Website: https://www.bonphotage.com/
Website: https://www.bonphotagefamily.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonphotage/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serena.bonphotage.photo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonphotage.associates/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonphotage_petit/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplycontract/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumiereandgrain/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonphotage
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user47578277 (heavily edited since posting)
Since this is getting to be a novel I’m going to post the most recent update here. The rest of the updates will live before the body of the page like before
Update 6/29/2026 — I have had a wildly busy two months with weddings and finally have a small break to be able to catch the blog up regarding what has been going on.
Since my last update the Bonphotage listings on Zola and The Knot have been removed.
The Lumiere and Grain Instagram account appears to have been either deleted or renamed to Muse Roll Studio.
A lawsuit has been filed in Cook County against Bonphotage in Small Claims Court.
Things added to the post:
- a stolen photo from 2016
- multiple “struggling to write this” emails where Lynzie backed out of sessions and weddings at the last minute.
- listing out the various ‘elopements’ on the website that were workshop/styled shoot/editorials and not real weddings.
- Added emails from Lynzie calling me a psychotic woman and making other allegations about me to a client.
- Added more reviews from past clients.
- 6/30/2026 added a lawsuit section
Links about this case:
Don’t want to take my word for it? Here’s some other online discussions regarding Bonphotage and the litany of issues at hand.
Instagram post by Gert Huygaerts talking about the image Bonphotage stole from him: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXjvzHUCH5k/
TikTok video by a friend of a client who had Lynzie back out and send associate photographers and got horrible AI edited images: https://www.tiktok.com/@cassieea5/video/7632779167863491871
Reel by a client who chose to fire Bonphotage shortly before their wedding when they realized she wasn’t going to be the main photographer: facebook.com/reel/1292213949293042/
The Vendor Table Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e8dFJrRZNQ
YouTube by Markie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvkjoClCGaE Part Two: https://youtu.be/o5wpz-IjshY?si=kTnr-W6jOnuLX6Nh
Wisdom in the Tangents Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yynIpUxtXas
Since the body of this post is getting weedy here’s some data:
Historic cases where the stolen image was removed: 3
Images stolen that are/were on the Bonphotage website or social media before this post was made: 58
Likely AI Images identified on Bonphotage Instagram as of 4/29/2026: 50
Likely AI Images identified on Bonphotage Petit Instagram as of 5/6/2026: 11
Likely AI Images identified on Lumiere & Grain: 45
Likely AI Images identified on The Knot: 14
Number of times a client got a last-minute switch to an associate: at least 15 (Covid, child has covid, child has surgery, death in the family, oral surgery, knee injury, shoulder pain are some of the excuses given)
TLDR; Bonphotage is a luxury wedding photographer based in Chicago that has been displaying imagery on their social media, website and other materials that are not their original images. Some of these images were created by photographers not hired or working for Bonphotage, some of these images were allegedly entirely AI created, and some of the images were allegedly AI edits of existing copyrighted images. In addition to these issues with the imagery, the owner of the company, Lynzie, has backed out last minute to numerous weddings citing an emergency when an associate was hired to cover the event often months before.
I’m having flashbacks to Lisa Saad from what I’ve been doing over the past 48 hours to figure out everything that’s going on with this photographer.
About 2 days ago I was sent a post on reddit about a photographer in Chicago that was called out for posting images of the Chicago Cultural Center that were likely AI. One of the images had an uncanny resemblance to another image taken by a different photographer.
The comments were full of stories about Bonphotage Photography – planners who had worked weddings where the owner Lynzie had backed out last minute sending in an associate who was booked months prior, clients who were upset at the AI edits to their photos but couldn’t write reviews because their contract had a non disparagement clause preventing anything but a glowing 5 star review, fellow photographers who had worked for Lynzie as an associate and not been paid, and one photographer who had proof Lynzie used an image of hers in 2017.
I started to dig.
The wormhole opened. Videos where the clients had uncanny resemblances to Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex and Olivia Wilde. Photos that didn’t match the blogged video of the same event. Photos where the backgrounds identically match up with another photographer’s but have a different couple posing. It goes on and on and on.
As I was documenting and researching Bonphotage was busy sending out C&D’s and blocking photographers from her Instagram.
