AITA for doing a half ass job taking family pictures at a wedding after being told to shut up and stop being a smartass. ?
A Redditor, who agreed to take family wedding photos at a discounted rate, encountered rude family members during the shoot. Despite polite reminders to focus on the camera, they were told to “shut up” and stop being a “smartass.”
After capturing some chaotic group photos, he shared video clips of their disruptive behavior online when family criticized his work, sparking backlash. Read the story below for full details.
‘ AITA for doing a half ass job taking family pictures at a wedding after being told to shut up and stop being a smartass. ?’
I was taking pictures at a family wedding as a favor. I was being paid about half of what I normally charge and I was fine with it. The bride is my favorite cousin and her husband is amazing. During the formals the wedding party was great and I got lots of great shots.
When it came time to take pictures of different family groups with the couple people were assholes. They wouldn’t stop talking or looking away from the camera. I tried politely reminding everyone that the camera was the big black thing on the tripod and that it took still images not video.
I was repeatedly told to shut up and stop being a smartass and that they knew what a camera was. I asked my wife to record video of the responses for me. My cousin was delighted with the pictures from the ceremony, the formals, and the reception.
She laughed her ass off at the family pictures. In about half of them people are looking off in all directions instead of at the camera. In most of those there are also people with their mouths open. She thought they were hilarious and her husband agreed.
I started getting s**t on social media from my family about the terrible pictures. I replied that I had tried to explain to them that the camera was the big black thing on the tripod and that it only took still pictures. They said I should have waited for them to be ready.
So I started posting the short video clips of people being jackasses towards me. My mom said that I went to far and that they won’t ask me to take pictures for them again. A did a fake cry and said boo hoo. She called me a smart Alec.
Please let me state that I DO NOT THINK I AM THE A**HOLE IN THIS SITUATION. But many people do. They are upset because they don’t often dress up and get together and they didn’t get good pictures.
Check out how the community responded:
BulbasaurRanch − NTA. The photos are an accurate reflection of their behaviour on the day. The only people that opinions matter about the photos is the bride and groom that hired you.
They like it, then no issue. They’ve embarrassed themselves, and don’t like that their online tantrum turned around on them. It’s easier to be ‘right’ until evidence comes forward.
Engineer-Huge − NTA. Sounds like they’re your family members and they were ignoring you and being rude. Maybe they thought they were being funny, maybe they don’t take you seriously as a professional, whatever. That’s their problem.
You tried to keep them on task. If they wanted nice professional photos of themselves they could have paid attention when photos were being taken. What did they think was going on?
pukui7 − My cousin was delighted with the pictures from the ceremony, the formals, and the reception. She laughed her ass off at the family pictures. . This is all that matters.. NTA
The others are experiencing textbook FAFO. That’s their problem. And you posting proof of their misbehavior is just more of that. You aren’t the a**hole for defending yourself at all, particularly when the couple doesn’t mind either.
McQuaids − I used to do wedding photography, and this happened from time to time. I sometimes assumed that the disrespect was due to my being a woman, and sometimes that they were just oblivious or drunk. I would try to make comments the same way you did, to various results.
The bottom line is that if they want good photos, they have a responsibility to cooperate. It’s stunning how many people don’t get that. They are jerks for not cooperating and then blaming you. You did what you could with what they gave you
blippityblue72 − You absolutely were an a**hole but a hilarious a**hole who was correct. On this sub that equals NTA. Some times you have to be or you’re going to get pushed around your whole life.
Desperate_Counter502 − NTA they were being familiar to you and they deserve those shots. i doubt they will follow on the threat that they won’t hire your service again
Open-Incident-3601 − NTA. The bride knows your family is a bag of dicks and now she can laugh at the pictures proving it.
Humble_Plantain_5918 − What the hell did they think was going to happen when everyone was talking and ignoring the camera? 😂 Like, are y’all new? How would anyone get good shots when they’re dicking around? Nevermind how rude they were lol.
deshi_mi − My mom said that I went to far and that they won’t ask me to take pictures for them again. Mission accomplished! Let them hire a photographer from the side: they will follow his instructions because they will remember how much they paid to him.. NTA
Additional_Prior_981 − NTA. You are a legend with your actions. The bride and groom were happy. Their opinions are the only ones that matter.
Do you think the Redditor was justified in sharing video clips to show the challenges he faced, or should he have handled family criticism differently? How would you respond in a similar situation? Share your thoughts below!
