Wedding Photographers hate link.

I thinks it's rather funny that Paul joined and made his first post on the same day this thread was started :thinking: and that he just stumbled across this...what a coincidence, eh?
 
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I don't get it Toon?
 
English law allows actions for libel to be brought in the High Court for any published statements which are alleged to defame a named or identifiable individual or individuals in a manner which causes them loss in their trade or profession, or causes a reasonable person to think worse of him, her or them. Allowable defenses are justification (the truth of the statement), fair comment (whether the statement was a view that a reasonable person could have held), and privilege (whether the statements were made in Parliament or in court, or whether they were fair reports of allegations in the public interest). An offer of amends is a barrier to litigation. A defamatory statement is presumed to be false unless the defendant can prove its truth. Furthermore, to collect compensatory damages, a public official or public figure must prove actual malice (knowing falsity or reckless disregard for the truth). A private individual must only prove negligence (not using due care) to collect compensatory damages. In order to collect punitive damages, all individuals must prove actual malice.

Don't think there's any possibility of a defamation case here.
 
ok thanks toonamp - not sure you are really adding to the thread now, just trolling.
 
Lets keep the comments objective and fair please :) (No personal insults)
If this TheBusiness is the owner of the website in question (and not some teenager with a plan to troll this forum), then legally he has a fair and legal right to have a say on the comments in this thread.

Doesn't mean he's right though.

Although I must say, whoever designed the website, does need a crash course in web-design IMO ..... and maybe a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, followed by a comical beating about the head with Mallets Mallett.

I mean, Comic Sans MS? ew!
 
JasonRS said:
Allowable defenses are justification (the truth of the statement), fair comment (whether the statement was a view that a reasonable person could have held)
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Thanks for that post Jason, I was just about to quote something similar.

If a forum full of photographers say that some photos of a fellow photographer are below standard...then I think that constitutes fair comment ;)
 
ChrisMClark said:
I thinks it's rather funny that Paul joined and made his first post on the same day this thread was started :thinking: and that he just stumbled across this...what a coincidence, eh?
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i suspect traffice to his site increased with the views on the forum, so a quick search of his webstats revelled a forum linking to his work.:shrug:
 
Still seems like a big coincidence though? My theory is still that it's actually a troll, and that really someone who's obviously an extablished pro wouldn't waste their time registering then posting silly threats of legal action. JMO :shrug:

Either way he's stop responding and gone offline.
 
Jimmy_Lemon said:
ok thanks toonamp - not sure you are really adding to the thread now, just trolling.
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Just trying to lighten what seems to have become a rather heavy thread.

Paul seems to have had rather a dour effect on people. Why? You seem to have fallen into his trap. He's a salesman, and not a bad one at that. He's conviced a number on here his threats are real, and that they have foundation.

Oh and to show my piccies are better than his :)
 
Paul, (assuming you are indeed the Paul from Cosmic and not someone having a "laugh") I think it's a bit sad that you've come here and are threatening people with legal action and thowing words like racism about, epecially when, I (and others on here) think you've made some very valid points in your booklet. I agree with YV (and others) when she says that perhaps you could have phrased your formula better, plus personally I would avoid the phrase "you only have one chance to make a wrong decision" it does unconsiously hint to the skim reader that choosing you is the wrong decision. I'm sure that your chosen words in this instance send a message that you didn't intend to, let's face it we've all done it at one time or another.
 
I didnt find anything racist in thte comments made here! Quite frankly i agree with what most people have said here as well.
 
Jayst84 said:
Reality really is stranger than fiction (assuming that was the same Paul).
People are damn funny sometimes. :D
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Yes, the old saying "There's nowt so queer as folk!". I have to say, I'm starting to think he was not who he said he was, but was merely trying to stir it up. Don't think he got what he expected though.
 
