With digital cameras ‘coming back’, and disposables becoming the go-to for end of term posts (despite forking out £30 for 30 photos), it’s time to recognise the friends that selflessly snap away, helping to carefully craft the entire friend groups’ Instagram feeds. It’s a full-time job being the photographer friend – and there are definitely highs and lows.

Highs:

‘You’re bringing your camera later, right?’

Receiving that text right before leaving for a pres is always a nice reminder of how much the camera is appreciated. It’s also sometimes a last-minute godsend, because arriving at the function and having to run back to your accommodation and up three flights of stairs to get the camera you forgot in the rush to get ready is never fun.

Sending photos to people you barely know – it really builds a bond

I can’t count the number of times that I’ve messaged someone I’ve hardly ever spoken to purely to send them the three photos they feature in from the night before. It’s always slightly concerning when half of them are nearly always selfies – good to know I decided to trust my camera with this stranger at some point.

“It’s time to recognise the friends that selflessly snap away”

The memories

As much as capturing the wholesome memories of your fleeting time at university is nice, the camera is also able to restore some of the lost, maybe less wholesome, memories from the night before. Being able to remind people (and provide evidence) of the things they did, and definitely don’t remember, is always grounds for an interesting conversation. I should make it clear though – I’m not suggesting that the camera should be used to either intentionally capture an embarrassing moment, or to manipulatively hold it over someone the next day. Remember: with power comes responsibility, so let’s use our heads before we share a photo of our friend doing something they may regret sober.

Editing power

Getting to delete bad photos of yourself before they’re in the hands of the group chat has to be up there as one of the best benefits of wielding the camera power. We all know that the digital camera can be unforgiving, whether it’s the flash or the lack of warning from the person holding it. So, being able to ensure that the photo of you mid-sentence with your eyes closed doesn’t make it past your own screen is always a good feeling. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a purely selfish endeavour – I’m not one to circulate a photo where you clearly aren’t ready either. Promise.

“You’d think lives were on the line with how incredibly urgent it is that they get the photos of them and their college-bar cocktail”

Lows:

The next morning

Nothing in life is promised, other than waking up, tired and hungover, and turning your phone on to find three different people asking the same all-important question: “Do you have the photos yet?” You’d think their lives were on the line with how incredibly urgent it is that they get the photos of them and their college-bar cocktail. You can also almost always guarantee that the most persistent people are those who spout the ‘live in the moment’ motto, turning away from the camera or claiming that they’re not photogenic enough. They seem to change their tune as soon as it’s time to curate the Instagram story.

Seeing somebody else hard launch the photos before you’ve even posted them yourself

This has happened to me too many times, and it’s stupidly annoying each time. Part of me knows that once you’ve released the photos to the eager masses (i.e. the shared album), it’s fair game on what they do with them. But, at the same time, begging me for the photos at 9am and then posting them within ten minutes of the notification, before I’m even out of bed, feels inconsiderate. I’ve learnt the hard way that sometimes the only way to maintain your credit (and after all, you deserve it), is to post them yourself first, you just then have to put up with the barrage of ‘gatekeeper’ comments.

“Asking to be in a photo remains one of the most humbling moments of my night”

Needing both hands for the camera, so often sacrificing a drink or two

A much more practical consequence of working the camera shift this time. I’ve been known to take the digital camera on many a visit to a college bop – and thus have a vast experience with passing my drink over to a friend, or holding someone else’s, as soon as it’s time for a photo. While it’s not the largest inconvenience, it’s something to consider if you’re known to be a bit possessive of your vodka cranberry.

Having to ask people to take a photo of you so you’re in at least one from the night (it’s humbling every time)

Okay, this may actually be the worst tribulation of being the photographer friend. It doesn’t matter how long I have the camera for, and how many photos I’ve taken, but passing it to someone else and asking to be in a photo remains one of the most humbling moments of my night. It’s even worse when it’s a temperamental camera, or a disposable – cue the classic “oh yeah the flash button is actually on the front,” or “no, wait, your finger is in front of the flash do you mind taking another?” And unfortunately, the photo is almost never worth it.