There’s so many prongs to this story but I’m going to start with the original photo theft from 2017 (blaming an intern, BINGO!) and then the AI copies and move from there.
If you think your image may have been copied please reach out.
Also of note, it is alleged that Lynzie Hazan’s other company is Lumiere and Grain [which has since vanished since this post went live] which also has obvious AI edits posted to their feed (i.e. the Chicago Cultural Center does not have marble floors). Planners have confirmed that company belongs to her and you’ll see comments (and usually the only other comments) from her other companies Simply Contact/Bonphotage and it’s other IGs on it.
Update 4/20/2026 — As I was writing the newest update Bonphotage sent me a C&D and left comments on the Instagram. I asked for Lynzie to show me her RAW photo proving the image is just a coincidence but I have not heard back.
I also added the comments she has been leaving on the Instagram posts I’ve made at the end of the post and will continue to put her comments defending herself in that section at the end.
Update 4/21/2026 — Throughout the day yesterday I updated this post as more and more information came into my inbox. I will likely be doing the same as more photographers send me images they realize were AI’d. I’ve also been adding Google SynthID identification when applicable. More AI.
3PM — added stolen images with no AI, just straight up stolen.
Update 4/22/2026 @ 9AM — The images from the photographer she hired to document her pre wedding event in Paris that are in her portfolio as another wedding that Bonphotage photographed have a few images she forgot to rename. Whoops. Then there’s more photos from another photographer who confirmed Lynzie has never second shot or was an associate shooter for bonphotage whose images are in a different portfolio on the website. I was also sent historic evidence of her stealing from Elizabeth Messina. Added that along with more Google Gemini IDs.
Update 4/22/2026 @9PM — Added more images that were straight up stolen and live on her current website.
Update 4/23/2026 @12AM — Added 12 more stolen photos that are currently live on the Bonphotage website.
Update 4/23/2026 @7AM — Added copyright data info for the images remaining of Harriette’s on the website, Lynzie removed some overnight (most of the ones with Harriette Earnshaw Photography in the file name) but not all.
Update 4/27/2026 @ 7PM — Added more stolen photos that are currently live on Lynzie’s website, 2 stolen photos from her pricing guide as of early 2026.
Update 4/28/2026 @ 5PM Maxed out my daily AI identification with some images that are posted on Bonphotage’s profile on The Knot, Bonphotage’s profile on Style Me Pretty and their Instagram Feed.
Update 5/6/2026 @ 12PM — Since my last update it’s been a bit of chaos over on the Photo Stealers IG page. Someone sure wants into my account and it’s getting locked every hour.
Since I still wanted to go through the Bonphotage Petit IG and Lumiere and Grain IG I decided to do that. Curiously, the Petit IG page has had their grid edited which is a new feature and while some of the obvious AI images were removed (RIP tiny piano) there’s some she slid around in the grid and kept.
The bulk of the Lumiere and Grain Instagram is mostly AI images. Curiously the comments that were on the page from bonphotage and simplycontract have been deleted.
Update 5/29/2026 — This morning my photo.stealers Instagram account was removed. The reason was claiming that I was impersonating another business.
This was really confusing to me because there’s no other Photo Stealers out there that I’m aware of. Well, there wasn’t… that I *was* aware of.
Turns out there’s an account that changed their name a few days ago to “photo.stealers_fizzynipnip64” and became Meta Verified within the past couple days. In my opinion, this is the account that is claiming I’m impersonating them because the timing is uncanny.
Since my Instagram account is currently suspended, I cannot file an impersonation because it’s not able to be selected. I’m battling it all out with Meta right now and have also filed DMCA takedowns for the stolen images.
Why is this all here?
Because the timing is uncanny with Lynzie promoting a paid puff piece in the Chicago Tribune about Bonphotage that she placed with Ascend Agency on May 27th. Of course Lynzie posted it framing it as an interview and started her story scroll beneath the byline stating that Ascend Agency wrote the article or showing that the piece was branded content.
It’s almost weird that everything was calm for a few weeks and then chaos again right when that piece is published, right?
I have no current proof, this is all in my own opinion but I felt that it was important enough to post an update about while I’m waiting to see what Meta decides.
