When my cousin Brandon hired me to photograph his wedding for next to nothing, he thought he was getting a bargain. By the end of the night, I gave him and his fiancée a keepsake they’d never forget — and it wasn’t the kind you want to frame.
I never thought my love for dogs would lead me into the biggest family drama of my life. But here we are.
I’m Alice, a professional dog groomer for five years. For me, it’s not just a job — it’s my passion.
There’s something magical about transforming a scruffy, anxious puppy into a confident, beautiful dog. I even started taking professional-quality photos of each dog after grooming. Over time, I got pretty good at it, building a following on Instagram.
Because of that, my family assumed I was a photographer — and loved praising my “incredible talent.”
“Alice, you have such a gift!” my aunt would say at family gatherings.
I took it as a compliment — until Brandon got in touch.
Brandon is my aunt’s son, and we’re not close. So when he and his fiancée Maya called last spring, I was surprised.
“We love your work,” Maya said. “We can’t afford a professional photographer for the wedding.”
Then Brandon added, “It’s just a few hours. We’ll pay you \$250.”
\$250 for a whole wedding? My stomach dropped.
“I photograph dogs, not weddings,” I said. “It’s a big responsibility, and I’m not comfortable with it.”
But Maya insisted, “Come on, Alice. You already take photos all day. Family helps family, right?”
That night, I told my dad.
He said, “\$250 is very little, but if they really need help, maybe it’s a favor. But don’t let anyone pressure you.”
I felt torn.
—
The next morning, I messaged Brandon and Maya:
“Okay, I’ll do it. But I’m a dog groomer, not a wedding photographer. No guarantees.”
Maya was thrilled.
In the weeks before, I studied wedding photography, watched tutorials, practiced lighting, and bought extra batteries. I wanted to do right — even if the pay was low.
—
But on wedding day, I found out they *did* have money — they were just stingy.
The venue was beautiful, with expensive flowers and a custom cocktail menu. Maya had spent thousands — yet refused to pay a real photographer.
From 11 a.m., I worked non-stop. Maya demanded photos of every detail — her makeup, jewelry, dress — from every angle.
“Make sure to photograph the back of the dress!” she ordered.
“Crop out my mom if you can,” she said.
Her tone was harsh, and I got no thanks — only more demands.
By afternoon, the hall was sweltering. I was exhausted, thirsty, hungry, and no one offered me water or a seat.
When dinner arrived, I quietly asked Brandon for 20 minutes to eat.
“No,” he said flatly. “Photographers don’t eat at weddings.”
Maya added, “If it’s too hard, stick to dog photos.”
—
I couldn’t believe it.
“You want me to work all night with no food, no water, no breaks?” I asked.
“You’re being dramatic,” Maya snapped. “\$250 is generous for someone who’s not a real photographer.”
That was the breaking point.
—
I looked around — some guests watched us, and a kind woman whispered, “You don’t deserve this.”
I asked Brandon and Maya one last time if they really wanted me to continue under these conditions.
They nodded.
So I pulled out my camera, deleted every single photo I had taken that day — every one.
Maya screamed, “You ruined my wedding!”
I smiled and handed Brandon the empty memory card.
“You offered me \$250 to work like a dog with no respect. I’m done.”
—
The room went silent. Maya kept shouting, but I walked away.
That night, my phone buzzed with messages from guests:
* “I’m so sorry for how they treated you.”
* “You deserved better.”
* “You had guts. We were rooting for you.”
Maya spent the rest of the night crying in the bathroom and hasn’t spoken to half the family since.
Brandon demanded I pay for a replacement photographer for “reshoot” photos. I told him, “Maybe use the flower money next time.”
Dad was proud.
“Family isn’t just blood,” he said. “It’s respect. And they showed you none.”
I’m glad I stood up for myself.
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another: When my sister Beth announced her engagement after meeting someone at a wellness retreat, I was excited — but as her wedding day approached, her behavior got strange. Something was very wrong.
