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

[echt]

I don't think this is about having an ethics checklist for everyone you employ, just that when you find some things out, you can't always overlook it.

OP, go for it. If he makes his views public, then he can take the consequences.

[OiYou]

he will be there with her guests. Interacting. Making them feel uncomfortable. He is clearly very open in his views. Is he not going to take pictures of the gay best man and his partner*


(for example, no idea of the actual sexuality of the best man)

[MrsGoslingWannabe]

Rhine I said you were horrid not hateful because of your response to Rebecca. You assumed she was Christian and then said how outdated and racist her views are. Did you know that non-Christians can be homophobic too?!

[Rhine]

MrsGosling why are you not calling her "horrid" for calling the OP an "uptight idiot"?

And actually yes I am aware that non Christians can be homophobic, I don't remember saying otherwise? Rebecca did however make a point of saying that a lot of Christians oppose gay marriage and this man is a member of church.

Being opposed to gay marriage is outdated, and it is homophobic.

[OiYou]

Christians do not have to accept homophobia as part of their religion the way they choose to ignore the rape/slavery/incest/polygamy is OK and premarital sex/oral/anal sex/contraceptive is not OK bits of the bible.

People jump on this one part of the bible because they are homophobic and would like an excuse to be.

[MrsMikeDelfino]

This thread is a perfect example of why UKIP is on the rise. If your beliefs don't conform to the accepted 'norm' you get shunned, ridiculed and called names.
Way to go, keep on going - all you're going to do is make UKIP get even stronger.

[IwinIwin]

I think you need to weigh everything up with your DP OP. It's not unreasonable to cancel someone for any reason, you just have to be prepared to definitely lose your deposit and possibly have your close friend asking why.

Political views wouldn't really bother me if the person was professional, unless they were extremely against my own, this man doesn't sound all that professional linking you to his personal page and that unprofessionalism would really put me off -without even focusing on what its from- and I'd have to weigh his cost and my friend's recommendation against it.

You have to be extremely comfortable with your photographer in order to have good pictures taken. If you can look by his opinions and beliefs, if you think he will put you at ease and be very professional- consider keeping him. If you are going to feel in any way uncomfortable then cancel the contract because your photos won't be relaxed, or all that good. If it's already making you unsure and uncomfortable enough to ask the question then I suspect you have your answer OP.

I find that kind of bigotry vile, love is love, and I've defriended people over it. It really doesn't matter what it was that was the photographers belief, if it's really grating on you and in contrast with your own and you're really concerned by it then you should consider whether you can be happy, joyful, relaxed and want him to be an integral part of the day with you and your DP.

If you do cancel though, I would be honest with your friend as to why. The photographer I would state an incompatibility with but I'd tell my friend. Then, I'm going by my friends who are like-minded and would be unimpressed by the same things I am. If your friend recced him, presumably s/he's seen his fb page, so I'd wonder if s/he could look by his opinions or if s/he agreed with them. Which is something else to think over.

[LoveSardines]

Of course both sides should speak out about things they disagree with.

the alternative just suggested is that UKIP should speak out about what they disagree with, and no-one challenges them, no-one says they disagree with them. How is that going to work to stop them getting stronger?

Shall we just cancel all the laws in existence around expressing certain opinions, on the basis that if no-one challenges them they might go away?

WTF?

[Fullpleatherjacket]

OP - I think ultimately you're going to have to weigh up whether your principles are worth the 250 knicker grasped in his hot and sweaty.

And if you do go with someone else have a good stalk on FB before you sign up

[Nanny0gg]

Why should the OP seem to be supporting this man's views?
If he takes her photographs, I expect some of her guests will visit his FB page and read his opinions.

I would want to disassociate myself too.

Oh, and you don't have to be a 'left-winger' to disagree with UKIP. I know plenty of DM readers who wouldn't vote for them either...