Also of note is that the majority of the stolen photos and the AI photos and videos have been removed from the Bonphotage Instagram and website, not all but the majority. If this was all an elaborate lie by me, wouldn’t the images remain unchanged?
Follow & Support Photo Stealers
Substack / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Discord / Donate
Stolen Photos
This section is for straight up copyright infringement. While most of these images haven’t been altered some there has been some editing used.
On February 29, 2016 a photographer named Kelly Sweet posted to Facebook calling out Bonphotage for stealing an image from her and stated it was brought to her attention by a wedding planner. She posted a side-by-side of the images and you can see that the Bonphotage version had been flipped and edited. Kelly alleges that at the time there were many stolen images on the Bonphotage website and Instagram.
In 2017 a bride inquired with Bonphotage and was sent a link of Indian weddings they claimed to have photographed.
In the gallery there was an image that was not photographed for or by Bonphotage but by Ashley Hamm Photography (original source here)
Ashley was alerted to the theft and contacted Lynzie through Facebook.
Lynzie blamed an intern for including the image after she had downloaded a bunch of photos as inspiration for a styled session.
Another controversy to take place in 2017 had to do with Bonphotage using an image of Elizabeth Messina’s. Note that there is even a bonphotage watermark on the image (bonphotage on left, original source on right).
Now, fast forward about years to now.
I saw this comment on threads and had to look in deeper. This weaves between 2017 and current as the images have been consistently used since that time that were taken by Harriette Earnshaw on Bonphotage’s website and social media feeds.
It turns out that this photographer, Harriette Earnshaw, was hired by Lynzie in 2017 to photograph her pre-wedding dinner in Paris in July of the same year along with taking some portraits of Lynzie and Joshua in Paris.
This photographer to my understanding was not an associate or photographer for bonphotage. She is her own company and was working with Lynzie as a client. She has stated she was blocked by Bonphotage and couldn’t see their Instagram feed so had no idea until all of this hit that her images were being misrepresented by Bonphotage.
Here is a photo from Harriette Earnshaw’s Instagram talking about this image she captured of Lynzie and Joshua’s rehearsal dinner setup in Paris at the Hotel de Paulpry.
And here’s a film negative shown by Harriette from the pre-wedding event for Lynzie and Josh:
Harriet posted another image from this day which is one other of the tablescapes from the rehearsal event.
The above image appears on the “Joelle and Erin” Elopement in Paris Portfolio on the Bonphotage website.
As of 4/23/2026 @ 7AM this image is now missing from that portfolio page.
And another image from the portrait session.
And here is a collection of images from the lookback Harriet posted a few years later.
The above image appears on the “Joelle and Erin” Elopement in Paris Portfolio on the Bonphotage website.
As of 4/23/2026 @ 7AM this image is now missing from that portfolio page.
This image also has Harriette’s copyright information embedded even though the image was renamed.
Back to Harriette’s Instgram!
The above image appears on the “Joelle and Erin” Elopement in Paris Portfolio on the Bonphotage website.
As of 4/23/2026 @ 7AM this image is now missing from that portfolio page.
Oh, she also didn’t change the file name on the above image or any of the other ones with people in them (but did on the detail images). Whoops.
Also of note that bonphotage has posted other images from this event on their Instagram and the photographer has stated these images were taken by her at the pre-wedding event but she did not post them on Instagram.
This is just a fraction of the times the images have been posted to Bonphotage’s Instagram that were originally captured by Harriette Shaw.
Note: some of the images above have been removed over the past week+ but some do remain live currently.
Bonphotage has a portfolio dedicated to the “Paris elopement” of “Joelle and Erin” and some of the same rehearsal dinner and portrait images appear here as well. Many of these have since been removed after this blog went live.
Note the mirror/table image that’s also on Harriet’s Instagram above.
And here’s the other image from Harriet’s Instagram in the elopement portfolio on Bonphotage’s website.
And it’s an exact duplicate of that image.
Also, again, in some of the images Bonphotage did not rename the original files.
In the wee hours of the morning on 4/23/2026 it appears the “L&JParis-HarrietteEarnshawPhotography-XXX” files were removed from the portfolio… but not all images that are copyrighted to Harriette Earnshaw Photography.
