Photographer Gets Asked To Edit Prom Photos For Free, So She Add Shrek To Every Shot

Everyone loves a good prank, especially when it’s at the expense of a group that thinks they can take advantage of your skills for free. One photographer with a solid portfolio and a habit of offering discounted or free shoots found herself being used by her ex’s family for prom photos.

After being asked to quickly edit and upload 300+ pictures late at night, she did what anyone would do: she added Shrek to every single one. What started as a request for a simple favor turned into a hilarious social media mishap. It took weeks for anyone to notice, and the result was a masterpiece of passive-aggressive revenge.

A hobbyist photographer, pressured into free prom photos and rushed overnight edits, inserts Shrek into every image before delivering to the demanding family

One day, the photographer’s kindness was taken advantage of, so she decided to deliver a special “surprise” to her demanding clients.

The Original Poster (OP) was not a professional photographer, but she had decent equipment and a growing portfolio. Friends often reached out to her for discounted or free photo shoots, and while some offered payment or at least bought her dinner, others expected her to work for free.

One day, her ex-boyfriend’s younger sister asked her to photograph her prom pictures. OP was happy to help since she was close with the family, but when the sister asked her to bring the camera, OP didn’t realize she was walking into a situation that would test her patience.

During the photo session, OP found herself snapping hundreds of shots as every student wanted the perfect Instagram-worthy moment. By the time the shoot was over, OP was exhausted and mentally preparing to get back to her online studies. She informed the family that the pictures wouldn’t be ready right away, but that she’d get to them when she could.

However, that night, the sister and her mom texted OP, demanding that the photos be edited and uploaded by the next morning for their social media. Despite being in the middle of studying for an exam, they insisted, telling her to make them look “nice” without caring how long it would take. OP reluctantly agreed and spent over three hours editing the pictures, ensuring they were done well.

But when the editing was complete, OP decided to have a little fun. She secretly inserted Shrek into the background of every single photo from Shrek’s head poking out between the students to him happily posing alongside the prom-goers. She uploaded the pictures and sent them off, thinking little of it until the family later discovered the surprise.

A few weeks later, OP’s ex-sister-in-law was furious to discover Shrek’s unintended cameo in her photos, especially since she had posted them to her Instagram for all 900 of her followers to see. However, OP felt that the family had only themselves to blame, having asked for the photos to be edited however OP wanted. And deliver she did, with Shrek taking center stage.

This story serves as a lighthearted reminder about the importance of setting boundaries and the risks of taking advantage of someone’s goodwill. While OP certainly delivered on the task, it raises an important point about respecting others’ time and expertise, especially when it comes to work done for free. If you ask for a favor, you just might get more than you bargained for.

What do you think? Was this playful response a clever way to handle an entitled request, or should OP have approached it differently? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

These Redditors offered practical solutions, advising the OP to set clear boundaries by explaining their busy schedule and learning to say no to avoid getting caught in unpaid work

This group shared humorous takes on the situation, suggesting creative ways to subtly “mess with” the expectations, like hiding Shrek in photos or adding playful “unpaid proof” text

These commenters highlighted the value of setting clear terms with friends and family, stressing the importance of getting paid for work

This group emphasized the need to be firm with clients, suggesting straightforward ways to communicate professional boundaries

Was the ogre opulent or overkill? Would you watermark next, or ghost the gig? How do you free-proof your lens? Swamp your stories below!