Please remove your mask, you are making guest uncomfortable?

Now I do shoot a lot of corporate events and weddings most of the time.  Well like many aside from Covid.  I also have a network of photographers I keep in touch with.  Well one of them reached out today asking my opinion on a wedding he just shot last weekend.   Where all the guest were not wearing masks and mid way through the gig during the reception, he was asked to remove his mask "you are making guest uncomfortable".  Apparently the grooms father who set up the reception was the one requesting.  

He was asking what I would have done.  For me, easy - I'm diabetic so my mask would stay on.  Those that aren't in a high risk group, what would you do?  

Masks aren't primarily about protecting oneself: they are about protecting others from you, in case you carry the virus but don't yet have symptoms. While they help to protect the wearer, it's more about protecting everyone else. 

Not sure why this is so difficult to understand, given the availability of reliable information.

Given that the OP was surrounded by people that could be contagious, but were making no effort to keep from spreading any possible infection, you might as well take the mask off. You're already at great risk, and your mask only gives you about 5% extra protection.

I agree, your photographer friend may have put himself at risk. Tell your friend to get on PPA's website, there's a sample contract etc. that covers issues related to the pandemic. Photographers need to think about if it's worth covering an event where masks aren't required, especially with the increasing spread of the virus in many places.

garyrhook wrote: Masks aren't primarily about protecting oneself: they are about protecting others from you, in case you carry the virus but don't yet have symptoms. While they help to protect the wearer, it's more about protecting everyone else. 

Not sure why this is so difficult to understand, given the availability of reliable information.

Given that the OP was surrounded by people that could be contagious, but were making no effort to keep from spreading any possible infection, you might as well take the mask off. You're already at great risk, and your mask only gives you about 5% extra protection.

It's not having difficulty in understanding this.  I was simply asking under the circumstances, what would you have done.  I'm realizing I left out one part that would have included me not sticking around, knowing that I would be in deep do do.  

Even still, how would you even approach that.  Force all the guest to put mask on because you are in a high risk category?  Or walk and leave the job undone and likely client pissed.  

This makes a better question then my original.  Morally, what do you do?

I would give them a choice. Number 1 is I keep my mask on and keep making images. Number 2 is I can leave if they don't want me to wear a mask and make no images of the event. Their choice. If a person doesn't feel comfortable removing their mask, they shouldn't have to. Maybe you could give them a third choice. I will remove my mask but If I come down with Covid, I will sue you for all medical expenses, lost wages, etc. I bet the mask wouldn't make them as uncomfortable as before.

All the guests most probably know each other but YOU DON'T.
They should be grateful for your concern to protect them.

I'm with Shadowfixer on this one.  It's your choice on the health side of things.  If they want photos, that's their choice, but they need to respect your health.  

Put in your contract that you will be wearing a mask. Find out if guests will be, then decide should you take the job or not. I would not put my own health at risk. If other people have chosen to do so it's unfortunate as we see a resurgence in many places.

I’m going to keep my mask on.  If they don’t like that, to bad for them.  I’m not going to risk my health for any job.

Huh?  You idiots are the reason Covid numbers are spiking.  Put YOUR mask on!  Oh wait, not very nice to say to a client?  I would be thinking this and likely would say a sugar coated version to the client.  

Sawyer wrote: I’m going to keep my mask on.  If they don’t like that, to bad for them.  I’m not going to risk my health for any job.

Again: the mask is primarily to protect others from you, not to protect you from others. That's why we all need to be using them when out and about.

G'day all
Without getting into the debate above ~ maybe the info below will help a bit ...

This morning on the radio I listened with interest to an interview with a specialist from the Doherty Infectious Diseases Centre in Australia ... the Doherty Institute is recognised as one of the world's best and is involved in one of the anti-virus developments that has started human trials

The specialist said ... Although the world is still learning about this virus and its characteristics, what is now well known is once infected, 75% of people show symptoms between 2 to 6 days, 24% show up from 6 to 11 days, but 1% remain asymptomatic -but infectious to others- for up to 20 days. In Oz, people who are known to have been in or close to a 'hotspot' are offered free of cost swabs at day-3 and day-11 of the recommended 14-day self-isolation period

The specialist stated emphatically that the best safeguards for us as individuals is a) to maintain the 1,5 metre separation as much as possible, b) to wash hands thoroughly and often, and c) to wear a face mask whenever entering a known 'hot zone' -or- shopping centres and other areas heavy with other people

The city of Melbourne has a 5-million population and city authorities are very worried that c-19 numbers have been in the 50 to 70 each day this last week (after being in single-digits for some weeks). As such they have declared a lockdown in 1/2-dozen suburbs where these c-19 hits are coming from. People are allowed to depart for work / medical appointments / food shopping / and they are expected to observe the a)- b)- c) above while they are away from home.

Hope this helps
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

Thanks again peeps, much better in the old clarity department.