to want to sack my wedding photographer as I have discovered he is a UKIP supporter and is against gay marriage?

[Jen99]

We are getting married later in the year and we booked a photographer after a recommendation from a close friend. She knows him from her church and he has photograhed several of her friends' weddings. We were happy with him at first, seemed very professional, great photos and albums etc. He invited us to be friends on FB on both his personal and professional pages, which we accepted. However I began to get quite concerned about his posts, moaning about how much work he has and he just comes across as quite arrogant. He has also liked 2 links on FB, one to show that he is a UKIP supporter and two that he is against gay marriage.

Both me and DP are having serious reservations about him and I really don't want to pay someone who's beliefs are so fundamentally against ours. However we will more than likey lose our deposit
I don't doubt that he is a good photographer but he will be with us for most of our day and don't want to feel uncomfortable around hin. He is booked for the bridal prep on the morning of the wedding so will be spending several hours with myself and my family prior to the wedding.
Really not sure what to do

[Toadinthehole]

I think you should at least have the decency to inform him why you have decided not to use his services.

[twofingerstoGideon]

Toad, the OP should 'have the decency'...?

Words fail me.

[TheRealAmandaClarke]

Do you have a contract with him?
If so, then you need to check the cancelation details.
If not then you're not actually 'sacking' him are you?

I doubt you can "sack" someone Because of the views you describe.
But it seems you're just choosing to not procure his services. So you can do as you please.

[TheRealAmandaClarke]

Does anyone else old remember the episode of "only when I laugh" where the "likely lads/ new tricks" bloke refused a blood transfusion because he thought it was the Peter Bowles' characters blood and he was a Tory?

[DogCalledRudis]

Yabvu.
His political opinion is none of your business.

[ComposHat]

rudis if that were the case he shouldn't have made them accessible from his work website.

[AlpacaPicnic]

YANBU, I would just tell him that you don't want him to be your photographer anymore.
As someone else said, now you know it, you can't unknow it, and if you don't like him or feel comfortable around him anymore, then it is going to show in your pictures.
I wouldn't have him at my wedding because my brother is gay, and someone so important to be should not be made to feel uncomfortable on my wedding day.

[OiYou]

I agree with Toad that you should tell him, but for different reasons. The man is a wanker and should know people think he is a wanker.

[OiYou]

6 months is a long time away, are you sure you can't get your money back first? I'd probably tell him why he was sacked after I got my money back.

[saoirse31]

Think yabu based on yr last post. He shared a link but didnt comment?

Do u judge your friends on the books they have in their houses?

You sound v immature tbh. You cant hire someone whose views are different to yours?

Think what the response would be if the political views were the other way round?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Well given he can't keep his "professional" page separate from his personal opinions then naturally there would be concerns that he can't keep them separate in person either.

I'd be spending the whole time worrying he'd make a comment or a "joke" and offending or upsetting someone you cared about. At a gathering of many people there of course will be people who are gay or this friends or family are gay. Imagine if someone took his business card and hired him for their wedding and you had to attend knowing how he really feels and what he's thinking behind their backs.

Get rid

[OiYou]

Exactly composis, he is clearly proud of his beliefs and doesn't see them as an issue. WHy should the OP have to pretend she doesn't find his views abhorrent.

What would people accept?

"liking" photos saying women should be home in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant?

Photos saying Lenny Henry should go find a black country to live in?

UKIP may not put "racist, xenophobic, homophobic woman hating party" in their leaflets and manifesto. But you haven't got to read very far between the lines to finnd out that what's the mean.

[deakymom]

loving how people are quoting the gay couple at the guest house when we all know they targeted the guest house owners based on their beliefs they did it before and will continue to do it i personally think that kind of behaviour is just as bad

if he is simply quoting a christian point of view and you're objecting to it i really hope you're not getting married in a church because that would be hypocritical the bible is against gays and gay marriage but most people turn a blind eye to the passages that they don't want to adhere to some dont, get over it personally it sounds like you have found someone cheaper and want to scream HOMOPHOBIC just to get your deposit back

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Well tbh people are free to cancel within terms laid out in the T&c for any or no reason if they so wish!!

Op wishes, she just needs to read the small print with regRds to getting deposit back and notice periods.

[SoftKittyWarmKitty]

Personally I'd rather lose the £250. I know an amazing (and very reasonably priced) wedding photographer in the Derby/Notts/Yorks area - if you're in that kind of area and you'd like his details, feel free to PM me.

[captainbarnacle]

It's your wedding. By attending to do your photos, he is a very prominent guest at the wedding. If his opinions make you feel uncomfortable then it can really cloud the day. Political opinions do matter - he made them an issue by plastering them over FB not you! I would get rid.

[Feminine]

This is an example of why FB can be quite daft.

I think many people link to ( and like) things that they are not all that interested or believe even.

I see facebook as a sort of filtering mess. I see friends trying to make a 'purist' page. I see rubbish posted by normally quite sane people.

For me, FB is only a guide to people.

It is also worth remembering that lots of people are quite useless with computers...that problem magnifies on FB particularly!

So...I wouldn't sack him just for his ramblings and shit, but I'd understand also if you did I suppose.

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

I'd lose the deposit and cancel.

A local shop put up UKIP posters and I don't shop their anymore. It's a shame because I like to support independent business but this is what showing your political colours is about. People who agree might choose to support you but those that don't won't.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

I'm wondering why someone would be one a wedding photographer whilst disagreeing with half the people actually getting married now.

Talk about loosing potential business.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Become

[EdithWeston]

It's up to you.

But discrimination on political or religious views is illegal.

Unless you have evidence that his actions are extreme, as opposed to being ones you disagree with, then under current laws you are the ones in th wrong.

But it seems there is quite a lot of support for intolerance of this kind.

[DogCalledRudis]

Its Facebook ffs. Its full of gibberish that people post, link, or share without giving much thought to it. Willing to lose £250 for it... Go on if you wish, but YABVU

[Rebecca2014]

I think you are disgusting and I am sure he will not mind losing your business from uptight idiots like you and your husband.

Many Christians do not believe in gay marriage, many churches will not marry two gay people but are you getting married in a church!?

On the UKIP issue, well no words really...no words at all. I support UKIP, should I be called names and not be employed? I am not racist at all and I am a very nice, professional person but because of rabid lefties like you I have to hide because I am scared of being attacked.