Asian Weddings..

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.

Good for you for being busy and profitable enough to turn down paying customers.

If it were me, I'd put my ego/pride aside and do what the customer wants. It's simply another flavor of dressing appropriately for the occasion.

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.

Are you serious? I am not Sikh yet I wear the head coverings when I shoot Sikh weddings in their temples. It's not about believing in it, it's about respecting your clients and their families and traditions.

You must be pretty high on yourself to think you are above the simple act of respecting other people and their traditions, regardless of what you think. It's not like they're killing kittens or something.

And truly, if you hate anything to do with religion, WTF are you doing shooting weddings?

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.

My honest opinion?

If your beliefs are in opposition to what you're being asked to do then by all means, decline the income.

If, on the other hand you simply don't respect what they believe, you have a whole different problem.

Hope you don't mind shooting people and things just like you.

-F

wowzers. interesting theory you have there. Its not really about you in this situation.

This actually brings up another question. If you are against religion, will you only shoot civil unions/ceremonies?

I respect all of your opinions and thank you for sharing.

With regards to photography and beliefs, for me, its two different things. I enjoy photography no matter what the theme and like to get involved in whatever I can. Being that I am perhaps classed as atheist is neither here nor there.

Having to dress up to fit in to a religion which is totally alien to any belief I have ever known I don't feel that it is necessary that's all. I am there to work, not to celebrate their special day..

I don't understand how you don't think that's very disrespectful to them? It is their ceremony and whatever their beliefs may be its just good human nature to, at the very least, respect their wishes within their space. Would you not remove your shoes upon entering a Japanese house upon the same reasoning that YOU feel its unnecessary?

newone757 wrote in post #16192323
I don't understand how you don't think that's very disrespectful to them? It is their ceremony and whatever their beliefs may be its just good human nature to, at the very least, respect their wishes within their space. Would you not remove your shoes upon entering a Japanese house upon the same reasoning that YOU feel its unnecessary?

I would remove my shoes in anybody's house, I do in my own house for the simple reason that the soles of shoes are dirty and why would anyone want that in their house. It's common sense.

Everyone is different, I would never impose any beliefs of mine on to others, therefore I suppose I do not expect others to impose their beliefs on to me.

As for money and turning work down, I do my work for free as I am not the main photographer and do it purely for enjoyment.

You may be missing the distinction between following a religion and being a guest in its house. The hosts, or the priest or whoever it is, aren't trying to convert you to their beliefs. They have a rule about how to dress in order to avoid disrespecting a space that's sacred to them, that's all. You wouldn't have to pray with them or anything.

Stuuk1 wrote in post #16192007
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..??

So, if the plumber came to your house buck naked to work under your sink...you'd be OK with that? After all...you're hiring HIM, right?

All in all...I say, "GOOD FOR YOU" for turning down the gig. Now, at least, someone with a modicum of respect for others will be able to work the event.

Stuuk1 wrote in post #16192346
I would remove my shoes in anybody's house, I do in my own house for the simple reason that the soles of shoes are dirty and why would anyone want that in their house. It's common sense.

Everyone is different, I would never impose any beliefs of mine on to others, therefore I suppose I do not expect others to impose their beliefs on to me.

As for money and turning work down, I do my work for free as I am not the main photographer and do it purely for enjoyment.

Its not like they asked you to pray to their God, its a clothing requirement. Much like department stores require you wear shoes in order to enter. The fact that its linked to a religion shouldn't matter THAT much. Especially for a person who doesn't necessarily carry religious beliefs. If it means nothing to you then it should mean nothing to you. If that makes sense.

We probably wont agree but that my take on it. Interesting topic though

Stuuk1 wrote in post #16192007
...I do not believe in religions etc....

By the way, the above, is actually quite funny...since there is ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT that religions exist.

It's one thing if you say that you don't AGREE with them or SUBSCRIBE to them...but to state that you don't BELIEVE in them is...well...

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.

Did you ask if you are wearing this because it part of their belief or their culture. BIG Difference.

if you are an atheist, why do you care what someone else believes. Did they ask your beliefs before hiring you?
If someone said wear a black shirt would you be freaking out.