The worst part of getting an email that feels like it could be a potentially amazing session is when you respond… and the Mail Delivery Demon swoops in with that dreaded message: “Address Not Found.”
Why?
Because—of course—it was a scammer.
As a photographer, time is precious. Between editing galleries, prepping sets, wrangling toddlers, dodging glitter explosions, teaching kindergarten, managing a studio, and trying to remember where you hid your snacks… the LAST thing you want is a bogus inquiry clogging up your inbox.
And lately? These scammers are truly something else.
Grab your coffee (or your emergency chocolate), because it’s story time.
The Email Scams: A Symphony of Suspicion
There’s the “wedding inquiry” with no bride or groom’s name.
The “family session” from someone who refers to their children as “the units.”
The “urgent booking” for a festival in a country you didn’t even know existed.
But nothing—nothing—compares to the saga of Laura.
The Wedding That Never Was: The Laura Chronicles
Last summer, I received a totally normal-looking inquiry from someone named Laura.
It checked all the boxes:
- Real date ✔
- Real time ✔
- Real location ✔
- Real number of guests ✔
- Real-person writing style ✔
We talked. We booked the wedding.
Everything felt legitimate.
Shouldn't have done that.
Then she mailed me a check.
Red flag #1.
But hey—everything else seemed normal, so I deposited it. I mean, this girl had a “legit” PNC bank check. Like how do you fabricate that to make it look so real? I couldn’t even fool the bank!
Two days later she messages me:
“Do you have the deposit receipt?”
I said yes.
Then she said:
“Can you send it to me?”
Umm… check your own bank account, girl. You’ll see it was deposited.
But no—here comes the next plot twist:
She was suddenly in a HORRIBLE car accident.
She desperately needed money.
She hoped I could help.
Absolutely not. I wasn’t born yesterday.
When that didn’t work, new crisis unlocked:
Her “wedding planner” refused to proceed unless she paid $1,000.
She didn’t have it.
But conveniently, she wanted it from the money I deposited.
Yeah… no. Big no. Largest no of my entire life.
I told her,
“Give me your wedding planner’s number. I’ll speak to them directly.”
Cue: silence.
Crickets.
The wind whistling gently over a barren scam-filled landscape.
And of course—the check bounced.
This created a whole domino effect:
- My bank froze my account for three weeks
- I couldn’t access anything
- Even my normal paycheck of 5+ years triggered extra security
- It was a nightmare
And just when I thought it was over…
Weeks later, I sent out an email to my mailing list offering the option to unsubscribe.
Guess who resurfaced?
LAURA.
But this time?
Her wedding wasn’t even in the same state.
New date.
New time.
New everything.
Try again, Laura. Actually… don’t.
Oh Laura, sweetheart, get a life.
Fake Facebook Messages: This Circus Has Layers
You know the type:
- Name: someone famous, such as Ricky Martin -- who contacted me this week!
- Profile picture: blurry anime squirrel
- Friends: 2
- Account age: 6 minutes
- Message:
- “HELLO KINDLY DO YOU DO BABY PHOTO FOR MY NEPHEW DOG WEDDING?”
I mean… I enjoy creative sessions, but come on.
Bots also loooove to type in capital letters, reply instantly at 3 a.m., and pretend they’re “VERY SERIOUS CLIENT NEED IMMEDIATE BOOKING FOR 12 HOURS.”
Sure, Derek-from-the-internet-who’s-secretly-a-bot. Very believable. Also, if you're going to request a date, don't use something from 40 years ago! Yes, it actually happened! Someone was looking for a photo session on August 15, 1985! 1985! I wasn't even born yet!
Why Scammers Are the People With TOO Much Time
Imagine the dedication.
The stories they craft.
The fake tragedies.
The imaginary planners.
The emotional rollercoasters.
The fake checks.
The shockingly dramatic follow-up messages.
If they redirected that passion to something productive, we’d have:
- world peace
- knitted sweaters for everyone
- maybe a cure for the dreaded Crop Tool Confusion Syndrome
But instead, they try to trick photographers into wiring money to “uncle’s coordinator.”
The Photographer’s Real Struggle
Real clients get buried under nonsense.
Real questions get lost.
And photographers everywhere open emails like they’re defusing a bomb:
“Please be real. Please be real. Please don’t be another Laura.”
We’re trying to run actual businesses, not star in Scam CSI.
How Photographers Can Protect Themselves From Scammers
The good news?
We’re not powerless.
Here’s how to safeguard your sanity and your bank account:
1️⃣ Never accept mailed checks. Ever.
If someone insists on mailing money, it’s 99% a scam.
Digital invoices only—through trusted platforms.
2️⃣ Use secure booking platforms (Pixieset, Session, HoneyBook, etc.)
Pixieset saved my life more than once.
Online payments reduce risk dramatically.
3️⃣ Add a Human Verification Question
If you use Pixieset (like I do), create a simple “Are you a human?” question.
Example:
Human Check: What is 3 + the number of letters in the word “photos”?
Bots cannot handle basic math.
Scammers often can’t either, honestly.
I laugh at how many scammers respond to that question with just bogus responses! Some of the most recent answers I have received include: "9105151837"; "3" ; "I am very interested and would like to learn more. I hope to get"; and the best one "I'm interested in this design, please contact me. Ricky Martin" -- Ricky Martin? Seriously?!
4️⃣ If the inquiry feels off, ask for details
Real clients respond like humans.
Scammers respond like malfunctioning microwaves.
5️⃣ Google the name + email
You’d be shocked how often scammers reuse scripts.
6️⃣ Never refund money that hasn’t fully cleared
Just don’t.
Not for accidents.
Not for planners.
Not for “urgent emergencies.”
Not for anyone claiming their dog is in labor.
7️⃣ Trust your gut—photographers have GREAT intuition
We read emotions for a living.
We know when something smells fishy.
Humor Is Our Survival Strategy
So we block.
We report.
We delete.
We roll our eyes so hard we see last month.
And then we go back to photographing the real world—
where actual humans exist.
For every Laura, Derek, and “Hello Kindly,”
there are amazing clients who trust, value, and support us.
Those are the inquiries that matter.
And finally, dear scammers…
We see you.
We know your tricks.
We’re not giving you $1,000.
We’re not sending you deposit receipts.
We’re not falling for car accidents, planners, or fake dogs getting married.
But thank you for your service—you make fantastic blog content.
📸❤️🌻
