As we all know by now, AI is here and changing lots of things across every industry.  Today I would love to take the opportunity to enlighten you all about the latest negative development in the Photography Industry vis a vis AI.  While overall I think AI will have good things about it, there is something potentially awful going on for those of us who make our living from Photography that everyone should be aware of.

Catfishing and the Wedding Photography Industry

Recently a company called Bonphotoage in the Chicago area was outed for using AI by stealing other photographers’ images to include in their edits/enhancements for clients as well as their online portfolio.  You can read about that at the Photostealers Website.

Now to be clear, the theft of work is a problem that has been going on for years.  There are many unscrupulous people out there stealing the work of established photographers and passing it off as their own to book jobs.  It is very easy to steal images online and then upload to a website gallery.  It stinks when clients hire someone based off a fake portfolio and get awful images and poor service.  Sadly, this type of Catfishing is all too common.

AI and Wedding Photography Issues

The new wrinkle at the party is AI.  Now we can theoretically drop our clients into backgrounds and environments at a luxury level to imply we shot the images at high end venues, etc.  The first problem is the theft and use of images someone else created.  The second, and to my mind a worse problem, is using these images to fleece couples into booking because the client believes they are hiring a super high-end photographer.

Right now, let’s be real—the internet is The Wild West.  Absolutely no one is policing intellectual property.  It is up to individual creators to find the abuse of their work and get the perp to cease and desist or sue them.  It is really daunting.

And for the clients it is just as bad.  They hire someone and get crap images of probably the most important milestones of their lives.

So what do we do?  Friends—you all need to be super vigilant about who you are hiring.  Browsing an online portfolio quickly is simply not enough.  A cool Instagram grid or a fun profile on TikTok will not cut it.

How To Not Get Scammed

First, ask friends for recommendations.  If they love their photos and enjoyed working with that person, it is a good starting point.  Take time to check online reviews

Second, ask to view complete galleries of events.  Ask to see a wedding from start to finish.  It will be a time commitment on your part to do this.  However, it is the quickest way to determine if the person you are considering is a legitimate professional.  You should see clear, consistent photos with the same caliber of technique, etc throughout.  You should see the major events covered with nothing missing.

The biggest Red Flag for scam Wedding Photographers is simple.  If it seems too great to be true, it usually is.  If you are viewing a luxury Wedding Portfolio and the price is super low, too good to be true—that would be a prime example.

The second biggest Red Flag is a Wedding Photographer who does not use a Contract.  Or perhaps you are being pressured to sign a Contract without thoroughly reviewing it.

Third, they don’t have insurance and want to be paid in cash.

Finally, trust your gut.  Maybe you just feel like something does not align or the person is very difficult to get in touch with for questions and concerns.  If your Spidey Sense is tingling, trust it.

A Quick Word About Styled Shoots

I do also want to discuss something a little controversial here, the Styled Shoot.  Up front, I will tell you that I have photographed Styled Shoots for magazines/publications.  They are great for getting a certain high end Editorial look or for trying new things. Recently however, it has become somewhat of a little business for companies to have photographers come and shoot in a carefully controlled environment.

Don’t get me wrong.  A Styled Shoot is fine for what it is—learning new techniques or getting familiar with gear.  But they do NOT take the place of real wedding experience.  The time constraints and other parameters are totally different from a real wedding.  Wedding days are stressful.  At a Styled Shoot, I can take my time and experiment and perfect every little thing–all while using models, not “real” people.  When I am photographing a real wedding, I never get 30 minutes to perfect a single shot.  I need to know my gear and know how to get what I need in a minimum amount of time.  I need to understand posing and lighting to flatter my subjects.

Again, this is why I suggest taking the time to look at a complete wedding from start to finish.  And if you are being shown galleries with no real candids, only staged moments with just the Bride and Groom/no guests—that might be a Big Red Flag.

Finally, don’t compromise when hiring your Wedding Photographer.  You need to feel comfortable that the Wedding Photographer you book is going to show up the day of your wedding and create amazing photos for you.  No matter what your budget is, you deserve a professional experience when you hire a Wedding Photographer.

Want to check out one of my Styled Shoots?  Here is the Mid-Century Modern Styled Shoot from a few years back for Saratoga Bride.

Are you ready to book a Wedding Photographer?  Let’s chat!  Use our Contact Form or call the studio today directly at (518) 584-4237.