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    Hotel underpays photographer by half, she undercuts their revenue by 70%: 'We decided to talk to the customers'

    Author image for Ally Perry
    Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
    Feb 28, 2026 9:00 AM EST

    Fair pay for a day's work is the least that any worker should expect.

    Sadly, this is not always how things turn out. Many employers have no problem with finding sneaky ways to save themselves a few dollars and pay their employees less. It doesn't matter that qualified, consistent people are what make an operation function as it should; if they can be hoodwinked out of extra money, certain businesses are going to do everything in their power to make it happen.

    Those who freelance or work in more unconventional settings are especially vulnerable to this kind of treatment. They can be treated as more expendable, as they are less of a permanent fixture in the workplace setting. It is pretty common for people who pursue this kind of work to have stories of those who mistreated them and acted like fair payment was optional, and not an integral part of the whole deal.

    This treatment can be so despicable that the worker takes every opportunity to exact some kind of revenge. At the end of the day, this is not just an issue with ego. This is somebody's living that is being put on the line and seen as nonessential. 

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    • A woman looks at her camera while standing in an office
      via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

      A woman looks at her camera while standing in an office

      The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    • In this story, a woman and her friend were working as photographers for a hotel shop. The owner of the shop was shortchanging them for their work. The going rate was 20% of the profits, but they often received half that or less.

      As a result, they decided to pull off a side hustle behind her back. They sold photo CDs to guests at a fraction of the price of the official store, which gave them back more of their income. They continued to do this throughout the 4 months long vacation season.

    • I was not getting paid, so I stole 70% of the revenue

      I was working as a hotel photographer for a while with a friend of mine. The shop owner did never pay us in full.
      via cozylillia
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    • Normally the photographers are getting 20% but she sometimes paid us 5%, sometimes 10%. So what we decided to do is talk to the customers, tell them we will give them a whole CD of the 200 photos we made for 300$ under the condition they dont tell this to any one and also buy 5 officially with a receipt, so the shop owner does not get suspicous.
      via cozylillia
    • Normally the price for these CDS is starting at 600$. She kept paying us less over the whole season (4months) while not knowing we were inofficially doing sales of 400-700$ daily.
      via cozylillia
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    • Firstly I dont endorse anyone to do what I did, I didnt want to go through the hassle of switching hotels, moving my things and to be honest really wanted to get back at her for how she treated us.
      via cozylillia
    • Obviously there are better and less petty ways to handle it. Like switching jobs, as talking didnt help.
      via cozylillia
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    • Close up of somebody holding a camera above a table and in front of somebody else
      via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

      Somebody holding a camera above a table and in front of somebody else

      The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

    • The deal was 20% from the start, think of it as a big city full of hotels in a tourism area, the market is already clear and you also make sure to agree before starting. (20%) We got underpaid for 2 months before we did this.
      via cozylillia
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    • So basically she did not give me the money I have worked for. What type of job was it?
      via cozylillia
    • Basically during daytime you have your cameras and walk around the hotel pools, beaches, bars and do smalltalk with 1500+ tourists.
      via cozylillia
    • You were pretty free in how long you can talk to them, as long as they do not get offended or annoyed by what you do.
      via cozylillia
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    • The way it works: Photoshootings are FREE, after that they pay 6-7$ per photo they pick.
      via cozylillia
    • Did it ruin my reputation? Not really, all other hotels pay what you agreed on and therefore i was honest to them.
      via cozylillia
    • I dont really feel particularly bad about it, but also am not suggesting to do things the way I do However I switched sectors as I moved into another country recently and started over :) Cant think of more right now
      via cozylillia
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    • Close up of a person holding a blank CD in their hands
      via Karolina Grabowska (Unsplash+)

      A person holding a blank CD in their hands

      The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

    • CaptainClutch1 I love this. Your boss greedily decides to start taling advantage of your good nature. You saw that as an opportunity, smiled in her face, f ed her in the a Judgement: not guilty. Theft was determined to be committed in self defense.
      via CaptainClutch1
    • cozylillia Original Poster's Reply I laughed a good amount at this, thank you! We have tried to give her the benefit of the doubt the first 2 months, but as we get paid weekly I was pretty sure this is a pattern
      via cozylillia
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    • Rosynnebreeze Honestly... I get why you did it. Being underpaid for months can push people to extreme measures. Still, sneaky side-deals have a way of coming back around, hope you learned from it without too much fallout.
      via Rosynnebreeze
    • The Thurgarland I don't blame you. Nice one.
      via TheThurgarland
    • skin_refraction LMAO, this is the craziest legal defense I've ever seen, and I love it.
      via skin_refraction
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    • frogmuffins It's not stealing, I personally call this "wage compensation".
      via frogmuffins
    • LilaacParade Imao fr, she was robbing y'all first. you just flipped the script. theft in self defense is killing me
      via LilaacParade
    • LibraryPetalBud Wow, that's peak poetic justice, turning someone else's greed completely on its head with such boldness.
      via LibraryPetalBud

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    Tags

    salary employee hotel work profit petty revenge money photographer
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