With the Olivia Seymour Photography scam making news on Tiktok and major reporting outlets, it’s causing people to think about their own situations. “How do I not get scammed by my photographer?” 

The videography and photography industry – especially the wedding industry – has some amazing professionals, but also some duds. In this article, I’ll be wording it towards the photography industry, but the same principles apply for videographers as well. 

So what do you look for?

1. Online Presence

Nowadays, it’s fairly difficult to stay completely off the grid and untraceable online. Also, a creative professional operating a business typically doesn’t want to stay hidden from potential clients. Once you’ve identified someone you want to work with, head to Google and search their business and/or name. At the very least you should find at least one link or mention of them. Then start poking around: do the photos they take look real or do they look like stock images? Do things look up to date and like effort was put into it, or does it look half-baked?

Most creatives try to put their work out there so people will notice. It’s not about how many followers or how popular someone is, but about interaction and if it feels like a genuine human is behind the scenes and operating the business. 

2. Talk to Previous Clients

“Well, duh. But what if they don’t have any reviews?” I know you already know to look at reviews you find on Facebook, Google, or Yelp..are photographers on Yelp? 

But lets say you found your photographer on Instagram or Tiktok where you can’t currently  leave reviews. What then? Look at the comments to see what people are saying. Clients are typically thrilled to see their pictures go online, so look for signs of happy clients! I make sure to tag my clients if they are comfortable with it, so also check to see if people are tagged or mentioned. By doing this, you can see if they are real humans with profiles of their own. If you need additional reassurance and feedback, reach out to the people tagged. 9/10 people are extremely friendly and, if they see the message, will talk to you about their experience. For those feeling a little shy on wording, I’ve got you. 

Here’s what I would send:

 “Hey! I see you worked with Katie Tabor Photo + Film! I’m looking into booking her and wanted to hear about your experience and if she’s legit??” 

Straight to the point, short, and friendly. Maybe they don’t respond, but what if they do? Now you are talking with someone who has actually worked with the person. 

3. Beware of “This is too good to be true!” Thoughts

I have had my eye on a Canon R5. A beautiful and expensive camera coming in at $3000+. While searching Facebook Marketplace, I came across a listing reading, “$178 for Canon R5.” What the heck?! I clicked and there’s a paragraph talking about this poster buying it from this “great site” yada yada. I scroll a bit more, and see the same price, wording, and picture, but posted by a different person and selling in a different city. Within 30 minutes, I found 6 more listings with the same price and paragraph.This is quite clearly an example of a scam. 

While other photography scams may not be so obvious, there’s certain thinks you can look for. Know what the average price is for photo and video services in your area. Look at different photographers and compare prices. Is there a trend? If you then find someone hundreds of dollars cheaper, it should be a yellow flag. Investigate further. Heck, I’m all about transparency, so I’d even suggest asking the person. “Hey, I noticed your rates are cheaper than some other people’s I’ve looked at. Any particular reason why??” 

This is not to steer you to the most expensive person you can find, but instead noting something to pay attention to. Many times, someone’s prices may be lower because they deliver less images or they are newer to the industry. They may feel their work isn’t comparable to others at a higher price point so they’ve priced it down. Or they may be doing photography or videography as a part-time hobby. 

4. Consider Experience Levels 

In most cases, there should be a clear difference between a photographer who has been in the industry for 15 years vs. a photographer who is just starting out and that experience should give you peace of mind that it’s legit and not a scam. 

A seasoned photographer should have policies and tooling in place that make the process feel easy and smooth. They should communicate effectively and within a reasonable time frame.  There’s a reason they are still around after many years and it’s likely because they don’t scam people and deliver what they promise. However, if you start working with them and your gut instinct says something feels off, you need to trust it.

With this said, I’m not saying to avoid hiring a new photographer. Everyone starts somewhere, and new photographers can have amazing results. They’re typically more open to learning and not as set in their style. They can be eager and motivated. They may have less clients, so they’re free to respond quicker and in more detail. So not all new photographers are scammy and looking to make a quick buck.

This point is lower on the list because it’s not the end all be all when trying to identify a photography scam,, but it’s something to be mindful of when making your selection. 

• 5. Look At Payment Schedules

Paying the full price of a multi-thousand dollar wedding package just to secure the booking day? Mmm, I’d bat an eye and be concerned. 

Many photographers have specific dates and deadlines for payments. Most start with a retainer fee: a set cost that secures the specific day you want. A retainer is non-refundable. When a photographer says yes to a specific date for your shoot, they have to turn down other opportunities paying clients. Wild Rose Photography has an excellent article that dives into the intricacies of retainers. 

The schedule can differ from photographer to photographer: many require the total amount of the shoot due before the day of the event. I know this can be scary for clients: what if my photographer doesn’t show up? It’s a hard question to answer, but hopefully with all the other prep and research you’ve done, this doesn’t happen. I do acknowledge it is a fear and I take it into account in my own business. Another payment method you may see is the final payment due before a photographer sends over your image gallery or any non-watermarked images. 

Again, payment policies differ between photographers, so in general make sure there’s clear expectations and understanding between you and the photographer. This will help narrow your chances of being scammed.

6. Always Have a Contract – AND READ IT. 

This is the #1 most important part to not getting scammed or saving yourself if you do. There are countless photography groups I’m a part of where something goes wrong for a client or photographer and not having a contract leaves them out of luck and money. 

Contracts make sure everyone is on the same page. ALL photography businesses should have a contract. When I was first starting out and doing one off shoots for friends and family, I didn’t have a contract, but looking back, I should have had one to, at the very least, align myself and my clients. Contracts not only legally protect each party but also outline the deliverables and services a photographer will provide. 

Photography and videography are expensive services. When paying hundreds or thousands of dollars, this is not the time to casually skim. Block out a portion of your day and make sure you understand the services you’re getting, timelines, cancellation policies, image edits, and anything else you deem important. In the case of the Olivia Seymour Photography scam, it’s important to see what your contract says about the photographer’s policy on sending photography associates vs. they themselves showing up. If you have questions, you need to address them asap and before you sign the contract. 

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Fear should not control you as you make a decision about who to hire for your event. So many photographers and videographers are out there and want to make your day and event special. Including me! If you have questions, thoughts, or would like to talk about working together please reach out!