Wedding photographers work very hard to capture some of the most beautiful moments of the event. They carry heavy equipment everywhere, keeping a close eye on the bride and groom, and making sure not a single memory is missed during their photography sessions.
Today’s story is about a photographer who wasn’t treated like a human being at a wedding, which led him to delete all of the photos in front of the groom – we would’ve done the same.
The Story
A Reddit user, Icy-Reserve6995, posted his story on AITA (Am I the A**hole?) asking the community whether he was wrong for doing what he did. Here’s his story:
“I’m not really a photographer, I’m a dog groomer. I take lots of photos of dogs all day to put on my Facebook and Instagram, it’s “my thing” if that makes sense. A cut and a photo with every appointment. I very seldom shoot things other than dogs even if I have a nice set up.”
“A friend got married a few days ago and wanting to save money, asked if I’d shoot it for them. I told him it’s not really my forte but he convinced me by saying he didn’t care if they were perfect: they were on a shoestring budget and I agreed to shoot it for $250, which is nothing for a 10 hour event.
On the day of, I’m driving around following the bride as she goes from appointment to appointment before the ceremony, taking photos along the way. I shoot the ceremony itself, and during the reception I’m shooting speeches and people mingling.”
“I started around 11am and was due to finish around 7:30pm. Around 5pm, food is being served and I was told I cannot stop to eat because I need to be photographer; in fact, they didn’t save me a spot at any table. I’m getting tired and at this point kinda regretting doing this for next to nothing. It’s also unbelievably hot: the venue is in an old veteran’s legion and it’s like 110F and there’s no AC.”
“I told the groom I need to take off for 20min to get something to eat and drink. There’s no open bar or anything, I can’t even get water and my two water bottles are long empty. He tells me I need to either be photographer, or leave without pay. With the heat, being hungry, being generally annoyed at the circumstances, I asked if he was sure, and he said yes, so I deleted all the photos I took in front of him and took off saying I’m not his photographer anymore. If I was to be paid $250, honestly at that point I would have paid $250 just for a glass of cold water and somewhere to sit for 5min.”
“Was I the a**hole? They went right on their honeymoon and they’ve all been off of social media, but a lot of people have been posting on their wall asking about photos with zero responses.”
The Responses
Just by reading this photographer’s story, you can already tell what Reddit’s community would’ve said. Everyone supported him for doing what he did. For context, NTA means “Not the A**hole.” Here are some of the top comments:
mon0chrom said:
“NTA at all. You could have risked your health and they treated you like sh*t.”
Cat_got_ya_tongue commented:
“They wanted mates rates but didn’t even save you food?”
“NTA. The dogs are much better people than these ‘friends’”
AbbyBirb wrote:
NTA.
“They took you off the guest list for this without mentioning it to you in advance.”
“You went in with the expectation of $250 to take high quality pictures… while also being a guest at their event (including a place to sit, eat & drink)”
“And realistically, you did nothing but follow the grooms suggestion. Either continue being a photographer or forfeit your $250.”
“What did the groom think that entailed? He would get all that work for free?
“Play stupid games win stupid prizes.”
“I would seriously reconsider this friendship.”
MeykaMermaid wrote:
“NTA. Who refuses to allow someone water or food?”
This post has over 2.8k comments, read them on Reddit here.
Our Take
NTA. We think this person did nothing wrong. He wasn’t treated like a human being, let alone a friend of the groom’s. It hurts to see how he was mistreated as someone who didn’t want to take the gig in the first place and only did it because of friendship. More power to you, may you take incredible and beautiful dog photos!
What’s Your Take?
What’s your take on this photographer’s situation? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: Reddit
Just WOW! I am not sure I could have deleted the photos but certainly would have walked off and held them hostage. I had the same experience when I started photography. Did a maternity session with Daddy & Mommy, in the blazing heat (Texas), had a friend meet up with me to “direct” spent hours editing and they had the nerve to post crap on FB about how the photos were not the best. I fully disclosed it was a free shoot, I was about six months into this type of photography, and would edit all photos that I felt were perfect. Folks be wanting all kinds of stuff for nothing.
Who needs enemies with a friend like that?
Just dump the false friend.
Your action was very brave, bold and better.
Love the Comment, “play silly games get silly prizes”.
Make me thinkayne the photographer should have done a little doggie photoshoping and gave them wedding photos with dogs heads where their heads would have been had they treated him like a human being.
NTA. The groom is lucky that’s all this Photographer did. Some people would have made a much bigger scene. All I can say is “GOOD for you!” I would much rather take photos of dogs anyway!
She should have just left right then and demand an extra fee for hiving them the photos (raw, no edit). For editing, another fee.
Deleting them was an impulse, on fhe spot thing. They won’t have any wedding photos, I mean… at least one or two to frame in the house.
**Standing ovation and clapping** Good for you. I would delete the supposed “friendship” too.
As an amateur photographer Idk if I would have deleted the pictures. I love keeping all pictures I take, but I sure would have walked out. They didn’t deserve anything. Not even one to frame in their house. They sucked and mistreated a friend. Kudos to the photographer.