[FunkyBoldRibena]

I would post on his facebook page. 'Sorry to hear you have too much work. Happily, we are now in a position to let you give us the deposit back to reclaim some of your free time back. We will call/in on Monday to collect it. Thanks'.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Hard to understand all this angst sometimes

Personally the photographer's opinions wouldn't make me cancel; he's there to take photos, not to indoctrinate anyone. Then again I try to be pretty tolerant of others' views on the whole, providing they also respect mine

Of course, if OP really feels she can't really go ahead with the booking, that's entirely her choice too ...

[StarGazeyPond]

Personally the photographer's opinions wouldn't make me cancel; he's there to take photos, not to indoctrinate anyone.

Exactly! Do you know the views of all the supermarket checkout people you use, or the dustmen, or your Doctor or Healthworker?

[Abra1d]

Should I sack my plumber because he circumcised his sons when they were babies (not Jewish)? My hairdresser is a practising Catholic, too, so perhaps he needs dumping because he belongs to a religion where some would apparently prefer a woman died than kill a foetus.

Where does this end?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

The difference between a plumber and averaging photographer, is that the wedding photographer plays a large part in the actual
Wedding and potentially could upset guests should he refuse to work for a gay couple or as a pp said, what if he won't photograph a family member because of their sexuality.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Averaging???

Wedding

[nethunsreject]

Yanbu

People can hold whatever beliefs they like, but once it's put in a public sphere, it can have consequences.

[Nanny0gg]

Exactly! Do you know the views of all the supermarket checkout people you use, or the dustmen, or your Doctor or Healthworker?

Do they meet your friends and family? Could their views impact on your friends and family?

Do you discuss politics with the dustmen? Are you FB friends with them?

No? Specious argument then.

[Timetoask]

I put this to you: How do you think the following would have been received:
"I've just found out that my photographer is a muslim, I know muslims don't agree with homosexuality, I am going to sack him"
I bet everyone would be calling you a horror.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

The difference between a plumber and averaging photographer, is that the wedding photographer plays a large part in the actual
Wedding and potentially could upset guests should he refuse to work for a gay couple or as a pp said, what if he won't photograph a family member because of their sexuality

I completely agree about the "large part in the wedding" but hardly think it's likely a photographer would start quizzing folk about their sexuality when composing a shot - frankly, he'd be too darned busy

If they doubted this, the OP could easily mention his public comments and ask if such things would be an issue for him. This could actually be useful on two fronts: OP would probably find that, like most people, he has his views but is happy for others to have theirs, BUT it could also alert him to be perhaps a little more careful about what he posts on social media

With a bit of give and take on all sides it sounds like a win-win situation to me

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

A very valid point, Timetoask - and one which makes me wonder if the original post might have simply been an attempt to flash "liberal credentials"

I'm the first to accept I could be wrong about that, but as I said before I really don't understand this constant breast-beating and striking of attitudes

People have always held a variety of views, which tend to evolve (or not!!) with changes in society. Providing they keep within legal requirements, is there really any value in denying someone else their opinion??

[Alisvolatpropiis]

This thread is hilarious big to all the "not rascist honest" types admitting they vote UKIP.

OP - you're paying him for a service. Check your contract, if you can cancel (I imagine you can given how long it is for your wedding). £250 isn't that much to lose. You don't have to give him a reason, I wouldn't. I'd just find another photographer and move on.

[gamerchick]

Actually the more this thread goes on in thinking it's either a pisstake or more likely the OP has found a cheaper alternative to this person.

Maybe asking the person marrying you their political opinion would be needed if you gauge the services of people... don't forget the catering and anybody else providing a service .

Utterly ridiculous.

[MrsGoslingWannabe]

We all need to be tolerant of other people's views even if they are old-fashioned etc. People can think/believe what they like as long as it stays in their head and they aren't hurting anyone. Upsetting maybe but perhaps the sensitive highly-strung types should get over it.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

MrsGosling

No, we don't have to tolerant of everybody's views, that is why people get arrested for making certain views common knowledge.

There is a difference between being "old fashioned" and being a bigot. My Grandmother is old fashioned, she isn't a bigot though.