Freelance photographer’s brother secretly steals $4,200 Sony A7 camera to film beach 'music video', causes $690 in damages and costs him a $350 work day, freelancer demands he repay him for the damage: '[He] says I should be proud my gear helped art'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Nov 4, 2025 7:00 PM EST

Every person's pet peeve is having their siblings take their belongings without permission. But when those 'belongings' cost, cough cough, $4,200 and are responsible for putting a roof over your head, it becomes a tiny-weenie bit more than a mere pet peeve! So we can imagine exactly how frustrated this 31-year-old freelancing photographer felt to find his Sony A7 camera in a completely different condition than he left it last weekend. He gets a slight inclination to call his brother, and soon discovers he and his friends used it to film a beach music video without his permission. Perhaps it would've been fine if he had just asked, but after only a minute of examining it, it was clear the camera had been severely damaged! 

So severe that not only did his brother's little wanna-be Post Malone extravaganza cost him a $350 work day, but the camera repairs were quoted at $690. Did they tie it to a horse, riding a motorcycle in a pile of mud? Like, what did these boys possibly do to cause so much damage in such little time?… It's his younger brother's fault, so it should be his younger brother's bill to pay…Because if you're going to start a music career, you're going to want family who can support you if things hit the fan… and that may require them having a job to do so!

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  • The family is in shambles as this younger brother refuses to take accountability. He's been given the ultimatum, yet he still refuses to pick a solution, claiming his older brother cares more about objects than people. No, we think what he cares about is not having his ‘objects’ stolen, damaged, and non-refunded to the point where it could cost him his job! Let's see what the family has to say about this suddenly-sad Sony tug-of-war!

  • 01
    Videographer on the beach.
    via kalvisuals

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    AITJ for making my brother pay 690 after he lent my camera to his friend without asking

    I'm 31M, freelance photographer. My main setup is a Sony A7 IV and a 24 70mm f2.8 GM. Body was 2400, lens was 1800, I keep it in a Pelican case with silica packs like a gremlin. My younger brother, 23M, is trying
    via tropicbenson
  • 03
    to get into music and has a buddy who shoots low budget videos. Last weekend I was on a paid job, got home late, crashed. Next morning my case is gone and the shelf is weirdly dusty. I call my brother and he
    via tropicbenson
  • 04
    chirps, "oh yeah we borrowed your cam, quick beach video, free promo for u." I said no, bring it back now. They come back at 7pm, camera is damp, there is sand in the focus ring, and the left strap lug is bent. I do
    via tropicbenson
  • 05
    a quick test, sensor has a mark, not a scratch but def a smudge I couldnt lift with my blower. Monday I take it to a local shop. Quote is 690 for cleaning, recal, and replacing the lug. I also lost a day on a 350 shoot because I
    via tropicbenson
  • 06
    dont want this to destroy our relationship. He flips. Says I should be proud my gear helped art, that I gatekeep success, and that "family doesnt invoice family." Our parents sided with him at first because he is between jobs. Dad said it was just a misunderstanding
    via tropicbenson
  • 07
    Man searching for a lost item under the couch.
    via www.canva.com

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 08
    and my tone was harsh. I sent them a screenshot of the Instagram post where my brother literally tagged me, "huge thanks for the rig," with a beach boomerang, so not a misunderstanding, he knew he took it.
    via tropicbenson
  • 09
    I gave him two options. Pay the shop directly, or I file in small claims. He blocked me, then unblocked to send a long note about how I care more about objects than people. I cried a bit from rage because that
    via tropicbenson
  • 10
    camera is how I pay rent, this isnt a toy. My girlfriend thinks I was too generous. My photographer friend says I should have billed for rental and lost work too, close to 1160 all in. Now my mom is calling me cruel and my
    via tropicbenson
  • 11
    brother keeps posting stories with other peoples gear like he learned nothing. The repair is scheduled for Friday and I am not cancelling. AITJ for demanding payment and threatening small claims if he doesnt follow the plan
    via tropicbenson
  • 12
    Never JustJ Explain to your mother about how this is your ability to pay rent Show her the cost for the repairs Explain to her in excruciating detail about how your brothers decision and lack of responsibility is directly hurting your job and ability to have a roof over your head
    via NeverJustJ
  • 13
    Goddessviking86 NTJ your brother should've known how sacred a photographer's equipment is and he should've known better
    via Goddessviking86
  • 14
    Medical-Potato5920 NTJ. "Family doesn't invoice family" isn't going to fly in the small claims court. That is where you are taking him! He should be glad you are filing charges for theft. For the record, family doesn't steal the tools of your livelihood and damage it.
    via Medical-Potato5920
  • 15
    Photographer uploading images onto a computer.
    via Kawê Rodrigues

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 16
    Rowan-The-Writer Ignore everybody. He blocked you after stealing from you and taking no accountability, take him to small claims.
    via Rowan-The-Writer
  • 17
    Remarkable Owl_8412 I would call the police and told them he took it without permission and refuses to pay for the damage he caused that should give him a wake up call don't even tell him that your getting the police involved just go ahead and do it and then he will pay up it's time to go nuclear because they will not pay up on there own
    via Remarkable_Owl_8412
  • 18
    Sea Blacksmith4397 NTJ tell him, he pays the repairs now or he paid the repairs and lost wages in court
    via Sea Blacksmith4397
  • 19
    Nrysis Your gear helped art? It has also cost another artist a significant amount in repair fees and potential lost income. He stole your equipment, he damaged it. He gets it repaired. NTA
    via Nrysis
  • 20
    Graphite57 Perhaps you should remove the description of your job as "Freelance" because family obviously take the first part seriously... It's your job, he stole the tools of your trade, damaged them and then bitched about the cost.. take it to court.
    via Graphite57
  • 21
    kittendollie 13 This is rotten. Your parents are sweeping it under the rug because of their jobless golden child. If he keeps up that attitude, he will never be able to hold down a job. I wonder if you had driven a taxi for a living and your brother had "borrowed" it without telling you and wrecked it, if your parents would still coddle him. They are not doing him any favors. I wouldn't be surprised if they gave him the money to pay you back. Take him to court for all of the money you lost.
    via kittendollie13
  • 22
    SundaeSnacks NTA omg, this isn't just a “thing” to him, it's literally how you pay your rent. He borrowed without asking and wrecked it of course he owes you.
    via SundaeSnacks
  • 23
    Petite01Nbusty damn man, u gotta protect ur work gear. it's not just a toy, it's how u pay ur bills. asking him to cover the repair is fair
    via v

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family drama divided brother repayment camera music video freelance damage entitled family repair costs fees parents brothers entitled people photographer
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