Sister spreads lies about sibling after skipping paying her for wedding photos, pushing the sister to cut her off:’I did the job and should get paid for it’

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Apr 1, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

Some of us have mastered the art of mixing business and pleasure—adding a little laughter to work meetings, sharing drinks with colleagues, or occasionally turning a casual Friday into a slightly-too-casual Monday. I, for one, sometimes pour a little too much pleasure into the cocktail, so maybe I should tone it down—add some water or a side of yoga to the mix before this turns into a problem. But hey, that's neither here nor there.  

The point is, mixing business and pleasure can sometimes work. Mixing family and money, though? Never pleasurable. If you've ever thought, "Hey, maybe this time it'll be different," allow me to gently remind you of the universal truth: no, it most certainly won't. And if you've forgotten that rule, this one wedding photographer is here to give you the refresher course you didn't know you needed. 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement

  • She did what we’ve all done at some point—tried to blend professional services with family ties. She offered her sister an extreme discount for wedding photography and, in return, got stiffed on the bill, criticized, lied about, and guilt-tripped. And if you’re wondering whether this tale ends with heartfelt apologies and reconciliations, let me stop you right there. It ends exactly how mixing family and money always does: chaos, resentment, and the realization that the only thing truly priceless is never working for family again.  

    So no, mixing family and money is never a cocktail you want to shake—unless you’re prepared to garnish it with bitterness and regret. Cheers!

  • "AITAH for cutting my sister out of my life after she lied"

    "I know she's waiting for me toforget about the money" MO JF 1823 G F6
    via Karolina Grabowska

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • I (37F) am a wedding photographer. I have been a photographer for 14yrs. Over the years my sisters have used me for everything from family to newborn pics and never paid me
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • or even offered - to me it's not the payment it's the offer that means more to me, shows you appreciate me - to pay me. It's annoyed me and I've made little comments here and there over
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • the years about not getting paid and just offering and still got nothing. It never fully bothered me because it was maybe 3hrs of my life including the session and editing so not a huge deal I'd just let it go.
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • Cheezburger Image 10487838464
    via DanielBendjy

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • August of 2024 my nephew was getting married. Before he popped the question my sister (45F) asked me if I'd do the wedding. I said yes and we AGREED on a price of $2000. Now
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • let me say my pricing for what she wanted is $5200, I'm not a cheap photographer, in my area I'm on the higher end. Anyways, we came to an agreement, settled payment dates etc. My nephew
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • pops the question and she says yes. Fast forward to 1 month before the wedding. My sister pays me $1000 and says she will pay me more asap. - Now I know
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • what you're thinking but she has 3 jobs and paid for a huge portion of the wedding herself, but we had dates agreed on because I know she'd need more time to pay me off. It's not what I
    via Old-Principle-4153

  • Not so fast sister

    500 50 OU TOOT
    via nomadsoulphotos

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • usually do, usually you have to pay off the balance 1 month before the wedding but like I said she's doing it on her own and she's my sister so I didn't think it would be an issue - I do the wedding and everything is amazing.
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • 1 month later I tell my sister the pictures are done and her bill is due soon and as soon as she pays the pics will be released, and she says I'll pay asap. Ok. Sure. 2 months, still nothing. 3 months |
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • send her a few texts over this time reminding her and she still says the same thing. 4 months later I'm starting to feel really bad for my nephew and his new wife that they don't have their pics. I'm
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • always a push over with my family but my husband (39M) told me to NOT give her the pics until she paid in full, but it's killing me inside because my nephew and his wife are paying for his moms f At month 5 my other
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • sister (39F) calls me and tells me my sister is going around telling everyone "I'm holding the pics hostage trying to get more money than we agreed on", "I was only there for a few hours",
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • "he's her nephew she should have done it for free", "she's lucky she got anything from me since she didn't do much" and a whole slew of other things. I lost it. I texted her that I heard what she said and
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • she didn't deny a thing, even went as far as to blame me for everything. My family started calling me asking why I was doing this and I had to send screen
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • shots of our whole condos and everything to show she's lying. 7 months later she just started to pay me the remainder she owed me.
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • I know she was waiting for me to hand over the pics and wipe my hands clean and forget about the money or tell her to pay me whenever she can like I've always done being the push over but like
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • I said my husband wouldn't let me because I did the job and should get paid for it. Come to find out she told my other sister "why couldn't she just edit them and send them like usual so I
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • don't have to pay anymore like she always does" so needless to say AITAH for sticking to my guns and not releasing the pics and telling her I want nothing to do with her after this?
    via Old-Principle-4153
  • Leah_776 If she lied then she can also lie in future
    via Leah_776
  • Medusa 7898 Never do anything for free or a discount for her again.
    via Medusa_7898
  • Regular_Boot_3540 NTA. Absolutely have nothing to do with her after this, and start charging family for your work. You've done enough already.
    via Regular_Boot_3540
  • Careless-Image-885 NTA. Lesson finally learned. The words from now on are NO FREEBIES FOR ANYONE. When asked why, just tell them that sister ruined a good thing for everyone. If ever asked again, just send the list of prices.
    via Careless-Image-885

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

family drama inheritance aita AITAH brother mother tradition siblings family feud favoritism wedding aunt in laws mother in law sister fiancé grandmother Father
Scroll Down For The Next Article