I’m sitting in a cafe and see a guy looking at me. The waiter comes up to me and holds out a folded napkin, saying it’s a message from the young man at the next table.
I look for a pen to write my reply, unfold the napkin, and it says, “You have a dill on your cheek!” That’s how we met.
I Agreed to Take Pictures of My Cousin’s Wedding for Free, but He Mocked My Job – Karma Didn’t Let It Slide
When Tessa’s cousin, Ted, asks her to be his wedding photographer, she jumps at the opportunity, eagerly wanting to do the job for free. But when the bride, Lindsey, makes fun of Tessa’s work, Tessa gets her revenge by exposing the couple on social media.
When my cousin Ted asked me to photograph his wedding, I was thrilled. I had three sisters, and Ted was the only boy around us growing up, making us love him like a brother
A smiling man and woman | Source: Midjourney
“It would be an honor to capture your special day!” I said when he came over to my studio apartment to ask me about being the photographer.
“Lindsey and I would just love it!” he exclaimed as he helped himself to some coffee.
“I’ll do it for free, Ted,” I said. “This will be my wedding present to you both.”
A smiling man holding a cup | Source: Midjourney
I watched as his eyes lit up and he sighed in relief.
“That’s not why I asked you, Tessa,” he said. “But that does mean the world to me. We are over the wedding budget and I really didn’t want to cut the donut wall or dessert station because Lindsey is really looking forward to that.”
“Of course,” I said, smiling at him. “And desserts are the best part of the wedding!”
A smiling woman holding a camera | Source: Midjourney
Now, I wasn’t exactly a wedding photographer in the professional sense. But I was studying photography and I did have many exhibits under my belt. But they were for campaigns and still shots.
Ted and Lindsey’s wedding was going to be my first big event.
“Do you think I can do it?” I asked my boyfriend, Ryan, one evening as we sat down for dinner
A couple having dinner together | Source: Midjourney
“I think you’re perfect for the job, Tess,” he said. “Look, other than you being great at photography, you’re still learning, and this will be great in your portfolio.”
I nodded, agreeing.
“And Ted did say that I can use whatever images I wanted, just after they post them on socials, of course,” I said, taking a sip of my drink.
A close-up of a smiling man | Source: Midjourney
“You also have an intimate connection with the couple, love,” Ryan said. “So that will make this entire thing more special, rather than just an odd job you’ve decided to do.”
Ryan’s pep talk gave me everything I needed to get excited about the wedding. And more than that, it made me feel better that I would be gifting it to Ted and Lindsey.
A woman holding a camera | Source: Midjourney
“I’ll come with and help you carry your equipment,” Ryan promised me
The day of the wedding was perfect. The weather seemed to listen to Lindsey’s pleas, and the day was as clear as anything, making the lighting pop.
An outdoor wedding setting | Source: Midjourney
The sun cast a warm glow over the ceremony, and everything seemed straight out of a romantic comedy. I walked around, Ryan at my side with my camera bag and carrying the tripod around.