Here is what is left on the portfolio that is Harriette’s original copyrighted works.
Despite being renamed this image still shows up with Harriette’s copyright when viewing that information in Adobe Photoshop.
Here’s the rest of the images that show Harriette Earnshaw’s original copyright in the metadata, Bonphotage is on the left, metadata is on the right (click to enlarge).
And the final image!
It appears this one Lynzie missed when deleting overnight as it still has the original filename. So peep that along with the copyright data.
After the above edit with the Paris images someone messaged me to let me know that they found other images in another elopement portfolio on the Bonphotage website, this time for Greystone Manor.
Much like the Paris elopement above, it appears that different events are meshed together in this portfolio. The florals on the tablescape do not match the florals that the bride is carrying.
It’s because the image belongs to Ether & Smith from this wedding.
There are more images in the portfolio that are not on Ether & Smith’s blog post about the event from 2017 but from the archived Style Me Pretty post (peep the vendor list where Bonphotage is not mentioned) I can surmise that these images in the Greystone Manor elopement are from the same wedding Ether & Smith photographed. The photographer also confirmed these were their images from the same event.
There is another elopement post to her portfolio for Dillingham Ranch in Hawaii [archived link as it has since been removed] and it was actually a styled session/workshop lead by Donny Zavala Photography.
On the Utterly Engaged blog Donny is credited for the photographs displayed (and I confirmed these were his images alone and not any attendees).
This image of a flatlay with books and greenery is part of the blog post.
This image appears on Bonphotoage’s Dillingham Ranch Hawaii Elopement portfolio webpage.
Another image from the Utterly Engaged blog is this image of the tablescape setup for the styled session.
This image appears on Bonphotoage’s Dillingham Ranch Hawaii Elopement portfolio webpage.
The above image was removed sometime since this post went live… but not all of the images not originally photographed by Lynzie Hazan / bonphotage.
Speaking of Donny and his workshop in Hawaii… this beautiful image was captured by him during the same workshop with Utterly Engaged and you can see all the vendors tagged in the image on his Instagram.
Let’s shift over to the Editorials portfolio.
Specifically the Maui, Hawaii that was Published in Once Wed and Utterly Engaged allegedly.
Notice anything similar? LIKE THE SAME FREAKING IMAGE (just edited).
The hero image for this section is repeated again in the Maui, Hawaii Editoral Portfolio webpage. [archived link]
Here are side by sides of the images that are stolen that are on bonphotage’s website portfolio.
Left is the image on Bonphotage, right is the original source
Remember Harriette from above?
Well, sadly, she wasn’t the only photographer who was hired by Lynzie and Josh for their wedding and now has their images displayed in a Bonphotage portfolio.
Yet again, the image names also prove my point but this time they have Lynzie and Josh’s names but not the photographer.
Their wedding took place in France at Chateau de Bouthonvilliers and was photographed by Gert Huygaerts. This wedding was featured on Magnolia Rouge and was also blogged by Gert on his website. Gert is upset and has posted about this himself on Instagram.
This image that is on the Bonphotage website isn’t in the blog but the name matches the pattern of the others and I wanted to show it here where you can see the file names and image.
This image is on the blog:
And it is also in the Bonphotage wedding portfolio for Chateau de Bouthonvilliers.
Gert’s image from the blog:
And lynzie-josh-623 from the Bonphotage website portfolio of weddings they claim to have photographed.
Here are the other images that per the file name are likely Gert’s since the above are “lynzie-josh-###”
But wait! Just because we’re done with Lynzie’s own wedding photos doesn’t mean we are done with Gert.
The hero image of this section is an image from Gert and is featured on her blog taken during a family session at the same Chateau a year before Lynzie and Josh got married.
This image appears on the main website for Bonphotage photography:
The same image as the hero image on the wedding portfolio on the Bonphotage website:
And yet again, the same image in the gallery that’s intermixed with a wedding Bonphotage photographed at this venue.
The image of this chateau also appeared multiple times across the Bonphotage social media platforms and in marketing material including sample albums and the price guide.
I thought I was going to take a nap and *finally* get a tiny bit of sleep but noooOOooo.
