Just for fun

I love to take pictures but just for fun. I take some really cute ones but I am not a photographer by any means   I have taken pictures for people who have had no other option and I always do it for free, but how do I go about saying I would prefer not to, because I am trying to do so and it doesn't seem to be working. It has gotten to where people assume I will take their wedding photos if I come. I didn't bring my camera to a birthday party on Saturday and the mom was so mad at me. I have said I don't like to do it for people because they criticize and critique and that takes all the fun out of something I love to do, and people still ask me to do it and still criticize why I didn't get so and so in the picture, why isn't this in b&w it would look soooo much better. So like I did with the birthday party and the last 2 weddings I went to, I didn't bring it and it pissed at least 1 person off. I tried to politely say it and now I am just forced to not have any option but to not take pictures because I left my camera at home. I have said I do not want to and I don't think it could have been con-strewed any other way besides what I said so any other ideas or just keep leaving the camera at home unless I want to take pictures?

Construed.

And I'd honestly tell someone to their face they're being a greedy smurf if they EXPECTED me to give them a free service on my personal down time.

Tell them you have no interest in taking anyone's photos anymore, that's it's just a hobby of your and the constant negativity about your photos is taking the fun out of it. If being nice hasn't worked, don't be nice. I'd be pissed if someone just expected me to take pictures.

Quoting Viv, Ev & Gwen ♥:" Construed. And I'd honestly tell someone to their face they're being a greedy smurf if they EXPECTED me to give them a free service on my personal down time."

Thanks, haven't spelled that in forever   I think they are being very rude. I just am at a loss because I would think if I said no it's not something I want to do that would end it. I just couldn't tell if I was being rude for not helping needy people out.

Quoting Snotface♫[usmc]:" Tell them you have no interest in taking anyone's photos anymore, that's it's just a hobby of your and ... [snip!] ... the fun out of it. If being nice hasn't worked, don't be nice. I'd be pissed if someone just expected me to take pictures. "

Well that makes me feel tons better. My husband posted the amazon link to my fb page of the lens he saved up for me to get and everyone commented that they would be my guinea pigs. I put on there that I am not taking pictures for people anymore just of my kids and whatever else I feel like and a bunch of people private messaged me and said, I get what you are saying but you will still take (insert event here) pictures for me right. People just aren't getting it. I guess I messed up trying to help people out in the first place.

Quoting F ♥ K:" Well that makes me feel tons better. My husband posted the amazon link to my fb page of the lens he saved ... [snip!] ... here) pictures for me right. People just aren't getting it. I guess I messed up trying to help people out in the first place."

No, people are just greedy. If they aren't taking any hints you can either 1. Tell them straight out "No, I will not take so and so's pictures. I am done trying to be nice and this is a hobby just for me, my children and what/whomever else I feel like sharing it with." or 2. Ignore them.

Quoting Snotface♫[usmc]:" No, people are just greedy. If they aren't taking any hints you can either 1. Tell them straight out ... [snip!] ... be nice and this is a hobby just for me, my children and what/whomever else I feel like sharing it with." or 2. Ignore them. "

That's what I thought I would have to do but I was hoping I wasn't the bad guy.

Quoting F ♥ K:" That's what I thought I would have to do but I was hoping I wasn't the bad guy."

You are not the bad guy at all. Keep that in mind.