A Photographer was sacked from a maternity shoot she had been booked for, and subsequently received a barrage of texts after the client discovered she was a lesbian.
Based in Mobile, Alabama, Faith Grace had been hired by a woman named McKenna. In researching her chosen photographer, McKenna noticed a rainbow flag – that of LGBT pride – on Grace’s personal Instagram account. This is when McKenna allegedly text Grace to say she no longer wished to work together.
McKenna wrote:
I went through your personal Instagram account to get to your photography business account and on your personal pad I saw that you had a pride flag. Are you gay or do you have family that’s gay?
The 21-year-old photographer replied by confirming that the reason the flag featured on her account was because she was, indeed, gay herself.
At this point, McKenna was incredibly blunt about how she felt, stating “I don’t want someone who’s gay to take my pictures.” She went on to explain that she feels it is “not right,” and ultimately that she didn’t want her other child, who is five years of age, to be influenced by someone of that sexual orientation. To add insult to injury, she signed off: “I’m sorry that you think that this lifestyle is OK and acceptable.”
Since sharing the screenshot on Twitter, it has since been shared 38,000 times before Grace made her profile private.
Lead photo credit: Leah Kelley.
[via The Independent]
I'm a conservative Christian and a photographer - while I support this client's right to choose her own photographer for whatever reasons - this is stupid. I'm sure she'd be fine with an adulterous or gluttonous person and lifestyle.
By contrast, I fully support gay marriage, but I just wanted to say it's refreshing to see someone point out the irrationally selective judgment going on here. Thanks for such a levelheaded and rational response during an era when those are increasingly rare.
I think (apart from the internet), you would find a majority of Christians are level headed and legitimately loving people like Micah - even when we have differing beliefs on a topic such as this. Usually, when you come across a rude and offensive Christian like McKenna, it’s not because they are Christian, it’s because they are rude and offensive.
I was raised in the church and what I cannot stand are the hypocrites that are willing to cast the stone at someone as if they themself has not committed some sin in one way or another. Where is the compassion? where is the teaching that we need to show compassion no matter who the other person is? Saying you have Christian values and showing it are two different things, one is hot air and the other is actually doing something about it. She should be ashame of herself for acting this way.
I always wonder this too. Compassion seems to be conditional and this isn't limited to Christians. I see it in other religions, I see it on the right and I see it on the left. Compassion and understanding are conditional and limited to people who think like the person giving the compassion. This isn't right.
I’ve generally found people who make sweeping generalizations about such large groups of people to be the irrational ones.
I agree up until your last sentence and that depends on how they "wear" it. I have no use for people who're in your face about their lifestyle, even if I agree with it.
I hope that idiot already paid for the services, because she does NOT deserve a refund.
I am a straight member of an LGBT Chamber of Commerce. I am welcomed with open arms into the chamber because its not just about supporting “gays” but rather its about supporting businesses that are friendly towards ALL people. I am so shocked when I meet with LGBT couples for wedding photography and they tell me that they are having a hard time finding a venue or a florist.
While I may strongly disagree with McKenna’s belief that being around a lesbian will effect her kids in some way, it is still her right to not work with a business for what ever reason she like. I truly believe we should all be more vocal about what we believe it is to be a ‘good person’, BUT I also believe that even if we differ in opinion of what that means we should at least treat each other with respect. To add her comments about “lifestyle” or that “its just wrong” was in poor form and unnecessary. She could have been polite about it and just said she was no longer interested in booking her.... McKenna might be a wonderful person with a kind heart, but based on the above transaction one could easily draw the opposite conclusion.
Summary, treat others as you would like to be treated.
Andrew I agree with you 100%. Well stated.
^^^^ This...well said!
As I have mentioned here before, I photographed a same-sex marriage in 2008, I am very proud of my small contribution as a photographer and the part I played in making someone else life a very happy one.
Something does not sit right on this story, the written words does not match up with the 'texts' and it just doesn't sit right. If indeed true then sad.
Photographer shows no prior maternity works either in her IG or Wix acct which is kind of weird considering what she was being hired to do and the client needing to look up their work after hiring etc. again just does not jive with the norm.
Probably some scam propaganda article.
Your sexual orientation should not be a reason to cancel or approve a photographer.
Only the attitude, work and price.
But, I still have something do not understand.
Why posting a LGBT flag at the first place, why answering to the client your sexual orientation?
I always surprise how LGBT (and I have many friends example) feel sometime the need to advertise their sexual preferences? Is it something needed to be put right in the face?