I was looking into Donny Zalava’s Hawaii workshop since that appears to be a siren call to Lynzie. I googled the event to get more information and low and behold I discovered a blog post on Utterly Engaged that made me so mad for the first time in this whole mess. Not when I got the C&D from Lynzie, not when I got the wacky voicemail from her lawyer, not even when I got his emailed reply stating that his client did nothing wrong. No, this gallery boldly built upon another photographer’s work and presented like her own booking that allegedly at least one client has seen and said they loved the images and booked her from? That sent me from “this idiot” to “this fucking asshole.”
No chatter here because this is a LOT. I’m just going to throw down side-by-sides
Bonfauxtage is on the left, Donny’s are on the right. Some came from the Utterly Engaged blog post, some from Donny’s blog post.
Over on the early 2026 Pricing Brochure, there’s two more images that have been stolen.
Bonphotage’s use of the image is on the left, the original creator is on the right.
Spinning over to Lumiere and Grain…
The original image appears on Taylor Kezia’s website
Here is the same image with a slight bit of editing on Lumiere and Grain’s Instagram. The image is a bit blurrier but it’s the same scene, the same flash reflections, the same blades of grass, the same highlights on the grapes.
Derivative Infringement and AI Images – Bonphotage
I don’t even know what to call this section but there are multiple Bonphotage photos that have uncanny similarities to another photographer’s original image that or are likely AI images without another photo used as the jumping point (or at least one I hadn’t found yet).
This is a new type of copyright infringement for me so I welcome all suggestions how to make this more clear and concise.
The first set of images to be called out were posted by Bonphotage and alleged to be taken at the Chicago Cultural Center.
This is the original photo captured by Sally O’Donnell Photography in 2024.
This is the photo posted by Bonphotage. Note the similar arrangement of the roses in the table that is further back, the identical arch, the light stand in the same position, the weird floating chair.
I didn’t know until this journey began that you can ask Gemini if the image is AI and due to invisible watermarks that Google places in their AI photos it can detect if Gemini was used to create the image.
Per Gemini, this image has a SynthID digital watermark.
Bonphotage posted a second image of the same tablescape that was closer. Peep the two knives on the tablescape.
Per Gemini this image also has the digital watermark to detect this was created with Gemini.
There’s a lot to talk about here but I’ll try to keep it brief. Enjoy this comically pathetic attempt at a side by side where I want to call things out with a star.
There is likely more than this but note that the light stands are in the same position, the arch is exactly the same, There is a random floating candle that merges into a goblet (which are both the same), the room has a marble floor which it does not have in real life, and there is a weird floating chair.
There is another image in this series posted by bonphotage between these of a bride beneath the rotunda.
While there doesn’t appear to be any copies of the setup of this image, I have been told by those familiar with the space that this doesn’t align with the Chicago Cultural Center in looks.
The CCC has a carpeted floor, in front of the arches there is not a brick planter box, the lights beneath the dome extend out, the mosaics are incorrect along with the pattern on the dome itself.
Again, with Gemini SynthID check, it was generated or edited with Google’s AI
This image does not match the chapel of Madonna Della Strada at all in Chicago which is tagged as the location. AI detections pinged it as AI. A reverse image search thought the location was St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC which it does bear a striking resemblance to. The blurry congregation is weird. I’m also told that even if this *was* Madonna Della Strada it would have to be AI as the chapel doesn’t allow floral arrangements like this in the aisle.
Google also verified this image as AI edited or created with Gemini.
The next image is of a bride and her father about to walk into the ceremony at the honeycomb pavilion in Chicago. Note, she calls this couple “Emily and Mark” in her post.
The original photo is by Ashlyn Henry Photography posted on April 5th of this year.
The image by Bonphotage was posted on April 9th of this year. Pay attention to how the weeds on the lower right between the decking matches up, notice how the scale (besides the monster humans) line up, notice how the angles line up, the highlights/shadows on the honeycomb match, the petal or rock in the grass, the weeds and plants on the left of the path etc.
In case there’s any doubt I made a rudimentary overlay showing how similar they are.
When Bonphotage started arguing in the comments on the post I made with the montage above she claims that this couple is now Ana and Sam.
So I went and found Ana and Sam, I’ve since been able to verify with vendors that yes, an associate with bonphotage *did* photograph *a* wedding with Ana and Sam in October 2024 and their ceremony *did* take place at the honeycomb.
