Birthday Shoot DISASTER NEVER AGAIN!!

Wow this seems to have rung a bell with many folks..... I am over my fit and in the light of day the damage is not to bad. Washed the back drops and they are fine. Unbent some stuff and I need to replace a few cheap parts..... So I Am ok.

That's rough...

Maybe I just have better friends, but my friends know not to touch any of my stuff without asking first and freak out at any of their friends/family (eg: at weddings) if they go anywhere near my gear. They know I've worked hard for my equipment and take incredibly good care of it and truly respect that. Maybe you just need to get them to realize just how valuable ($$$-wise and sentimental-wise) your photo stuff is to you.

Most people don't realize that you can easily show up with $10k worth of equipment in an unassuming backpack...

LowriderS10 wrote in post #9986164
That's rough...

Maybe I just have better friends, but my friends know not to touch any of my stuff without asking first and freak out at any of their friends/family (eg: at weddings) if they go anywhere near my gear. They know I've worked hard for my equipment and take incredibly good care of it and truly respect that. Maybe you just need to get them to realize just how valuable ($$$-wise and sentimental-wise) your photo stuff is to you.

Most people don't realize that you can easily show up with $10k worth of equipment in an unassuming backpack...

RIGHT HERE.

Not only that, most of the people I know with kids would have absolutely no compunction about lighting up their rear ends with Weapons Of Hiney Destruction if they even THOUGHT about approaching my gear. Then again, most of the parents are "old school" like me...

DeaconG wrote in post #9986246
RIGHT HERE.

Not only that, most of the people I know with kids would have absolutely no compunction about lighting up their rear ends with Weapons Of Hiney Destruction if they even THOUGHT about approaching my gear. Then again, most of the parents are "old school" like me...

GASP!!! Parents that parent?!! Do such beings really exist?

Maybe, but they are definitely an endangered species. I don't know any myself.

20droger wrote in post #9987389
GASP!!! Parents that parent?!! Do such beings really exist?

Maybe, but they are definitely an endangered species. I don't know any myself.

Yes you do, we just haven't formally met yet.

With three young girls and a wife the most used word in my vocabulary is "No".

When that fails it's time for a trip to their room (which is devoid of electronic gadgets).

On the rare occasion that doesn't get the point across I've been known to resort to a physical intervention. But that is rarely necessary more than once or twice a year, they have really good memories at that age.

SuzyView wrote in post #9981807
I told the B&G that when people start acting stupid, there is no use for me to record that. I leave. The groom promised he'd behave himself. I told him he better. If any of his buddies ruin the day for the bride, he'll have to deal with it forever. No pictures of the event from me.

just smile, pack up and start leaving. I'm sure someone will notice and they will either say they will honor your requests for good behavior, or you leave. It's what is the right thing to expect.

Suzy
That is an awesome piece of wisdom! I like it.

JeffreyG wrote in post #9984984
Are you suggesting that the kids ruined the equipment because the OP was doing this as a favor to a friend?

I don't follow the 'what's so surprising about this'? part. I would not let my kids play on somebody's lights and backdrops and I would expect other parents to do the same.

I purposly purchased a well-used $200 Rebel XT to "bang around" day-to-day because I don't want my good equipment ruined with someone else's spilled drink or "confiscated" (I shoot Aviation stuff at airports).

I would NEVER bring my good equipment to a gig like the OP's - heck for FREE, it's a P&S... your average person can't tell the quality difference anyways.

Most people I've met wonder why I've wasted so much money on photo equipment when cell phones have a camera already built-in (and that was in the 640x480 cell-phone camera days).

wow- I can only imagine the disrespect for you and your equipment that the 'parents' showed, I can only imagine your restraint. I don't think I would be capable of actually having either.
The two things I fear the most when in public are OPD's and OPK's, our code for Other Peoples Dogs and Other Peoples Kids.
Both can be dangerous on their own, but in the rare ocasion that some kind of response from you is absolutely in order and necessary (get your sticky little hands out of my camera bag) they can bring out the worste in their parents or owners ( how dare you kick my dog for growling at your wife) and are best avoided with a passion. OPD's grow old and mellow, but OPK's just get cars and vote and create more OPK's. I weep for our future.

gkarris wrote in post #9988702
I would NEVER bring my good equipment to a gig like the OP's - heck for FREE, it's a P&S... your average person can't tell the quality difference anyways.

Really?

Everyone I know (and most use P&S cameras) can immediately spot a picture from my MkIII taken at the same event (usually a b-day party). Even at 4x6 the difference is pretty striking.

mbellot wrote in post #9989562
Really?

Everyone I know (and most use P&S cameras) can immediately spot a picture from my MkIII taken at the same event (usually a b-day party). Even at 4x6 the difference is pretty striking.

I agree. Ours is a mere 30D, but the difference is amazing!

And THAT'S why we spend the big bucks on equipment!

birdfromboat wrote in post #9988729
wow- I can only imagine the disrespect for you and your equipment that the 'parents' showed, I can only imagine your restraint. I don't think I would be capable of actually having either.
The two things I fear the most when in public are OPD's and OPK's, our code for Other Peoples Dogs and Other Peoples Kids.
Both can be dangerous on their own, but in the rare ocasion that some kind of response from you is absolutely in order and necessary (get your sticky little hands out of my camera bag) they can bring out the worste in their parents or owners ( how dare you kick my dog for growling at your wife) and are best avoided with a passion. OPD's grow old and mellow, but OPK's just get cars and vote and create more OPK's. I weep for our future.

I hate loose dogs! If one were to threaten me or mine, there'd promptly be one less dog, owner be damned!

Come to think of it, I hate loose kids, too. Hmmm. I'll have to think on that one.

20droger wrote in post #9989625
I hate loose dogs! If one were to threaten me or mine, there'd promptly be one less dog, owner be damned!

Come to think of it, I hate loose kids, too. Hmmm. I'll have to think on that one.

we are stealing the thread here a little, Rodger, but I agree loose dogs are a nuisance. People don't realise that letting their dog run free at the beach or in a park is risking huge liability for all kinds of damage, both to persons and property. I am not the suing kind, but if I am injured or disabled by a dog, my insurer is going to have to pay out and you can bet they are prepared to sue the owner and there is nothing I could do to stop it.
If I miss a week of work, the dog owner will be sued for more than it would have cost them to rent my farmland from me for a year just for their own personal dog park. Facts is facts.

Back to comiserating about unruly kids and irresponsible parenting.

Sounds like you need to find out the requirements better so you can have a suitable backdrop. Have you never worked with kids before?

tim wrote in post #9989796
Have you never worked with kids before?

I loose all interest in kids about 10 to 15 seconds after the act of procreation. To me they are just like adults but evil with scary little pink hands.

No I don't work with kids.