I'm by no mean want to look surprised, but putting a LGBT flag on your IG account will obviously raise the question from stupid people. and consequences that stupid people act stupidly. Is it a way to check if customers are open-minded? maybe
I wish a day there will no need for such sticker in front of bar to says LGBT are welcome, cause, of course; any customers is welcome.
Why do my democratic friends feel they need to advertise their political leanings in MY face on THEIR PERSONAL social media accounts? They are just as bad as my Republican friends!
My Jewish friends, Christian friends, and Muslim friends all do the same thing. I can't even begin to talk about my atheist friends! OH, …and cat lovers! What's up with my cat loving friends?!? Do they not even know that I am a dog lover?
Why are all my friends using THEIR PERSONAL social media accounts to advertise THEIR PERSONAL preferences to the whole world?!? Oh, the humanity! …And what about the children? Will anybody think about the children?!?
The last time I checked, a customer can freely refuse to patronize a business for whatever reason they want to, whether it's morally agreeable or not. I'm not really sure what makes you think that you are in a position to speak with any authority as to what criteria other people should use to determine how they choose to spend their own money. :/
I doubt the photographer was trying to "advertise her sexual preferences". Instead, she was trying to advertise to other like-minded people; to gay people, for instance. A gay couple that is looking for a photographer to take photos of them as a couple is going to be more comfortable with someone who has stated upfront (with a rainbow flag, for instance) that they're cool with doing the photos. Rather than being put in the awkward position of having a photographer turn them down or simply not being comfortable with the situation.
My partner (both of us male) and I have been together for 22 years. And one thing I've discovered is that every time we interact as a couple with someone providing a service (kitchen remodelers, electricians, tux rental for our wedding, etc.) we have to go through that momentary "How are they going to react?" phase. Usually it's not an issue. Although a year ago we had to cancel our hardwood floor installation because it was clear the installation guy was not comfortable with us.
So, you mean that advertising your sexual preference upfront is the right way to make sure the service provider will be comfortable with working for you?
so in this case, it makes total sens that this photographer lost the assignment...
End of the story.
Sorry, don't makes sens to me, but appreciate your input.
I'm a cameraman, I will not disclose my sexual preference here or to anyone to get people comfortable or not working with me, cause this will not be seen during my job assignment. My sexual preference will not dict my way of working.
Nice try on twisting around my words :-)
No worries, always here to makes things easier.
Now, the main question: Should I put a little rainbow on my website...?
- Yes, it can make more comfortable people like you
- No, I will also lose potential stupid customers (still customers with money)
Best is to not state anything and broadcast only beautiful pictures on my website. Hoping I got attention for customers with a brain.
Let us go with that argument. Still irrelevant, since the photographer had no such image on her website, nor any site pertaining to her business.
I guess, for a photographer, a public Instagram account can be seen as the photographer promotional website?
Every little piece of message we are publishing on a public space can be linked to our digital life and can be uses against or for your business.
Right now, the link to the original photographer website in this article, I now down.
I guess the story she wanted to talk about escalated beyond her control, or all this is just BS click bait article
«I guess, for a photographer, a public Instagram account can be seen as the photographer promotional website?»
The photographer's public BUSINESS Instagram account can be seen as the photographer's promotional website. Her PERSONAL Instagram account, which DID NOT link to her business Instagram account nor photography website, cannot be seen as the photographer's promotional website.
Her photography website did link to her business Instagram account, and her business Instagram account did link to her photography website, but neither linked to her personal Instagram account.
They were separate, and therefore, not relevant to each other.
I call this BS,
Can you post the link on her personal and the one to her business?
Of course not.
As soon as you put your "personal life" to a "full public access", you should measure the consequences of any Google search.
My "personal" FB is not accessible to public. basic rule.
My work page is, of course.
If you like to show of your life to the entire planet; up to you, but don't be surprise if morons use it against you.
① Of course not. Maybe you noticed I was speaking in the past tense in my last post. Ⓐ The original article already stated that the client found the PERSONAL account when looking for the business account. Ⓑ The original article stated that since the incident and before the article was published, the personal IG and Twitter accounts were closed/made private. Ⓒ Since I posted, the business IG account and the business webpage have been deleted/made private.
② Don't have to. Unlike most, I actually research before posting. I even read the original article which this article sites. Yes, I did go to all her business pages and I did try to go to all her personal pages.
③ Let's talk about your personal and business pages. You just claimed to have both. So if you have both, and the personal page is not public facing, then clearly you do not use your personal FB page for business. Why then would you even suggest, «I guess, for a photographer, a public Instagram account can be seen as the photographer promotional website?»
She HAD a business WEBSITE (whose link was in both articles. She also had a business IG account, but that is now irrelevant. Why, because she was using her WEBSITE as a WEBSITE, not the IG account.
