Worst Photography experience

[LisaMarie]

Just curious if anyone has ever experienced anything like this, maybe it will help cheer me up, oh and i should also add this is my *first time ever being hired to do my photography.
So today i arrived at the catholic chuch to photograph for my parents friends baby babtizing, so far everything was going great i used the extra time i had by arriving early for photographing the entire church as well as its arriving guests. I decided in that time it would be proper etiquete to introduce myself to the priest and explain to him that i had been hired for the afternoon to photograph the babtizing.
After locating the priest i described my intentions for the afternoon to him only to receieve a "i greatly disslike photographers" response from him. I quickly tried to smooth things over by describing the church had enough windows to allow for me to not have to use a flash that he would probably find distracting. He then turned to me and said, "i disslike photographers, they seem to try and make everything about themselves and are incredibly distracting, and if i find you in any way distracting dont think for a second i wont stop the ceremony and have you escorted out with a lawsuit.....". The entire babtizing i was to scared to move out of my seat to take any pictures, at the very begining another family member used a camera with flash, and he literally stopped in mid sentance just to stare her down.... i never did get any of the pictures i wanted, i almost want to quit photography from this experience!!! Im still crying this second over this , is this what i should expect to happen in photography...

 

[WesVFX]

wow... that sounds absolutely horrible!

I highly doubt this is the norm... I'd try and sluff it off and move off knowing that some people, no matter what their profession, just aren't kind hearted.

 

[itznfb]

i remember reading on here that someone was faced with a priest that said unless he turned the clicking noise off of his camera that he couldn't use it.... he actually thought the actuation of the shutter was fake and could be turned off.

 

[Dagwood56]

Whoa -- people photograph baptisims all the time! Wonder what he does when he performs a wedding ceremony? Try not to worry about it, I don't think you'll encounter this type of reaction too often.

 

[paulk_68]

The guy was a complete jerk and I would make a complaint with his diocese,.. his threat of suing you will not go over well with them.

 

[table1349]

As a recovering Catholic let me try to put a bit of it into perspective. To the church and the priest that Baptism was not about celebrating an event. It was a sacrament of great meaning to the church. The sacramental rights are strictly followed and administered with great belief and conviction.

The are not considered to be, nor are them meant to be show pieces in the eyes of the church. The reason for being there is the only important thing in the eyes of the church.

Most churches of most denominations have some rules on the use of cameras during any type of service. No flash etc. The Catholic church is one of the strictest. Surprisingly the family in this instance should have known that and spoken to the priest first.

Don't let it get you down. They are not all that bad.

 

[Overread]

Well its technically his building and his rules - but your the employee of the family. If you have problems speak to them about it - be fair and calm (treat it as just a misunderstanding). Chances are when the people paying him start talking his tune might change - it can often be the case

That said he just sounds bitter - chalk it up and move on with things. Can't let one guy stop you in your tracks! Chances are you will meet similar people as you go on - learn to work with or around them and try to be accomodating - if they start with totally unreasonable requests/demands be firm and calm again in outlining your position. You have a job to do as well.

 

[musicaleCA]

Fah! What ever happened to the church being the "house of god" and where people are to be treated with kindness and compassion. What a load of malarky that is. Frankly, screw the priest, he's being a jerk.

I highly doubt he could have successfully filed a lawsuit against you. First, you had been hired by the people whom the ceremony was being performed for to take the photos. You were doing your job. Second, the church functions as a public access building, by leaving their doors open all the time. The worst he could have done is told you to leave, in which case you would have been obligated to do so immediately, or be charged with trespassing. Honestly though, it's an absurd point-of-view; if you really weren't able to smooth things over, I might have asked your clients to talk with the priest since they likely know him much better than you and might have more luck explaining your presence.

Where the heck did he get the idea that photographers are super-self-centred?

 

[Nicholas James Photo]

I have been photographing weddings, which obviously includes inside churches and dealing with the clergy, for some twenty odd years and have never come across someone so anti. Rude yes, but not this rude. Dont be put off at all, it is very unlikely that you will come across anyone like this again. Just move onto your next commission. Oh, and avoid that particular church if you can. If you do happen to have a good photograph of him during the service it could be a good idea to send him a copy????? just incase you have to go back.

 

[Overread]

thing is some photographers can be very singleminded and selfcentred - it only takes few with a few flashes and fast shutters to really destroy a service

priest "We are gathered here today to"
click flash click flash click flash click flash click flash click flash click flash click flash
"celebrate the marrage of"
click flash click flash click flash click flash click flash click flash click flash click flash
"Mrs. Dianna Bob to"
click flash click flash click flash click flash click flash click flash click flash click flash
"SHUTUP AT THE BACK!"

remembing that each time he is getting an eyefull of shutter blasts

So I can understand his dislike, but it does not excuse is manner - again I say if you get this problem speak to your employers about a possible conflict - as well as maybe have them you and the priest sit down before the service to sort things out as a general policy

 

[Nicholas James Photo]

If you do go back... could you ask him why he thinks that way about photographers. Does he not realise that we are the most important people at the ceremony?

 

[LisaMarie]

Well thank you for all the responses, i feel a littler bit better, now im off on my way to do the reception, haha thankfully its not being held at the chuch, so wish me luck on part deux!

 

[ANDS!]

The second you got the warning from the Priest (who is technically in charge here), you should have gone to your clients and told them the situation and asked what it was they wanted you to do since its THEIR situation, not yours.

Freezing and being scared to do your job helps no one - not your clients, and most definitely not you.

 

[Fox_Racing_Guy]

[INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS REMOVED]

 

[ANDS!]

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Always late to the good stuff. . .