Gay-friendly photog?

theresab42

I'm in Rochester, looking for a gay-friendly photographer and am having a hard time finding someone. Anyone know where to look?

raes19

There are tons of photographers in the Rochester area, what makes the ones you've looked at not gay-friendly? I can't imagine a professional being openly discriminatory, as it probably wouldn't be good for business.

JN382

I agree, I can't imagine a photographer would want to lose business! Have you experienced discrimination with a specific vendor or are you looking for a vendor that is advertising as "gay friendly"? If so, I doubt you'll find it. I would approach photographers like I would any other vendor, with the intent to do business. If they want to discriminate, I wouldn't want to hire them. And if for some reason they don't do gay marriages, then move on to another.

But to answer your question, I have no idea how to distinguish one from another. The best bet would be to ask!

theresab42

I wrote to 2 photographers last week and mentioned that it's a gay wedding in both emails. I have not received a response from either of them.  (Not that this means we ARE being discriminated against, I just want to find someone who will fit us)

Ideally, we will book a photographer who has shot a gay wedding before, but since no one advertises that on their site, it's hard to know where to go. That's why I was hoping someone on this site had experience with photogs in this area, to help point us in the right direction.

So far, we have had no problem with ceremony sites, reception sites, or officiants. This is the first snafu we have come across.

JN382

I'm not sure I would even say anything. I don't know, I just wouldn't email a photographer and ask "hey, do you shoot straight marriages?" It's almost asking for issues in a way. My photographer actually told me a story about an open ceremony he shot and was just kind of "whatever" about it-- it was business. It was just another client and contract to him.

It's also still wedding season. I asked my photographer if he could do our engagement photos this friday and he's out of town for almost two weeks doing weddings. It's not uncommon for someone to not return calls, especially on the weekend. In fact, the string quartet people didn't get back to me for two weeks...! I would't be too quick to discount any of the ones you contacted thus far.

I apologize if any of that sounded snarky! Good luck!

lornarose07

I agree with JN, if you email more photogs don't mention the type of nuptials you are having. I mean, I DEFINITELY understand your position... you don't want to be told to your face that you can't be worked with because the photog doesn't agree with who you are as people so you'd rather know up-front. However, in situations like this, I recall a line from one of my fav movies Maid in Mahattan:

"You stand on your soap box judging people, so sure that they're judging you" (or something like that)

Point is, by telling them from the beginning that it's a gay wedding seems to say "...and I just wanted you to know that, so you can prepare yourself to work with us or we will take our business elsewhere!" You shouldn't outright assume that a photog or any vendor needs to know that it's a gay wedding in order to work with them. Even if a photographer ISN'T "gay-marriage friendly," but is still willing to work with you and give you a fair price and at the end of it all you were happy with their work, did the exchange of that information need to happen? I know all this isn't exactly helpful, but I think looking at this from a different perspective might help you in general as far as your stress about this moving forward.

FWIW, I'm the biggest straight ally ever and we are choosing Hendrick's Chapel for the very reason that its inclusive and open. My voice teacher just happens to be a former titleholder in the Miss America Organization (relevant only because I do pageants as you all know ), is ordained, and is gay and she's offered to officiate for us, which we are seriously considering.

Finally, to ACTUALLY respond to your inquiry, I shall direct you to Claire Buffie. She's a former Miss New York (2010), was the first contestant in the 90-year history of the Miss America Organization to advocate for LGBTQ equality & rights as her personal contestant platform, and is an amazing photographer. She travels all over the place to do weddings, so as long as her school schedule permits, she might be able to do your wedding. Her website is clairebuffie.com and you can definitely tell her Lorna sent you

ChelseaB425

On the day gay marriage was legalized in New York, the photographers we're using posted something on Facebook about how excited they are for friends who will finally have the opportunity to get married. That seems friendly. Empire West Photo, if you're interested. They're based in Rochester and extremely talented.

CD2011

My photographer actually posted on FB a while ago that they were looking for a gay or lesbian couple who wanted free photography as their way to celebrate the legalization of gay marriage. They're based in Syracuse but pretty sure they travel. Not sure if they're still looking for someone ....

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Picture-Infinity-Studios-LLC/135263403191714

whereismymind32

I agree with PP that it may be more height-of-wedding season than discrimination that's making them not call back, but I agree that you should look elsewhere if they haven't gotten back to you. I've contacted around 15 photographers in the past few weeks and the only one who didn't get back to me within 48 hours apologized because they were out of town. Some of them called AND emailed. You want a vendor who is quick to respond. If they take this long to return your emails when they're still trying to gey your $, how long will it take them once you've signed a contract with them?

To answer your question about a gay-friendly photog, I just saw a blog post where one of the above mentioned photogs secretly shot her gay friend's engagement. It was so adorable! I can't remember which one right now, but I'll think about it and get back to you!

emierose

Others are probably right.. I would add my photographer is gay friendly (she was super psyched when the law was passed!) and is out of Rochester. Her named is Kristina Juodyte and her studio is Photokisses. (www.photokisses.com) or check out the page on Facebook, it has some of my wedding pics up

kat22885

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_central-new-york_gay-friendly-photog?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:621Discussion:43353a92-0bf5-4e24-a991-3ad2b5f8c039Post:63a40390-5e24-4a78-8926-774c19445f24">Re: Gay-friendly photog?</a>:
[QUOTE]On the day gay marriage was legalized in New York, the photographers we're using posted something on Facebook about how excited they are for friends who will finally have the opportunity to get married. That seems friendly. Empire West Photo, if you're interested. They're based in Rochester and extremely talented.
Posted by ChelseaB425[/QUOTE]

<div>Yep, we're using them too!  We love Dave & Melissa!</div>

DondadaTimes2

Hm, I know Ive been out of the loop for a while, but I havent lost my snippy-ness. So, Hemam, please get off the CNY board and find the NYC board. And then do me a favor and look at a freaking map! She's from Manhattan and you think Rochester is "right there"?? Sweetpea, Rochester is about 6ish hours from there. Are you 10 yrs old or seriously that stupid?

whereismymind32

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_central-new-york_gay-friendly-photog?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:621Discussion:43353a92-0bf5-4e24-a991-3ad2b5f8c039Post:264f5bd3-1f1f-471e-bdd9-b483091a9ecc">Re: Gay-friendly photog?</a>:
[QUOTE]I know a great photographer who would love to photograph your wedding. She is based out of Manhattan and she doesn't mind traveling as long as it's not too far. and <strong>Rochester is right there. </strong>
Posted by hemam1114[/QUOTE]

I retract my sympathetic statement from the other thread. The rest of New York State is not a suburb of New York City. Get a map. (and a clue)