Definately nowt so queer as folk and all that....How did I miss this? :bonk:

Ah well, if he can't take critism and not notice the many positive comments, then perhaps he needs to look a little more closely at himself before scrutinising us....but then, like others, one does wonder whether 'he' really is the person in question or just a troll :nuts:
 
Yv said:
Definately nowt so queer as folk and all that....How did I miss this? :bonk:
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Indeed, given that he quoted you as one of the protagonists! :D

Sparks said:
Careful...no telling what he'll take away from that comment!

Hoping my introduction to the site won't cause such a stir- I promise not to threaten legal action against anybody though so figure I might be ok....
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And he'd be the one with issues, not me!

Welcome to the site Sparks. Glad you're not going to sue any of us.........yet! :suspect: :D
 
fabs said:
Indeed, given that he quoted you as one of the protagonists! :D
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I know,that was the first thing in this thread that did have me spluttering my coffee over the keyboard seeing as it [pressumably his wrath was raised by the prison comment] was a poke of fun at the person that said it first, not him :lol:

Indeed, welcome Sparks :wave:
 
Interesting reaction to this because to my mind he makes a lot of good points in his spiel,in addition I went to look at his site and some of the actual weddings he covered,sure they are not great works of art he appears to be a traditional style wedding photographer and as I have said on here before that is what many couples want.He is filling an area of the market and as he intimates in his spiel if you want art and reportage then go to a photographer who offers that.
 
WoW - what a thread you have here chaps :eek:

For my 2p's worth

Whoever has written the article in question, there are many valid points in there, many of which carry through to my own Pre-Wedding appointment stuff (though not in the format shown)

Part of any meeting I have with a potential Wedding client is based on educating them about the often ridiculous nature of pricing of the Wedding photography industry, and why we offer better 'value for money' than our local contemporaneous competition

Salespeople make the world go round, if this salesperson finds this documents helps them then fair do's - their photography will make or break any appointment, and as in many areas 'client expectation' is paramount

If they expect £10,000 quality but only get £5,000's worth, they will be peeved, but if they spend £2,000 and it's as good as any £5,000 charge - all smiles and many more bookings

DD
 
Did any one try to contact our Paul. If the person posting as him was actually some one "having a larf" he has probably done more damage to the fellows reputation than any any of the light hearted comments made in this thread.

If it in fact was'nt him, would it not be to his advantage to have the opportunity to come on here and correct the blustering, arrogant image portayed thus far.

Of course if it was him, then as I mentioned before, he could allways be an asset to the forum and share his wisdom :)
 
Well what a blow up! I took a look at Pauls site. Personally I'm not convinced that the person posting here is actually Paul Spiers. If it is I'd love to see his wedding contract!.

As he seems intent on taking action against the members and the forum maybe the moderators should consider if it's approprate for him to continue posting here untill any legal action is over. We wouldn't want anything to interfear with due legal process. Wayne
 
pauldarthvader said:
Wow, interesting thread.

I just joined up today. I had a good read of the terms and conditions before I registered. A great deal of attention is paid to making defamatory comments about other members. But as I was not a member at the time you guys will be in the clear with the admin, not so sure my lawyer will be so forgiving.

One of the great benefits of membership of the FSB is you get a 24 hour free legal helpline.

Would anyone like to clarify their comments about me and my clients before I inform them of the situation?
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You want to sue because some people are giving opinion and thoughts to a tips document from an external source on photography.

Everyone has the right to an opinion, forums are were these are projected into text so people can share it them with each other.

The terms and conditions is not a legal document, more of a clarification that you will not break the rules set for this particular forum.

If you were anyone else id tell you to grow up, but reading your past comments, ill proberbly get sued.
 
pauldarthvader said:
Hi Chris

What acusations? I have not accused anybody of anything?

A member of this forum thinks that my weddings were photographed behind bars, insinuating that the clients were in prison. And have stated this based on photographs on my website. Some of the photographs on my website are of black people. At this stage it is unclear which photographs they are referring to. I have requested clarification so the people concerned can be notified. Not too much to ask.
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Which member are you talking about, because i can't see anyone who has say, nor implied anything of the sort!
 
pauldarthvader said:
A member of this forum thinks that my weddings were photographed behind bars, insinuating that the clients were in prison. And have stated this based on photographs on my website. Some of the photographs on my website are of black people. At this stage it is unclear which photographs they are referring to. I have requested clarification so the people concerned can be notified. Not too much to ask.
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Well personally I assumed that the comment was made due to the poor lighting in some of the shots.

