A man who deleted all the wedding photos he captured after being denied food and a break by the groom has sparked a viral debate online.
Sharing his experience on Reddit, the man explained, “I’m not really a photographer—I’m a dog groomer. I take lots of pictures of dogs for my Facebook and Instagram. It’s ‘my thing,’ if that makes sense.”
He said a friend, hoping to save money, asked him to photograph his wedding. Despite initially declining due to lack of experience, the friend insisted. “He said he didn’t care if the photos were perfect,” he wrote.
The man eventually agreed to cover the entire wedding for just $250. He began working at 11 a.m. and was expected to continue until about 7:30 p.m.
By 5 p.m., when food was being served, he asked for a short break to eat and rest. “I was told I couldn’t stop to eat because I needed to be the photographer. They didn’t even save me a spot at any table,” he wrote.
The situation was made worse by extreme heat—over 110°F—and no air conditioning or water available at the venue, which was held at an old veteran’s legion.
Feeling exhausted and dehydrated, he approached the groom to ask for a 20-minute break. “He told me I need to either be the photographer or leave without pay.”
Frustrated and overwhelmed, he made a split-second decision. “With the heat, the hunger, and being generally fed up, I asked if he was sure—and he said yes. So I deleted all the photos in front of him and told him I wasn’t his photographer anymore. At that point, I would’ve paid him $250 just for a cold drink and five minutes to sit.”
According to the post, the couple has since gone on their honeymoon and stayed off social media, while friends and family continue asking about the wedding photos.
The story quickly went viral, with many online users expressing support for the photographer, calling out the poor treatment he received for the work he agreed to do.
