Can I refuse to shoot a couple, cermonoy or person for any reason legally?

What's this about businesses can't refuse service?

Why do I always see signs hanging up in businesses that say "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone."?

Why not find out exactly what the client wants first? Then if you don't like it, just ask them when the even is and oops! All booked for that day.

Thanks to everyone allowing me to express this opinion. I don't have to keep talking about it. I just wondered if others feel that photography should be allowed to choose its clientele.

How people choose to live their life is their God given right. I don't want to take that away. I just don't want to support their lifestyle.

Selling a hamburger to someone does not support their lifestyle. A doctor mending a cut is not supporting their lifestyle. Their is nothing gay about these things.

Wedding are VERY different than anything else a gay person will choose to do. A wedding is sacred. It is a prelude to the wedding night. Wedding are a public display of sexuality. It means something very special to me. This is also why I don't shoot pornography. It is sexual in a way I don't want to support.

By photographing a gay wedding I am taking part in that lifestyle. I would gladly sell these same people a product or anything else, just not support their lifestyle.

There lifestyle is a choice they made. They did not choose to be human, where they were born, or the color of their skin. These qualities should be protected. But why must I be forced by the US government to make their lifestyle look glamorous, attractive, and wonderful?


Does anyone see the difference? I want my right to not support a given lifestyle!

OdiN1701 wrote in post #5637258
Why not find out exactly what the client wants first? Then if you don't like it, just ask them when the even is and oops! All booked for that day.

Eventually you would get caught... I need some protection on why I choose to refuse service...

Now it's political..

Skrim17 wrote in post #5637126
Skip I don't think a minister or chapel is really an appropriate analogy, a photography business has not taken a vow to any particular moral tenets nor do they stand as a representative of said tenets. They are a business like the dry cleaners and the real estate agency.

Or a bar that reserves the right to refuse a patron alchohol, or any other outlet that refuses entry or service, regardless of reason.
All the OP has to say is "sorry I'm (double) booked on that day."

SlowBlink wrote in post #5637290
Now it's political..

Nope, now it's religeous

I think the OP should consult a lawyer on this. Like Skip said it could be all about how you refuse.

pcunite wrote in post #5637289
Eventually you would get caught... I need some protection on why I choose to refuse service...

Why?

Have you signed a contract which you do not want to perform on?

Or, did you just imagine something might happen and you want to know how to get out of a signed contract later?

Or, is your employer requiring you to do work you will not perform for some reason?

hortonsl62 wrote in post #5637345
Why?

Have you signed a contract which you do not want to perform on?

Or, did you just imagine something might happen and you want to know how to get out of a signed contract later?

Or, is your employer requiring you to do work you will not perform for some reason?

No I have not signed something. If I agree to something I will do it. I am just imagining a given situation. I like to be prepared. Since I work for myself I answer to no employer.

hortonsl62 wrote in post #5637345
Why?

Have you signed a contract which you do not want to perform on?

Or, did you just imagine something might happen and you want to know how to get out of a signed contract later?

Or, is your employer requiring you to do work you will not perform for some reason?

Oh boy, you're good Sam. This is getting reeeal interestin'...

This is definitely a situation where you should consult an attorney. Moreover one who shares the same beliefs. Maybe one who attends a likewise church. The consequences could ruin your business.

Skrim17 wrote in post #5636085
Because you offer a service to everyone, regardless of their beliefs. You are not there to condone it or partake of it, you are there as a paid professional to document it as you would any other event for any other person.

Consider the following example. Say I am a sports photographer. I shoot sports, everyone knows that (in this hypothetical situation). One day someone comes along and wants me to shoot them cliff jumping, or some legal but very dangerous sport.

I want to say "I will not photograph that event." If they pressure me as to why I might say "I don't want to glamorize, or participate in that dangerous sport. Please contact another photographer".

Would I be allowed to refuse?

Why do you think this might happen? I've been making a living as a photographer for about 20 years and have never heard of anyone being "forced" to shoot stuff they don't want to shoot. Yes, there are discrimination laws, but I've never heard of anyone getting into legal trouble for saying, "I'm not comfortable doing that," or "I don't do that kind of work."

pcunite, have you ever heard of this happening to someone? I don't think you need to worry about this.

eta: I only saw the first page when I replied--now I see there are 5 pages, so forgive me if my post is redundant or whatever...

pcunite wrote in post #5637380
Consider the following example. Say I am a sports photographer. I shoot sports, everyone knows that (in this hypothetical situation). One day someone comes along and wants me to shoot them cliff jumping, or some legal but very dangerous sport.

I want to say "I will not photograph that event." If they pressure me as to why I might say "I don't want to glamorize, or participate in that dangerous sport. Please contact another photographer".

Would I be allowed to refuse?

Yes because there is a monumentally large difference between discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation versus a sport.

In the end, AGAIN, you need to consult an attorney licensed to practice where your business is located. At a minimum, IF you encounter this situation, politely decline with the excuse of already being "booked".

Continuing this thread will only lead to it being closed - it's becoming dangerously close to religious overtones which are not allowed here.

Consult an attorney!

Does anyone know of any precedent for this? IOW, does anyone know a case of a photographer getting in legal or other trouble for turning down an assignment? I haven't.