There’s a problem though.
This is Ana. Notice something even though this is black and white? She’s not blond. I’ve also verified this with those that were at the wedding.
I don’t know what the heck her thought process was when tagging these vendors, maybe she hoped they’d just remember they worked with bonphotage on that wedding and not think critically and recall the bride was not blond as she is in the image?
Finally, Gemini also confirmed all or part was generated or edited with Google AI.
The image posted by Bonphotage of Villa Balbiano appears to be a drone image captured during a colorful smoke explosion during a wedding ceremony.
The original image by Nick Zharkov is featured on his website and the footage from the drone appears in a reel on Instagram.
The image posted by Bonphotage bears a striking resemblance. Similar angle, the people at the back of the aisle seem to be turned into a random railing, similar setup on the stairs. Windows are randomly missing the grids and other odd AI tells like the pool on the left changing shape (which is seen in the reel) and the pavement changing positions.
This image also appears on the slideshow of the home page of the website.
As of 4/23/2023 this image no longer appears on the Bonphotage website.
Then there is a set of images posted by Bonphotage that were allegedly taken at Beverly Hills City Hall and around Beverly Hills.
Two of the images appear to be originally sourced from Hanna Walkowaik. Note that the groom Bonphotage posted is very similar in looks, body and outfit to the original groom in Hanna’s photos. Many of the other images appear to be generated with Gemini AI due to the invisible watermark being detected.
The first image Hanna posted here of the couple in front of city hall.
Bonphotage’s version has the same exact placement of the palm trees down to the leaves, the groom’s hand in his pocket also is the same along with the hands that are being held in a very similar position.
Yet another attempt at overlaying the two. Since there was a change in sizing I didn’t get it exact but I think my point is made.
The above image was removed in the carousel on Instagram.
The other image from this set that bears a striking similarity to this image which is from the same couple but a different post of Hanna’s.
Bonphotage’s version has the same street, same angle, same hydrant, same palm trees, similar groom wearing the same sunglasses and the couple is wearing a similar expression.
Yet another fancy AF overlay video!
The above image was removed in the carousel on Instagram.
The next photo from this grouping that Bonphotage posted is a pair of Prada mules that aren’t worn by the bride in any of the photos posted.
I originally wasn’t going to bother searching them but then I did and of course the source image popped on Pinterest. I cannot be certain who the original photographer is.
The photo posted by Bonphotage is the same base photo before having the overlay added. The wrinkles are the same, the position of the shoes are the same, the shadows are the same.
Montage time!
The above image was removed in the carousel on Instagram.
The next image in this collection I wanted to point out is this one which doesn’t appear to link back to Hanna like the other two but the hands just look… weird… which is often an AI tell.
ENHANCE!
The next images I investigated on Bonphotage’s Instagram feed was a collection allegedly from The Resort at Pelican Hill. First, you should know that the venue has not only confirmed that they had no two day event for Tali and Roc but also that their venue’s landscape, design and features do not match the imagery posted in either post from this ‘event’.
I immediately clocked that the rotunda was not correct. The one at The Resort at Pelican Hill has a design below the rotunda which is missing here. So I would wager this has AI elements if it isn’t all AI created.
Google also confirms that this is AI.
The next image in the slide shows the clients from behind, again with the not-actually-factually-correct-placement of the
But to back up, the first image in the section is of champagne flutes on a table. Per Google, this image was edited or generated with Gemini.
This image also appears on the website in the slideshow at the top of the page.
The next image in the slide is the bride and groom kissing at sunset. The bride’s hair is blowing in the wind, the rotunda is behind them. Note that the rotunda at Pelican Hill is *not* this close to the ocean. Google also confirms that it was edited or generated using Google AI.
Satellite view of the rotunda, note the highway and golf course between it and the beach.
The next in the series is this image of the bride and groom with the same wrong rotunda behind them. Again, the AI bots recognized their invisible digital watermark.
The images with the couple are odd and the bride’s hair changes styles within what seems to be moments as the light doesn’t change but the style goes from bun to being down and back up to the bun all at sunset. The video also does some weird glitches with the brides hands as she walks towards the groom.
