Happy Halloween and welcome back to another episode of Summer School!
This week, we're doing something a little different. I originally planned to have a guest on the podcast, but scheduling didn't quite work out, so we're saving that conversation for next week. And I'm really excited about this one because it's actually someone you guys recommended over on Instagram! As always, if there's someone you'd love to hear on the podcast, please send them my way.
Since Halloween is right around the corner, I figured why not lean into it and do something a little spooky? So today, we're talking about photography horror stories. And not ghosts or haunted houses, but the kind of stories that would genuinely give any working photographer nightmares.
I went digging through Reddit, social media, and the internet to find some of the wildest photography stories I could come across. Some are funny, some are genuinely awful, and a few had me wondering how on earth these situations even happened.
Rocks Instead of Film?!
We're starting with one that I think would be an actual nightmare for any film photographer.
A wedding photographer ordered around $250 worth of Portra 400 from Amazon, only to open the boxes at the wedding venue and discover that the film canisters were filled with ROCKS.
Actual rocks.
Thankfully, she had backup film with her, but can you imagine discovering that on a wedding day? Film is already expensive enough without having to worry about whether you're actually buying film in the first place.
I think this is a pretty good reminder to check your film and equipment before showing up to a wedding. And maybe don't wait until you're at the venue to open your Amazon packages.
The Photographer Who Faked Shooting Film
This next one is from Reddit, and I have so many thoughts.
A photographer was pressured into shooting a friend's wedding on film, despite not having the experience or budget to actually do it. Instead, he photographed the wedding digitally and edited the images to look like film.
And apparently, the bride loved the photos.
Until she found out they weren't actually shot on film.
This brings up a conversation I find really interesting, especially with how popular film photography has become in the wedding industry. If someone loves the final images, does it matter how they were created? And at what point does that cross the line into being dishonest with your clients?
Personally, I think there's a huge difference between editing your digital photos to look like film and telling someone you're photographing their wedding on film when you're not.
The Wedding That Wasn't Actually a Wedding
Okay, this one is just wild.
A photographer was hired to photograph an elaborate destination wedding. Beautiful venue, big celebration, the whole thing.
Except, as it turns out, the wedding wasn't actually legally binding because the groom was apparently still married to someone else.
Imagine showing up to photograph someone's wedding and finding out there's an entire other marriage happening behind the scenes.
I feel like wedding photographers end up witnessing some of the strangest family dynamics and personal situations simply because we're around for so much of the day. But this one takes it to another level.
When Your Gear Goes Missing
And finally, another story that would send me into an absolute panic.
A photographer was working a wedding when some kids decided to play hide-and-seek with his camera equipment, including memory cards.
I don't think I need to explain why this is terrifying.
There's something especially stressful about knowing you've already photographed moments that can never be recreated, and that the only copies of those images are sitting on a tiny memory card.
It's also a good reminder that even when you're being careful, weddings are unpredictable. Between guests, kids, weather, equipment, and everything else happening around you, there are so many things outside of our control.
The Real Horror of Being a Photographer
I think what's funny about all these stories is that none of them are particularly supernatural, but they're probably scarier to photographers than an actual ghost story.
Losing wedding photos, getting scammed on film, equipment disappearing, or finding yourself in a completely bizarre situation with a client? Those are the things that would actually keep me up at night.
And while I think there are definitely some lessons in these stories about being prepared, having backups, and being honest with your clients, sometimes things just go wrong. That's part of working in an industry where you're dealing with real people, real events, and moments you don't get to redo.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this slightly different Halloween episode! I had a lot of fun finding these stories, and I'd genuinely love to hear yours. If you've ever experienced a photography horror story, please send it my way because I feel like we could make an entire series out of these.
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