the photo is beside the point. The end result (image) is.

Classic "the end justifies the means" rationale, which we all agree with to some degree or another. The only question is how far do you (do I, do we) take it?

Past propriety? > Past character? > Past ethics? > Past legality? > Past morality? > ? ? ?

[dpena]

bottom line is " do you have to be an ass to get a good picture, i dont think so.
"regardless of ignorance of what ever religion", like if you would go over and shoulder off a monk, priest, father, rabi, to get a shot. you can play ignorant if you wan and say oh im sorry im not "that religion, i didnt know any better" but im pretty sure all of us were brought up with some some type of "thats wrong, be nice" upbringing. (ethic's) its not your day, its you getting capturing the moment, the memorie for some one else who is paying you. its their day. dont ruin it.....