Beware *Photoshoot Scammers* Warning travelers: my uncomfortable and stressful experience with a Phuket photographer
I’m sharing this as a warning to other tourists especially women about a photoshoot experience I had in Phuket that became stressful, unprofessional, and at times made me feel uncomfortable.
I booked a photoshoot while traveling and paid in cash. The communication initially seemed fine, but there was no clear written agreement about deliverables, timelines, or how photos would be sent.
During the shoot, the photographer extended the session across multiple locations and also entered my hotel room as part of the shoot. He offered things like a dress (flying dress shoot) and transportation, but none of this was clearly explained in terms of cost or expectations. The boundaries were blurred, and I personally felt uncomfortable with how informal, unprofessional and unstructured everything was especially as a solo female traveler. There was point during the shoot in my room ( I had a private pool villa with a infinity pool that gave amazing ocean views and I wanted a picture there) where the photographer told me multiple times he thought I was “so hot” and he was “finding it hard to control himself”. I ended the shoot there and while changing out of the dress he entered my bathroom area without permission saying he needed to “ help me out of the dress” I did not need his help. I paid him $4,000 THB and he said he would get me my pictures that night (all the raw material) and the edits 3 days later. I also later found out from hotel staff he put “Do not Disturb” on the Villa when I inquired about why the didn’t make my room or bring my laundry.
After the shoot, the situation got worse:
- I did not receive my photos within the promised timeframe. He told me he would deliver everything to my email all RAW photos and videos.
- Communication became inconsistent, with long periods of no response
- I was repeatedly told to “wait” with no follow-through every day I kept being told I would have them by that night all day he kept saying he was busy doing other shoots if he even responded at all
- When I pushed for my photos, I was redirected into selecting paid “packages” that were not clearly agreed on beforehand and was told I would only receive certain edited photos
At one point, I had to escalate publicly just to get a response. Even then, instead of receiving a gallery (which is standard in my experience), I was told I had to select photos one-by-one in real time, (he sent 3 photos on WhatsApp with the view once setting on and told me I had to be online the same time as him to pick pictures which felt inefficient and controlling.
After 3 days he stopped responding altogether even though I paid him.
The entire experience became stressful and took time away from my trip. I also felt uncomfortable with parts of the shoot setup and how boundaries were handled, which is something I think other women should be aware of when booking private photoshoots abroad.
Advice for anyone booking a photographer in Phuket (or anywhere while traveling):
- Do not pay in cash without a clear written agreement
- Confirm exactly how many photos you’ll receive and in what format
- Ask for a clear delivery timeline
- Avoid situations where a photographer suggests entering your hotel room unless you are 100% comfortable
- Trust your instincts if something feels off at any point
- Go to the Police and file a report with 24hrs of broken contract ( I wish I knew then to do that I might have gotten help)
I’m sharing this so others can be more cautious and protect themselves. Traveling solo is supposed to be enjoyable—not stressful.
If you’ve had similar experiences, I’d be interested to hear how you handled it. Posting pictures so you’re aware of his WhatsApp and the Instagram he was using although he’s likely changed it now