A photographer has sparked a debate after deleting a couple’s wedding photos because they weren’t given any food or drink.
Being a wedding photographer doesn’t sound like an easy task. It's said to be one of the most demanding types of photography, both technically and with the pressure of capturing all the emotions during the big day.
Especially when the photographer isn’t even a professional picture taker - they were simply doing a favour for a friend that goes awry.
This is why the internet has been left divided over a person's rash decision after working for hours without any grub in return.
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Taking to Reddit, the original poster (OP) explained in a lengthy post that they were not actually a photographer, but a dog groomer who had been asked to shoot their friend’s nuptials.
According to the amateur photographer, the couple were content with non-professional photos and chose not to hire a professional in order to save money.
“They were on a shoestring budget and I agreed to shoot it for $250, which is nothing for a 10-hour event,” the user shared in the post.
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The Redditor mentioned that they accompanied the bride to several appointments to capture images, and later photographed the ceremony, reception, and speeches.
However, when it was time for the food to be served, about two hours before they were scheduled to finish photographing the wedding, the dog groomer claimed they were told they couldn’t take a break to eat and weren’t given a seat at a table.
They explained: “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.”
It was at this point they told the groom they needed a 20-minute break to ‘get something to eat and drink’, as they had run out of water. In response, the groom apparently said they would have to either keep taking pictures or ‘leave without pay.’
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“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,” the Reddit user said.
“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 five minutes.”
The dog groomer, who clarified they were also invited to the wedding as a guest, ended the post by asking Reddit they were an a**hole for deleting the pictures, noting that various guests have asked about the wedding photos.
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The post has now gone viral, with 41,000 upvotes and counting.
One person commented: “I totally understand where you were coming from - yet you could have easily just left and held the pictures for 'ransom' for your $250.”
Another added: “You had every right to tell him to f**k off right then and there and demand double the payment if they wanted the photos. That would have been a reasonable response. Instead you destroyed something they can never get back.”
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However, many Reddit users defended the OP.
“They wanted mates rates but didn’t even save you food?” one user quizzed.
Another person responded: “That sounds horrible. I understand making rash decisions like this and then regretting them. But IMO that was not an a**hole move. Nobody who gives ultimatums can then fault people for choosing one of the two options presented.”
Someone else wrote: “How do people like this even exist?? Didn't know becoming a photographer meant you didn't need food or water.”
Gregory Robinson