Anyway, you can't just throw your toys out of the pram, and threaten people with legal matters because someone has a poor opinion of your photography.
 
I think that the idea it was someone making out that they were Paul can now be dismissed. I just had another look and it seems that the constuctive advice given on here has been listned to. All the pictures have been changed, including the picture of Paul himself, although most of them could also do with resizing and proper alignment.
 
swanseamale47 said:
As he seems intent on taking action against the members and the forum maybe the moderators should consider if it's approprate for him to continue posting here untill any legal action is over.
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No it's OK :)
It wouldn't be fair of us to allow comments that criticise anything of his, and not give him a right to reply.

Besides, we've not had any contact from 'lawyers' (or 'friends down the pub with MS Word'). Naturally we would then vigorously defend our position.

But I have a sneaky feeling that we'll receive no such letters ;)
 
Caledonia said:
I think that the idea it was someone making out that they were Paul can now be dismissed. I just had another look and it seems that the constuctive advice given on here has been listned to. All the pictures have been changed, including the picture of Paul himself, although most of them could also do with resizing and proper alignment.
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I hope he did'nt use my piccie without permission.
 
Caledonia said:
I think that the idea it was someone making out that they were Paul can now be dismissed. I just had another look and it seems that the constuctive advice given on here has been listned to. All the pictures have been changed, including the picture of Paul himself, although most of them could also do with resizing and proper alignment.
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Maybe we could counter sue him, to cover our consultancy fee? :D
 
i have just looked at his site and if someone showed me that for an insight into his business the conclusions i would arrive are just in one word - unprofessional, i have seen sites on here that i wouldnt hesitate to ask for more information.

If he is the real person looking at this thread, first impressions count for everything, put some money into it and get it redesigned.
 
Caledonia said:
I think that the idea it was someone making out that they were Paul can now be dismissed. I just had another look and it seems that the constuctive advice given on here has been listned to. All the pictures have been changed, including the picture of Paul himself, although most of them could also do with resizing and proper alignment.
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I think it looks ten times better already just for changing the images, especially the one of himself. I think that for a pro edding tog a picture of yourself in a nice shirt and tie, with a camera is a far more professional image than a picture of yourself in a Lonsdale trackie top. And some of his pictures on his doc are great. I'm still not sold on the site though.
 
I would never ever hire anyone to do anything if I'd see a website like that. Looks very unprofessional. We're not talking about a community project or something like that, but a professional photography agency.
 
ChrisMClark said:
I think it looks ten times better already just for changing the images, especially the one of himself. I think that for a pro edding tog a picture of yourself in a nice shirt and tie, with a camera is a far more professional image than a picture of yourself in a Lonsdale trackie top. And some of his pictures on his doc are great. I'm still not sold on the site though.
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:agree: The pictures [and their resolution] now back up what is, as many of us opined right at the beginning, ostensibly, a sensible article on choosing your wedding photographer. Regardless of whether he choses to post here again, kudos for taking the remarks on board and acting on them.
 
Yv said:
:agree: The pictures [and their resolution] now back up what is, as many of us opined right at the beginning, ostensibly, a sensible article on choosing your wedding photographer. Regardless of whether he choses to post here again, kudos for taking the remarks on board and acting on them.
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:agree: How's about a bit of mutal back slapping? lol

I actually took the time to read the article and to be honest I wish I'd seen something similar before I booked my wedding tog (turns out they were crap). His photos defo back up his article now. It's just a shame about the site, it looks a little like he rents bouncy castles rather than shoots weddings. That said you can't argue with his shots.
 
Lets remember that he's a wedding photographer and not claiming to be a web developer to boot. Maybe his site isn't the best but his clients probably don't want a website building for their wedding they wanta some photographs taken. Website aren't the be all and end all you know.
 
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