Last week, a Quebec woman drowned while being photographed in her bridal gown during a “trash the dress” photo shoot. A “trash the dress” is where a woman is photographed a few days, weeks, or maybe even months, after her wedding while wearing her bridal gown in a wet, dirty or otherwise unorthodox location. One would have thought that this fad disappeared after the 1970s but it became trendy again a few years ago.
The family of the victim released a statement which seemed to place blame on the photographer:
These character traits made [the victim] very trusting in others. … One thing we are certain about is that [the victim] would have never put her life at risk. Her love for life, for her husband and for her family would never allow it.
(…)
She trusted [the photographer’s] recommendation for the location and felt safe enough to attend the photo shoot alone with the photographers. She followed their directions and put trust in their professionalism.
While no lawsuit against the photographer has been launched, (the funeral has yet to be held), one might guess where this is heading.
Certainly, this was a tragic accident; a fun photo shoot gone horribly wrong. Other photographers have done similar or even worse stunts but, fortunately, had luck on their side.
Of course, everything is easy in hindsight. But photographers need to use this sad situation as either a reminder or a long-overdue wake-up call.
Every professional photographer knows, or should know, that they, not the client, are paid to be a professional. Any time a photographer puts the client at risk, whether physical or financial, the photographer can be held liable if things go wrong.
It doesn’t matter if it’s hanging a boom over the client’s head, moving a priceless piece of art, using AC-powered lights near water, or asking the client to pose in a certain location, a professional photographer is paid to manage, and minimize, risk.
If you spend time on a movie set, or even just watch TV’s MythBusters, you’ll see how many safety precautions are put in place for even the most innocuous-looking stunt. Safety first, pictures second.
I recently did an executive portrait on a construction site. Although it was a sunny day and we were nowhere near the actual construction and the workers had stopped for lunch, we still had to wear hardhats, steel-toe boots and neon-orange reflector vests, and have two people supervising our every move. Safety first, pictures second.
Last year, a TV show asked a boy to record himself doing some crazy skateboard stunts for an episode of their show. The boy fell from his board and was seriously injured. Ironically, the TV episode was about the teenage mind and risky behaviour. (I can’t find any updated information on this story which may suggest that either the boy recovered and/or everything was settled quickly and quietly out-of-court).
The CBC reported that some wedding photographers are now concerned about future “trash the dress” photo shoots and they may require brides to sign a liability waiver.
Wrong answer.
The correct response is that a professional photographer will not put a client at risk. Very few clients are professional stunt people, trained athletes or experienced models.
Clients do not know what goes on behind the scenes of some of those dangerous-looking, dramatic images used in magazines, advertising and in the movies.
Do clients know that safety cables are Photoshopped out of pictures? Do they know that the actor or model is really wearing a safety harness under their clothes? Do they know that some pictures are green-screened or composited? Do they know that specialized software tools exist just to erase safety cables and harnesses from images and video? Do they know the extent to which computer-generated imagery is used in movies?
There’s a reason why they say, “Don’t try this at home.”
A photographer is really a magician (perhaps an image-ician?) who uses cameras, lenses, lighting and technique to create two-dimensional illusions on paper (or computer screen).
We all know that magicians don’t really cut people in half, walk on water or levitate in mid-air. Instead, they use various tricks to achieve the desired dramatic illusion.
Similarly, a photographer doesn’t have to put the client at risk to produce a dramatic photo.
