{"id":1063,"date":"2024-07-08T08:47:37","date_gmt":"2024-07-08T07:47:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/?p=1063"},"modified":"2024-07-08T08:47:39","modified_gmt":"2024-07-08T07:47:39","slug":"new-1828-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/?p=1063","title":{"rendered":"new 1828"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I Agreed to Take Pictures of My Cousin\u2019s Wedding for Free, but He Mocked My Job \u2013 Karma Didn\u2019t Let It Slide<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Tessa\u2019s cousin, Ted, asks her to be his wedding photographer, she jumps at the opportunity, eagerly wanting to do the job for free. But when the bride, Lindsey, makes fun of Tessa\u2019s work, Tessa gets her revenge by exposing the couple on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When my cousin Ted asked me to photograph his wedding, I was thrilled. I had three sisters, and Ted was the only boy around us growing up, making us love him like a brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A smiling man and woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt would be an honor to capture your special day!\u201d I said when he came over to my studio apartment to ask me about being the photographer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLindsey and I would just love it!\u201d he exclaimed as he helped himself to some coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do it for free, Ted,\u201d I said. \u201cThis will be my wedding present to you both.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A smiling man holding a cup | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I watched as his eyes lit up and he sighed in relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not why I asked you, Tessa,\u201d he said. \u201cBut that does mean the world to me. We are over the wedding budget and I really didn\u2019t want to cut the donut wall or dessert station because Lindsey is really looking forward to that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d I said, smiling at him. \u201cAnd desserts are the best part of the wedding!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A smiling woman holding a camera | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, I wasn\u2019t exactly a wedding photographer in the professional sense. But I was studying photography and I did have many exhibits under my belt. But they were for campaigns and still shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ted and Lindsey\u2019s wedding was going to be my first big event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo you think I can do it?\u201d I asked my boyfriend, Ryan, one evening as we sat down for dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A couple having dinner together | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think you\u2019re perfect for the job, Tess,\u201d he said. \u201cLook, other than you being great at photography, you\u2019re still learning, and this will be great in your portfolio.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I nodded, agreeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd Ted did say that I can use whatever images I wanted, just after they post them on socials, of course,\u201d I said, taking a sip of my drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A close-up of a smiling man | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou also have an intimate connection with the couple, love,\u201d Ryan said. \u201cSo that will make this entire thing more special, rather than just an odd job you\u2019ve decided to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ryan\u2019s pep talk gave me everything I needed to get excited about the wedding. And more than that, it made me feel better that I would be gifting it to Ted and Lindsey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A woman holding a camera | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll come with and help you carry your equipment,\u201d Ryan promised me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day of the wedding was perfect. The weather seemed to listen to Lindsey\u2019s pleas, and the day was as clear as anything, making the lighting pop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An outdoor wedding setting | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sun cast a warm glow over the ceremony, and everything seemed straight out of a romantic comedy. I walked around, Ryan at my side with my camera bag and carrying the tripod around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I took hundreds of photographs, trying to capture everything from the d\u00e9cor to the priceless moments captured on people\u2019s faces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A woman holding a camera | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But during the formal photoshoot straight after the ceremony, everything turned sour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first, everyone was fine. The bridal parties were all smiles and were cooperative with the instructions I gave them. But that was until Ted\u2019s new wife asked to see a few photographs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome on, Tessa,\u201d she insisted, pouting. \u201cI just want to see how I look from the back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A bride posing with her bridesmaids | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I want everything to be a surprise,\u201d I said. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll get all the photographs edited and back to you by the time you get home from the honeymoon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It made sense to me. I didn\u2019t want to let Lindsey dissect the photographs before I had a chance to go through them and remove all the unflattering images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A woman using a laptop | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, I want to see them now,\u201d Lindsey said, batting her eyes at Ted, who nodded to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh my God, look at my arm! Do you even know what you\u2019re doing?\u201d Lindsey asked, her voice cutting through the air, sharp and mocking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ted, who I thought would defend me, joined in her laughter and disgust as he looked at the camera in his bride\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unhappy bride | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, maybe you should stick to taking selfies, Tess,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I forced a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s move on to the family group photos,\u201d I said through gritted teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An upset woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As everyone gathered around, chaos erupted. The guests were chattering away, looking everywhere but at the camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome on, guys,\u201d I said, trying to get them to stand still for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But nobody seemed to pay attention to me. I looked at Ryan, who rolled his eyes in return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A close-up of a frowning man | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey!