AITA for deleting my friend’s wedding photos in front of them?
A person on Reddit recounts how a friend requested they take pictures at their wedding for a modest $250, an offer they accepted despite lacking professional experience.
On the wedding day, they had to toil for extended periods in sweltering conditions, lacking sustenance and hydration. When the groom denied their request for a brief respite to eat, they erased all the pictures before his eyes and departed.
The newlyweds are currently enjoying their honeymoon, and inquiries regarding the wedding pictures have gone unanswered. Discover the complete narrative below to delve into the underlying pressures that culminated in this striking decision.
‘ AITA for deleting my friend’s wedding photos in front of them?’
I don’t consider myself a true photographer, but rather a dog groomer. I’m constantly taking pictures of dogs to share on Facebook and Instagram; it’s become my signature. Each grooming session concludes with a haircut and a photo. Despite having a good setup, I rarely photograph anything besides dogs.
A buddy of mine tied the knot a few days back and, aiming to cut costs, wondered if I would photograph it. I mentioned it wasn’t exactly my area of expertise, but he persuaded me by saying he wasn’t concerned about perfection. Given their tight finances, I consented to photograph the wedding for $250, a meager sum considering it was a 10-hour affair.
On the actual day, I tail the bride in my car as she travels to various pre-ceremony appointments, capturing images as she goes. I photograph the wedding service, and then during the reception, I photograph the speeches and guests interacting.
I began at approximately 11:00 AM, with an expected completion time of around 7:30 PM. Food was provided at approximately 5:00 PM, but I was informed that I could not take a break to eat because I was needed as the photographer; additionally, no seat was reserved for me. I’m growing weary and beginning to feel some regret about undertaking this project for very little compensation.
The heat is intense; the location, a former veteran’s hall, feels like it’s 110 degrees with zero air conditioning. I informed the groom that I need a 20-minute break to find food and a beverage. There isn’t even a bar with complimentary drinks, not even water, and both of my water bottles have been empty for a while.
He informed me that I had to work as a photographer or leave without receiving any money. Feeling hot, hungry, and irritated by the situation, I inquired if he was certain, and upon receiving confirmation, I deleted all the photos I had taken in his presence and left, declaring that I no longer worked for him.
If someone offered me $250, I would have gladly spent that amount on a cold drink and a brief rest. Am I the unreasonable one? They immediately left for their honeymoon and have avoided social media, but numerous individuals have been posting on their page requesting pictures, without receiving any feedback.
Here’s what the community had to contribute:
mon0chrom − NTA at all. You could have risked your health and they treated you like s**t.
Cat_got_ya_tongue − They wanted mates rates but didn’t even save you food? NTA. The dogs are much better people than these ‘friends’
AbbyBirb − 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).
Following the groom’s advice was your only action, in reality. Choose between remaining the photographer or losing your $250. What did the groom expect would happen? That he would receive all of that labor without cost? Participate in foolish activities and receive foolish rewards. I would carefully reevaluate this relationship.
MeykaMermaid − NTA. Who refuses to allow someone water or food?
Haggis_with_Ketchup − Should have kept the photos and sold them for $1,000. The $750 extra is the butthead customer surcharge.
6ofh − NTA. That sounds horrible. I understand making rash decisions like this and then regretting them. But IMO that was not an a**hole move.
Those who issue ultimatums can’t really be surprised when people pick one of the options they’ve laid out. I mean, how does that make sense?
Groom: OP, make your choice: option 1 or option 2.
OP: I’ll go with option 2.
Groom: *surprised face*
Agreeable-Froyo-603 − NTA. How do people like this even exist?? Didn’t know becoming a photographer meant you didn’t need food or water.
RoyallyOakie − NTA…Giving a hungry person an ultimatum is a HUGE mistake. I hope they enjoy their memories, because the photographs aren’t on the way.
Front_Thought_9988 − NTA. You’re my idol!!! Lol. Slave labor ended years ago were they trying to revive it? You should make a post explaining the situation before they get back and blame it all on you.
MangoWorking3057 − ESH. This is one of those times where this sub needs the Justified AH rating. Was what you did s**tty and petty? Absolutely. And it’s a general rule of thumb to never make big decisions when you’re grieving or hangry.
Those “friends” of yours were awful, though. Utterly stingy cheapos, and the groom acted like a total groomzilla. There’s no excusing how they treated you. But again, while your behavior was understandable, it was still AH behavior.
I wouldn’t have removed the wedding pictures; I would have given the person another opportunity. I would have just said I was clocking out for the night since I wasn’t allowed a break.
The cost for your pictures is now $500 because I had to pay for my own gas, meals, water, and breaks. If the $500 isn’t paid, I’m getting rid of the photos. Maybe I’m wrong for this, but I would have held onto those pictures and let them work to get them back.
Was the user’s response appropriate considering the situation, or was removing the images an overreaction? How would you manage a similar scenario where a friend requests assistance, but you encounter challenging obstacles? Let us know what you think!
