Nazi Priests

[Mark Suszko]

You’re a wedding videographer, not a war correspondent. Lighten up, Francis.

[Sacha Thomas]

Bottom Line: try to produce work that meets your customer’s expectations and their social context.
The couple will usually guide you in who to coordinate your shoot location with, usually the priest or other religius leader. Remember that this is someone with whom the couple have been establishing a relationship of trust and communication. If you want someone to discuss with the priest the factors that would lead to the best video or photo, let the couple. They have that relationship and are ostensibly buying both products (I mean no offense to any religous component of the ceremony): 1: your video or photos 2: the use of the Church and the services of the religious leader.
If you run up against a priest etc. that doesn’t take into account the request of their congregant and “client,” then chances are you would probably butt heads anyways. In that case, remember that it is about your client and you don’t want to burn any bridges for them or yourself. Weddings usually have enough prima donas without the videographer or photog being one.
Do your best to communicate with all involved, introduce yourself to others working the event as others have mentioned and you will find in many cases that you all have the same goal: to create a memorable, flawless event.

[Brent Dunn]

I find it’s best not to ask and apologize later. Sometimes I have the same issues, but if they specifically tell me not to roam, I try to comply with maybe some movement to adjust for the priest or pastor’s movement that may be blocking the shot.

Harry, wow, good luck. I’ve watched a lot of attitude guys come and go. I always play the good guy and it usually gives me flexibility the next time I come to the venue. I mean why would you start a fight with someone in charge of a venue or church? Yeah, you’ll get your shot, but they eventually will ban you from the location and you’ll loose money. If you don’t think they will, wait until the police show up to arrest you for trespassing. Then the bride will sue you and smear your business name. You can have 100 happy customer’s, but it only takes one unhappy customer to make your life miserable.

We’ve all had issues with over zealous coordinators, ministers, DJ’s, Photographers, etc. I always ask how I can help make their day easier. Being nice actually works, try it sometime.

Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.net

Sony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut Studio

HP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite

[Peter Ralph]

Aaron – your insistence on “leaving religion out of the equation (which is where it belongs)” is a great argument to make in a bar or a political caucus.

Not quite so convincing in a church.

[Mark Goldberg]

Next to getting fed at the party, this is the most discussed topic in the wedding video community!

I think this situation cuts across all religious lines. Even though I’m a “Member of the Tribe”, if you ask me, I have personnaly had the worst problems occur with Reform Rabbis! The most extreme was a local one who did not allow photography during his ceremony, and did not allow hands on the video cam, so unattended back cam recording was the only way.

My contract says I will follow house rules, and that it is up to client to negotiate with the ceremony official regarding those rules. I also do a site check with every wedding, and that includes a meeting with the ceremony official. Most of the time, that gives me a little more leeway when the clergy realizes I respect the solemnity of the ceremony and will do all possible to be unobtrusive.

But when clergy won’t budge, I warn the client, in writing.

Next, I refuse new jobs at offending venues, and make it clear why. It is unfair to take money from a client when a good result cannot be delivered.

What has that done? In the case of the offending Reform Rabbi, I refused a few jobs at his Temple and made a complaint to their governing board. For that and other big reasons, he was fired after being there for 24 years, and his replacement is much more reasonable.

Mark Goldberg
Spectrum Productions
Annapolis, MD
http://www.markgoldberg.com

[Mike Cohen]

Wow, people need to show some decorum around here.

Most recently I attended the rehearsal for my cousin’s wedding. It was in a chapel on the grounds of the banquet facility. I took some stills during the walk-through, using the SLR viewfinder to simulate the video camera, to check the angles. I negotiated with the JP to affix a wireless mic to his robe – thus he had some buy-in.

In the actual main event, I agreed with the stills guy to stay out of his shots, and we each chose a side of the aisle for the procession. I was hand held for this, and had sticks setup in the back of the house. At a convenient point once everyone was in position, I dashed down the outside aisle and went to the tripod for the remainder. I also had a small HF200 up high on a light stand in the opposite back corner for a safety wide shot, allowing me to change position with the main cam if need be.

As others have stated, get some agreement from whomever is in charge as to where you will be and when. Make sure the back of your head does not get in the stills shooter’s pictures.

And when it comes to the reception, make sure you always know where the cake is located relative to your posterior whilst moving in the opposite of forwards!

Mike Cohen

[Ryan Orr]

I know this is an old(ish)thread, but I would like to give my 2 cents here.

Where I live, there are several hundreds of religious houses (churches, temples, etc) in a relatively small area, so this may be only be my situation. However, the leaders of these houses of worship do talk, and have formed a very intricate network.

So, Mr. Harry, how long do you think you will be in this wedding videography business? If your area is anything like mine, not only will you be blacklisted from one venue, but most likely all of them. Forever. Yes, you got your bundle of cash for one or two events, but pissing off these leaders along the way…you’ll be done with weddings by force very quickly. When I was presented to the Father of one parish, he asked my name, and quickly had his assistant check that very list. I was shocked and pleased at the same time. They knew who I was, and possibly gave me more leeway on where I could shoot and where I couldn’t. So the comment of, “If, in fact, the priest does have bad memories of me, who cares?” isn’t very thought out…

Also, your comment, “The day is not about them, only the couple, friends, and the family.” likely reveals that you haven’t thought out your client’s life afterward. Especially if they go to that place of worship weekly, you’re nasty and unprofessional work ethic will carry on in that church, and all who attended the ceremony and the congregation will relate your rudeness and brashness onto the newly wed. Continue the story, and now when approached by those members, the newlywed couple will rightly pass on a negative report, possibly giving out your exact name. Kinda screwed, aren’t you?

And to clarify. “It’s not his house, after all.”…in a theology perspective, the roles of ownership, responsibility and protection falls on the Pastor, Father, Rabbi, etc. On that level, yes…it is “his house”. Even if you take out the “religious” parts of this ceremony/event, the priest has every legal right to call the cops and kick you out. So your underestimation of “who the boss” is, and will always be, disastrous in whatever wedding even you may be hired to do.

I would change your attitude very quickly.