\u201d I shouted. \u201cWe\u2019re losing light here! Let\u2019s go! Look at me and smile! And remember, the big black thing on the tripod is a camera, and it takes still images, not video.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I paused, waiting for them to stop talking immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo one wants to hear your snide comments, Tessa,\u201d Ted snapped, his voice dripping with disdain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A groom in a church | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t need a wannabe photographer telling us how to pose on our big day,\u201d Lindsey chimed in, her tone equally harsh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My cheeks burned with embarrassment as I tried to understand why I was being attacked. But I kept my composure. Half the guests were family members, and the other half were people who were trying to understand Ted and his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A close-up of an embarrassed woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the wedding progressed, Ted and Lindsey\u2019s remarks became sharper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not as good as your social media makes it seem,\u201d Lindsey said. \u201cBut we all know that filters make a big difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou do know that I\u2019m doing this for free, right?\u201d I asked Ted. \u201cCut the attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A close-up of a woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, it only got worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not like anyone should pay for that. I mean, it\u2019s not a real job, right. Anyone could do that. You don\u2019t have to study for years, just like myself, to press a button.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His words stung, but I remained calm. I was good at what I did. I knew that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease record them,\u201d I told Ryan. \u201cUse your phone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A person holding a phone | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the wedding, a storm hit social media. Ted and Lindsey complained on their social media about the photos, highlighting the disorganized shots and blaming me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But my response? It was a bombshell moment that no one saw coming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I took to my social media and posted the video clips of their behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A woman holding a phone | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The footage showed them mocking and disrespecting me as I tried to do my job, their true colors laid bare for all to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The caption was: This is what it was like behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDid I do the wrong thing?\u201d I asked Ryan as we sat down with ice cream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A bowl of ice cream | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cThey deserve this. I was there. I witnessed it firsthand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reaction from friends and family was swift and overwhelming. Support flooded in for me, and Ted and Lindsey\u2019s behavior was exposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comments came in too:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You did an amazing job despite their treatment.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m so sorry that they were so ungrateful.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t believe that this is the Ted we grew up with!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A person using social media | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ted and Lindsey began to feel the heat, with family members going to their posts and commenting on them too. They had no choice but to backtrack and delete their posts and accusations, but the damage was done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their disrespect was now public, and the tide had turned against them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few months later, Ryan and I were watching a movie when my phone buzzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A couple sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTessa,\u201d Ted said. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry about what happened. Lindsey and I were just really stressed. And we didn\u2019t mean anything that we said.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I took a deep breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTed, you didn\u2019t just hurt my feelings, you disrespected me and my work. It\u2019s going to take time to heal from that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silence took over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI understand,\u201d he said. \u201cI hope we can move past this someday. But I just wanted to let you know that Lindsey and I cannot post a single wedding photo without anybody commenting on how we behaved toward you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We ended the call on a somber note. The fallout from the wedding had shifted dynamics within the family, but I felt a sense of peace. I was still hurt by Ted, but at least I stood up for myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A man talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Months passed, the memory of that day lingered whenever I glanced at my portfolio. I had added a few wedding photographs to my portfolio to show the extension of my range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not going to give up photography, babe,\u201d Ryan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the end, I continued to pursue my passion for photography with renewed vigor. The experience had taught me resilience and the importance of standing up for myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karma spoke to Ted and Lindsey louder than any photograph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A woman with a camera | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What would you have done?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I Agreed to Take Pictures of My Cousin\u2019s Wedding for Free, but He Mocked My Job \u2013 Karma Didn\u2019t Let It Slide When Tessa\u2019s cousin, […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1091,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1063","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1063"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1063\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1092,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1063\/revisions\/1092"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1091"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}