Church Restrictions Contract

[PaulCosmic]

I received a rather unusual letter in the post today, from the parish clerk of a church that I have clients getting married in later this year. I thought you'd all find the content interesting, it reads:

We see from our records that you have been employed as the wedding photographer in Halesowen Parish Church for the wedding of......... on the following date and time ............

Most of the photographers with whom we work understand the rules of this Church at weddings, and we enjoy a good relationship with them. (at this point I was thinking I'd fallen into a great lead source). However, there are some Photographers who do not observe the Rules, or whos attitude is unacceptable. It is important to remember that Photographers only function in the church or Churchyard with the consent of the Rector and Churchwardens, and this will not be given in future if the contents of this letter are ignored.

Will you please note the following rules and sign your acceptance of them if you wish to function in Halesown Parish Church:

Dress
Those who take part in the service here, those who are being married and their guests, take trouble with their appearance and their dress. Photographers should not be casually dressed.

Time
At the wedding rehearsal it is impressed on the couple that the service must start on time. This means that photographs at the church gate must be completed by the time of the service. If the bride is late, photographs must be reduced. if the bride is very late, photographs may be cut completely.

Verger
The verger acts in the name of the Rector and Churchwardens, and Photographers are answerable directly to her. On arrival at the church photographers should present themselves to her for instructions about photography in the church and timing, and throughout the service she is in charge of the photographer.

Stills



Photographs are permitted as follows:

Before the service as guests arrive

At the churchyard gate and west door as the bridal party arrives, up to the arranged time of the service

During the singing of the first hymn

During the signing of the registers, which takes place in the view of the congregation, in the middle of the service, not at the end

As the couple leave the Chancel and church

At the south door briefly, the main post wedding pictures being taken elsewhere, so guests for the next wedding have access to the door

No additional lighting or cables permitted in the church

No additional microphones permitted during the service.

Grass
The grass area around the church is not safe to climb on to, and is part of an ancient burial ground. It is not to be used for photographs

Please sign one copy of these rules and return them. We look forward to your co-operation in making this wedding a day to remember for the couple involved.

Now call me old fashioned if you will, and I do agree with the content of the letter, but have these guys lost the plot a little with the tone used, or am I reading into it. A phrase a church going friend of mine uses sprang to mind - "church is a wonderful place, it just needs a few more christians".

[Dennis_Vied]

This must be a church in great demand for weddings, or have a tyrant in charge.

I've taken wedding photographs at the mission church in Carmel, which has to be one of the most in-demand churches in the world for weddings, and I didn't see anything of this sort, despite some tight wedding schedules.

It's a bit over the top.

[Jeffrey_Nye]

Who are you working for? The couple getting married, or the church?

I would respond, in a polite manner of course, that you agree in theory with the spirit of their requests(demands) and already adhere to many of the general restrictions, but seeing that you have a contract with the B&G already laying out, which lays out what services you are providing, any restrictions on you are to go through the B&G.

That puts the ball back in their field as to how heavy handed they want to become with their "clients", the B&G.

By responding that they need to run this through the B&G, the B&G will also become acutely aware of the necessary time schedule, which now will relieve you somewhat of that responsibility and some possible backlash at the ceremony or after if you were not able to get some potion of the purchased package because of schedule problems.

[JeffONeil]

It sounds like the church has seen some "unprofessional" professionals. Doesn't appear they're asking for anything more than common sense.

It's unfortunate that they have to remind everyone because of those that chose to abuse their privilege.

[ChrisPerry]

While such rules are not widespread, they are not that uncommon. If you don't like the rules then don't shoot the wedding.
A popular 'chapel' here has rules - You will stand here, not there. You will only take photographs in these specific locations. there will be no receiving line. the schedule will be adhered to,etc.

I went past there one saturday last august and there were FIVE wedding parties standing outside for pictures! Limos here there and everywhere!

I had one priest tell me last year 'These are my rules. Break a rule and I will empty the church and lock the doors.' I will not be the one to end the ceremony! I tell the couple of the limitations that the priest has imposed on my and if they care to fight it out, they can.
I'm sure there is one priest that would not be happy to see me - it was a saturday catholic wedding and he / the bride scheduled it as last as possible- so we're still taking pics as the evening mass attendees started arriving. He was pissed and let me (and the bridal party) know it. I tried to get the bride to move along, but she kept wanting 'one more photo'.

It's our fellow 'professionals' that have created problems in the past that have made such rules more common.

[Jeffrey_Nye]

Originally Posted by ChrisPerry

It's our fellow 'professionals' that have created problems in the past that have made such rules more common.

I would bet a lot of money that you are correct on the reasons why they feel the need to quantify the rules.

The tone is just wrong though. Not following the "Golden Rule".

This happens to be one my worst pet peeves. Folks who don't have the intestinal fortitude to deal with the people that are causing the problem directly. Instead they make draconian rules for everyone else that follows. It is the most infuriating thing to me.

For some reason I expect more out of clergy, and am always disappointed. One of the main reasons I stopped subscribing to any organized religious group "once I reached the age of reason". (Quote by the great George Carlin)

I don't want to wander there or hijack the thread for a religious debate.

Having read the letter again from them, I still think that sending the ball back to them is the best method. You are not working for them, nor are some of the rules things you can control. So they really need to bring this to the B&G's attention and they should deal with it.

I would at the very least send a copy to the B&G so they are aware of the rules before the ceremony. Or you will be the "uncooperative" photographer who wouldn't take their picture in the pretty grassy area.

[DougAxford]

I've read that a lot of UK weddings are running into this. I've had a few weddings with unreasonable restrictions such as 'no cameras allowed in the church, period'. From my standpoint, I'm there to capture the day and if those are the church rules, I abide by them and the Brides have never had a problem. The only time I've ever been angry is when the 'pro' has restricted access but the guests do not. When that happens, I switch from a pro to a guest.

With new cameras going to 3200 ISO with good results, the days of flash being necessary are pretty well over in the church and I think that in most cases, that's the issue (besides idiots I mean) Being told to shoot signing the register from the balcony is not fun.

I remember one photographer who got into a verbal fight with the clergy at a wedding. The clergy told him that "this was his church and he had better obey his rules or get out" - the photographer replied, "this is not your church, it's God's church" I've never needed to or had the guts to use that line, but posting it here just in case you want to add it to your camera bag. Be prepared never to return, that's for sure.

I agree that all of this is caused by complete idiots abusing common sense.

Doug

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