Since the original article was posted, it has been updated to remove all identifying references to the photographer, including her name, website, and social media links. Even the Twitter screenshots were taken down. (This article has not yet done so).
I call BS on your assumptions. I made no assumptions; I did research when the article first surfaced. I do not troll.
Yeah, because Religious people don't throw that in everyone's faces. I mean when is the last time you saw a cross anywhere, right! I know what you are saying, but I'm sure it comes from having to be hidden about who you are for so long, that the freedom of it all makes you want to do those things. Hell, sports fans do the same don't they... logos on profiles, flags on your house and stickers on the car.
Your r, your club support team,.. is something you can choose and be proud of. You can even change after you move to other place in the world.
Sexual orientation is not a personal choice.
It's not exactly the same.
I don't think you understood my comment, and I never said it's "exactly the same". My point was that people go crazy about sports teams that they have nothing to do with personally, so of course people should have the right to be visible/outspoken about who they are. (we're on the same side here)
No one has to provide or purchase services from anyone unless they have a signed contract in the first place.
Lol.
Click bait- this potential client exposed her views to a potential service provider bluntly- the only problem is the public shaming of a potential client and the 15 seconds of fame brought on by sharing what I would consider a personal message because it was offensive. How childish and irresponsible. It will not be the last time you are not hired... especially after this stunt. I call this article in poor taste.
It was not shared, «because it was offensive,» but, “…to show people that hatred & discrimination still exists & it NEEDS to stop.”
Yes, the PERSONAL message was shared on a PERSONAL SOCIAL media account, to highlight a SOCIAL issue in the world, to PERSONAL friends and followers, who re-tweeted this SOCIAL issue on their SOCIAL media accounts.
To be fair, both this article and the source article, suggests that Grace was hired, then fired, when that is yet unknown. At least The Independent does state that they have reached out to Grace for comment, but they may have mis-represented the situation in the meantime. They ain't exactly the WP or the NYT.
In the end, a client has a right to cancel a session or switch their photographer for any reason so long as any contractual obligations are met (potential forfeiture of retainer fees or whatever else was agreed upon regarding cancellation). Whether it's due to a personal or business disagreement, if a person feels uncomfortable being photographed by someone, it's going to be detrimental to the resulting images so it makes complete sense not to force yourself to work with someone that you don't want to in this field.
That having been said, none of the above changes the fact that this is still immensely uncool—particularly the bit where the client goes on to needlessly disparage the photographer.
I just laugh and this level of stupidity. She's taking your picture not raising your kids for crying out loud.
I agree, but given the nature of photography and the connection between the photographer and model that is required to get a good result, if a person can't be comfortable around their photographer, it makes more sense for them to just find a photographer that they can be comfortable around rather than spend their money trying to force the issue and having that inevitably reflect in their photos. We're not talking about a professional model who would be expected to be able to work in all sorts of circumstances with all sorts of people.
While, in this case, I might disagree with the reason why this particular client feels uncomfortable, that's really irrelevant. Even if it was just something like she feels uncomfortable around people with gigantic noses or something and the photographer happened to have a gigantic nose, if it's really something that the client can't get over (or doesn't want to get over), I am of the mindset that they should just get someone else to do it and I believe that in the long run, both parties will be better off for it as will the photos.
I'm Dutch and gay marriages have been permitted for a number of years. I don't see the point in opposing gays. Live and let live. Love is love, whatever the form.
I just rolled my eyes. You asked for pictures to be taken, no? Was there a list of qualifying morality faux pas outlined prior to hiring the photographer? This level of stupidity always amazes me!
Some people are able to get over things and some people are not. This is clearly not something that the client knew about when hiring the photographer, but also it's something that obviously bothers her now that she found out about it. Outside of meeting contractual requirements regarding cancellation of services, what obligation does any customer have to patronize any business?
Really, the only issue here is the unnecessary comments that the client added aside from requesting the cancellation of services.
Are you sure you're in the right place? Your comments are far too reasonable and balanced for this venue. :-)
I have a moment of clarity every now and then nestled somewhere in between my bouts of rage. >.<
You know I'm going to steal that, right? :-)
Please do. We need less rage and more rainbows and unicorns... Except I guess don't post them on your social media account?
Maybe unicorns are alright. Rainbows could cost you business. :-D
Who else only scrolled down here to see what Bob wrote?...
Did not come for that reason.
Did see.
Sorry I did.
While I don't agree with the logic used to fire the photographer, other than trying to fire up the Internet Rage Machine and feed the hunt for "McKenna" and the inevitable Internet social shaming, what exactly is the point in posting this story here???