Asian Weddings..

they're actually lucky you and your beliefs are declining

C'mon y'all,

You're missing the big picture. Look at the upside. It's and awesome business plan actually.

Gay marriage is now legal in the UK.
The Government can't force the various Churches to comply. (Capital C Church, not church)
The OP doesn't believe in a greater deity and as such will not shoot for any Churches.
Therefore OP will only work civil ceremonies
OP corners the market as the Wedding Photographer who won't sully your non-Church-sanctioned wedding with anything resembling religion

It's genius really.

-F

If you're really atheist or just anti-religion then you should see these experiences in a purely sociological way. What do you actually lose by putting on the funny hat (that you should understand does not compel your belief in anything) ? And what do you gain ?

I have no idea about which particular "asian religion" you're shooting...

But normally covering your head as a non-believer is just a sign of respect for the place. You're not converting. It's definitely your right to refuse.

Fernando wrote in post #16192649
Gay marriage is now legal in the UK.
The Government can't force the various Churches to comply. (Capital C Church, not church)
The OP doesn't believe in a greater deity and as such will not shoot for any Churches.
Therefore OP will only work civil ceremonies
OP corners the market as the Wedding Photographer who won't sully your non-Church-sanctioned wedding with anything resembling religion

Judging by your certainty in the OP's thoughts, I can only assume you have psychic powers. It's always nice to meet one. I wish I had your ability to read other people.

Tell us more about what's going on in Stuuk1's head.

As for the Church, the headgear is not required... at least for men.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #16192509
You just threw away a huge and lubricative market by being ignorant.

I saw a cool video about a lubricative (sic) market the other day I suspect you mean lucrative

tim wrote in post #16193225
I saw a cool video about a lubricative (sic) market the other day I suspect you mean lucrative

Classic typo haha

You don't have to "dress up to fit the beliefs of others" nor do you need to believe them yourselves. You're being asked to do nothing more than TOLERATE the beliefs of someone else; beliefs that are every bit as valid, merely different than your own.

So where would you draw the line? If you are Christian, does that mean you will not shoot a Jewish wedding? If you are Methodist, you would not shoot a Catholic wedding?

To each their own, but life would be a lot simpler and happier were you to relax and enjoy the diversity around you. IMO

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #16192509
Wow... just wow.

You better be prepared to forget any wedding which is religious as they all just about put restrictions on what you can and can't do in their place or worship out of respect to them and their religion and THEIR BELIEFS.

You just threw away a huge and lubricative market by being ignorant.

Really... you want to shoot weddings? Really? I don't think you have thought that through very well.

Got to 3rd Petes and Lloyds opinions.To the OP. 90% of all weddings are religious rights of passage. Congrats, you just limited yourself to about 10% of the market with your belief system.....crazy dumb business decision. Even more crazy dumb human decision. What an opportunity you will miss to learn how other cultures work in our ever increasing shrinking world. I would look into pet photography if i were you. Thats if you can stand yappy ass 5 lb dogs.

Stuuk1 wrote in post #16192007
Hi All,

Having recently been asked to assist/ second shoot an Asian wedding I found out that I would be required (while in the temple) to wear special clothing e.g. Something or other on my head etc. I was very much looking forward to this as it is something completely different to the usual stuff!

As a result of this, I have turned down the work purely for the reason that I do not believe in religions etc.

Has anyone else had this? Perhaps this is a common thing and I am rushing in to the decision..

If beliefs are anything, then I believe that if you hire somebody for work, they come as they come and not how you decide they must be dressed and must comply with your own personal religion/beliefs..??

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

It's up to you to decide that wearing something specific goes too far for you. I think it's clear that for most people in this thread, it doesn't, but then it's not their decision. If you refused the job, well, I guess your loss is someone else's gain.

Now as for whether it's common or not and what I think re: dresscodes for people one hires: I can't speak for the rest of the world, but if it were my wedding, you'd damn well come dressed as I tell you to or you wouldn't come at all. I don't know that I would have any reason to ask a photographer to wear a funny hat or whatever, but if I did I would totally and immediately ditch any photographer who gave me any grief over that detail: my wedding, my rules, my dresscode. I don't see it so much as conforming to a religion as conforming to a dresscode (for instance, I can't see myself requesting any particular religion-related garb, but I would totally insist that the photographer come in a suit and tie - I know a lot of people here claim that they look great in a black t-shirt and jeans, and I don't give a crap). As a result, I do believe you are cutting yourself off from a number of opportunities by not being flexible on this. However, perhaps special requests of the sort are rare in your area, in which case more power to you I suppose .

well you clarify after your first post that you are a second shooter, so I would imagine you aren't turning down too much money.

When I am in the home of friends who are of a different culture I follow their cultural guidelines, that is all this is as religions aren't something one 'believes' in.

Lots of actors on the "big screen" portray religious figures or other controversial characters which are contrary to their own personal beliefs, and they make BIG money. Go for it and widen your horizons.

Thanks to everyone who gave a genuine reply, rather than some who found it necessary to use their reply as some form of attack.

While I don't think I will feel comfortable wearing the clothing I may just give it a go and go with the flow of the day.. If I don't enjoy it, I'll turn future work down, I suppose I don't know until I try it.

I do agree photographer or anybody else for that matter has to respect cultural and religious aspect and obey by it. I am completely not cool with the attitude: "it's my wedding you gonna wear whatever funny hat I want you to". Huge difference and obviously wrong attitude on host's side.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #16193111
I have no idea about which particular "asian religion" you're shooting...

But normally covering your head as a non-believer is just a sign of respect for the place. You're not converting. It's definitely your right to refuse.


Judging by your certainty in the OP's thoughts, I can only assume you have psychic powers. It's always nice to meet one. I wish I had your ability to read other people.

Tell us more about what's going on in Stuuk1's head.

As for the Church, the headgear is not required... at least for men.

Seriously?

You thought any of that wasn't tongue in cheek?

Really?

Fernando wrote in post #16194709
Seriously?

You thought any of that wasn't tongue in cheek?

Really?

You're inferring religious intolerance and dragging gay marriage into the thread... but it's ok, cause the tongue is in the cheek.