PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT
Based On Their Circumstantial Upbringing, Training, Circumstance,
Philosophy and Parental Pressures and Guidance
TRADITIONS AND CONDUCT — Photographer's who diversify their work should be spending some time on learning the processes others live by. It creates a comfort zone for the client. For example, some ethnicities of the Middle Eastern Nations prohibit the taking of photographs that show elbows, faces or feet. These religious virtues sometimes transfer here to the states and you have to be cautious when doing the Wedding by finding out what the rules are.
The US is the cultural center of the world, so many different cultures live here but still follow their beliefs and customs. Knowledge of these things will open up your business and possibly fill a niche in a community bringing you more work.
Sure things are moderated here in the states but yesterday at a local mall, I saw a woman in a burka, with veil dressed head to toe all covered up in black. Obviously she was not shopping at the GAP or Dillards. It was 93 outside and 80% humidity.
After I wrote this, I started to think how hard it is for a photographer doing weddings in certain countries that prohibit human form in the pictures. It would be too presumptive to think the Taliban is hiring Wedding Photographers as one Blue Burka is the same as another Blue Burka.
I doubt if we will ever see the Bride of the Month in a Blue Burka. You’d be in the soup literally or in the oil whatever boils quicker…so respect of cultural beliefs is important.
Just so you know. I insist and repeat myself that you have to visit the Church a week before or if possible be an onlooker at a Wedding function there before yours. You need to accomplish three things on your mission. Pre-check the lighting, check the service for nominal or abnormal changes, and check out the demeanor of the clergy presiding.
RELIGION IS A MISH - MOSH — There are so many man-made versions of Christianity it is impossible to keep up with them. The others like Judaism, Bahai are fairly cut and dry. If you are not familiar with the particular process at the church, go there and see for yourself. One bride told me how special her pastor was, how kind and easy going. He could of written more sermons but his arrest for Pedophilia got in the way.
And the Catholic Bishop in one of our Dioceses is in jail. I will not comment on the replacement they sent, other than it was a catastrophe, about as warm had they preformed the wedding at the local prison. I live in Florida and we average one arrest a month for Music Directors or Youth Pastors getting arrested.
I always ask the Bride about the Reverend, Pastor, Priest or Rabbi. Then I go look for myself. I want to see up front, it’s beliefs, traditions, smoke blowing, character assassinations, false prophets, ridiculous rituals and it will vary from Church to Church. Think of churches as franchises and no ones on the same menu. The largest group, Christianity goes from the liturgical beliefs to some fairly out on the limb concepts because they are man-made.
Diversity comes in two forms. Religious Diversity relates to the customs, traditions, and processes. Human Diversity is simply who we are, short or tall, black, yellow, red or white, rich or poor, Klingon or Romulan. A working knowledge of these diversifications will make your life easier and trains you to avoid problems by knowing whats next.
MIX-MATCHED STYLES - NOT ON THE SAME PAGE — Number one on the hit parade is mis-matched shooting in the wrong wedding style. Be prepared that your style applies to the Wedding couples beliefs. People are culturally different and PJ may not be the best choice for a specific wedding and you might be going or moving to a position that might not be correct.
At a Catholic Church one day the photographer thought he ruled the roost, climbing over everybody and everything, till he got to the LUNA which is a circular receptacle with glass sides, metal circled with gold or gilded metal to hold the Sacred Host upright in the monstrance during the Mass.
It is a sacred vessel, having received the priest's blessing. It is sometimes called a lunette. The older, very-very Catholic “tough” priest had enough with this clown. He stopped the sacrament, paused, my source tells me the priest said “God Forgive Me” and invited the Photographer to leave the Church right now. He actually stood behind him and walked him to the exit.
We have a tough time in my area with Catholic Churches and FLASH, because idiots like this guy made it tough for all of us. It has even encouraged second shooters to hide as guests on the aisle seats and grab what they can with high ISO's. You might be best to mix it up a little so you cover your bases. I have learned this from my diversified experience shooting weddings of ethnic and social differences. In addition, I must stop and give thanks to the many professionals and associates who shared a few horror stories with me over a brew or two.
YOUNGER COUPLES CAN BE COOL, WEIRD, STUPID, IMMATURE — Some younger couples like moderate trendy PJ to almost a “shock jock” approach to the Wedding. Notice I said “some”. You better expect anything, sometimes blowing tradition out the door. Expect anything from a moon to topless exhibitions to falling on ones face dead drunk. My favorite is the exposure problem a young new female shooter, new at the game living in the UK, had “ penis exposure” from the groomsmen in three of her shots as explained in preceding pages. The entire story is here. Keep reading.
COMRADES IN ARMS — You are not alone: My buddies and cohorts in the business shared a few other horror tales with me. Fred Miranda’s website at http://www.fredmiranda.com/ has a pretty good wedding forum. It’s inhabited by a few pro’s and many, many beginners, some guys pretending to know more than they do. A fast check on licenses, which is commonly on all government websites for that city or state sites tell you whether they are legal or not, whether they maintain a studio, and their real status.
There are many other sites devoted to Wedding Photographers. But, like most of the web, take things with a grain of salt, two shots of vodka and a twist of lemon. Ego’s run prolific in this business and everyone’s a pro on the web. Just look at some sites and you’ll realize a few are more conversation than talent. And see how many have the same Wedding Music in the background, the same style as they all bought them from a booth at WPPI or on-line. Clones of Clones
Type in Wedding Forums on Google and a lifetime of reading is before you. Type in a few names of the shooters from the odd groups on Google and its like reading the tabloids. A few have a pretty shady past. Several we found in NEW JERSEY should have warrants or doing time by now. Some did, the article is buried in this site somewhere. Big time lawsuit.
YOU have to serve the client, not force your beliefs or issues. If their style is not the best style for you, get someone else to do it and a referral fee is better than nothing or a goof up. Again I am NOT picking on any age groups, religious groups or ethnicities, just a few tips for political correctness and to CYA.
Older established families and higher more elaborate level Weddings go far more often to the conservative side with shooter covering the basics and then: the PJ style thrown into the mix for complete coverage and a better bottom line.