Instagram gives its users a sense of trust with people behind huge, popular accounts. One such photographer did not deliver on what he had promised and left his audience burned, with cash out of pocket, unfulfilled print sales, and in legal limbo.
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to hear about fauxtographers stealing other photographers work and passing it off as their own. Heck, there’s an entire website dedicated to shaming the scam artists who do this. But despite the distinct possibility that you'll be caught and have your career destroyed if you do this, it continues to happen.
Case in point is a recent situation involving Lin and Jirsa Photography and the tale of how their images were stolen and used by an unnamed photographer to entice new wedding clients with work that wasn’t his own.
Wedding photography can be a rough business. And although the photographers have plenty to worry about (i.e. irate ministers and getting your gear stolen), clients would do well to be careful too, lest they get duped by con artists like New Jersey's Michael De Rubeis.