Re: [Leica] an ethical question....

[Mark Rabiner <mark@rabiner.cncoffice.com>]

Austin Franklin wrote:
> 
> > Might be a good idea to check with the bride and groom to make sure they
> > didn't sign a contract indicating that their hired photographer
> > would be the
> > only person shooting. Your images may create problems for the b&g
> > if they did
> > sign such a contract and if the photog finds out.
> >
> > Lea
> >
> 
> Are you insinuating that no one else can take pictures at the wedding if the
> bride and groom signed a contract saying such?  The bride and groom signing
> a contract as such (and I would doubt they would) does not obligate people
> who are not party to the contract!  Now, the bride and groom may ask you to
> not take pictures, and if you do, may ask you to leave...but they wouldn't
> have many friends if they didn't let friends take pictures.
> 
> I can't imagine anyone asking for such an obligation in the first place,
> much less anyone agreeing to it!

I shot several weddings with just such a contract, Austin.
On a few occasions usually once per wedding the bride or groom or myself would
mention to a person flashing pictures that i had a contract with the bride and
groom on that issue.
As the person was a guest of the bride and groom at the occasion they were all
to happy to put the sureshot back in their purse or even put it back in their car.
No one ask for their wedding present back.
After about ten or twelve of these weddings it got too stressful.
There is the one crazy member in the family issue.
IN every family there is a person with a crazed angry look in their eyes
carrying a sure shot.
They will not let someone pry their sureshot from their cold dead fingers.
Logic and propriety is not the issue. It's a Venus in conjunction with Elvis issue.
In all fairness depression and schizophrenia is rampant and not funny.
But i still wanted help restraining the immediate paparazzo during the formal session.
A formal session can be a real degrading experience with people shooting from
all directions distrating your subjects focus.
Many weddings seem to be media events. Love it or leave it.
If the invitation says wear a tie you wear a tie.
If the invitation says tux no tails you wear tux no tails.
If you don't like it you stay home.
If the invitation says leave the kids at home you don't bring them.
If the invitation says don't bring a camera then they don't bring a camera.
If the invitation says don't bring a present then they don't bring a present.
If the invitation says don't bring a dog then they don't bring a dog.
If the invitation says bring your own booze then they should bring their your
own booze and not ask for a sip of you best single malt.



Mark Rabiner

Portland, Oregon
USA

http://www.rabiner.cncoffice.com/