So, am I the a hole?
I was a new photographer at the time and my best friend had gotten engaged. I’d asked if I could do her engagement photos for free as for they’d go up on my portfolio and it would be all for training purposes, she’d agreed it. I was so excited that she’d accepted and was going to allow me on something as special as this. Side note* she’d asked me to go for a walk with her and her little and sprang the fact on me that she wanted some photos of her little, because she told me to do them while we were walking, not stating before hand that this is what she wanted before I arrived. So, some of the photos didn’t really turn out. Fast forward to a few weeks later and she’d posted her engagement photos, I’d asked her about them because she’d said I could do them. It made me feel like she didn’t believe in my talent after the botched “let’s take pictures of my kid on a walk with no notice day” she’d told me that they were paid for and I had told her that she could have said thanks but no because so and so we’re doing them for her portfolio. Now don’t get me wrong, I know that these types of things are supposed to be perfect, but I’d also researched every pose we could do, bought props that would be amazing for that day and was getting everything ready… for a free photoshoot for her. She’d said I had no right to be upset and that she wouldn’t use my services because I’d become upset over this. I’d told her after that that I’d never do photos for her and to lose my number because she obviously wasn’t a real friend of she couldn’t be truthful or support that I have talent as a photographer. So, AITA for telling her to lose my number?
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She should have communicated with you honestly. But, even though you were understandably hurt, I think you should have stayed calm and asked her if she had changed her mind about letting you do the engagement photos. You could have also explained why her kid's photos weren't your best work. If she still wanted to go with this other photographer, you could have said you understood. Anyway, I suggest keeping those props for future photo shoots. And see if you can repair your friendship with her. Apologize for your part in the argument, explain why you felt hurt, and maybe she'll apologize too.