Finally I was creeped out so you now get to be too by this strange hand behind the groom (?) and grandma on the dance floor. Try and move your ring finger back like this is without your other fingers moving. It’s physically impossible.
The above image was removed from the carousel while the others have remained.
Another image from the same wedding and at sunset suddenly the groom goes from a tie (top image)…
…to a bowtie, the bride’s hair (again) goes to a bun, they are standing in front of a fence that allegedly doesn’t exist according to multiple people, and the groom’s plaid pattern dissolves into nothing.
Enhance!
The bride’s hands also disappear weirdly in the video where the rotunda still doesn’t match the actual venue’s.
Another decor image from this wedding that was also identified by Google AI.
Oh and PS: The Resort at Pelican Hill agrees this is AI. They confirmed this wedding didn’t take place at their resort and also stated the landscape doesn’t match theirs.
There was another collection of images posted of this couple on day one of their wedding festivities and it seemed to be an odd rehearsal/engagement session with a full blown movie set for their photos on the beach in the video. I don’t shoot high end weddings so maybe I just don’t know what they are like? However, given that the venue already confirmed this event didn’t take place at their resort it’s a fair guess that this “Day 1” didn’t either.
The first image in the collection posted by Bonphotoage on Instagram (it has been deleted from her Facebook Page) was positively ID’d as AI in part or whole by Gemini.
Another image in the collection had another positive ID by Google.
I think it’s safe to assume it’s all likely AI at this point given the venue has already said this event didn’t take place there.
The next photo from Bonphotage is allegedly taken at Filoli Mansion and Gardens but they do not appear to have a staircase that matches the image. The woman in white bears an uncanny resemblance to Florence Hunt who plays Hyacinth in Bridgerton though.
Speaking of likenesses there are other famous actresses that have appeared in Bonphotage’s portfolio.
The first is Meghan Markle, The Duchess of Sussex, who made a cameo in a video posted (and now deleted) by Bonphotage of “Tori and Ray” on April 2nd of this year.
“Tori” changed appearances a few times in the video, and earrings. But not dress?
But wait, there’s more!
The Tori session was possibly inspired by this photo/session of a real Torie posted here by Clary Pfeiffer on Instagram and featured here on Style Me Pretty. You can see how AI botched the stonework above in the faux Tori video.
There is another removed video that was posted by Bonphotage that showed a person with an uncanny likeness to actress Olivia Wilde.
Moving on to another image posted by Bonphotage and currently pinned to the top of their feed.
While this wedding was photographed by a confirmed associate photographer for Bonphotage, the colorful smoke explosion didn’t happen and the colorful smoke was likely added in post.
The original rainbow smoke formation appears to be taken from this wedding photographed by another photographer. The color patterns match up. I can’t figure out who posted this image that is everywhere from this wedding.
There’s another version of the deleted instagram photo on the Bonphotage website but from a lower angle. Note that the colors change in this image from the one above. Again, her own video from this scene shows that the original was grey smoke and not colored.
In this collection there is an image of yellow Prada heels.
Here is the original image posted to Style Me Pretty and captured by Jennifer Conti Photography.
Here’s the image posted by bonphotage, note the same position, shadows, light and shadows on the heels and reflections in the balls on the heel.
Montage time again!
Next there is this image posted by bonphotage which is comically AI. The fingernails are on top of the gloves.
Enhance!
Also Gemini confirmed it’s AI
This series of images posted by Bonphotage is allegedly captured at Chicago Botanic Garden but according to multiple sources that venue looks nothing like this.
The next image by Bonphotage is a simple photo that I didn’t even think to look closer at, someone sent it to me thankfully.
The original image was captured by Sarah Tonkin Photography in Mallorca and the post on Instagram looks like how we expect to see weddings and sessions that are a part of a collaborative event, with credits for all the vendors in the caption and not a weird pile of tags.
Here is the similar image posted by Bonphotage. Note the similar posing, and the exact same location used down to the position of the couple on the wall where the cracks and floor tiles align exactly. Also this is not at The Adler Planetarium like tagged, that bench only exists in this exact area in this exact setting in Mallorca.
Missing is any vendors being tagged besides Rodarte, which is what I often have seen, only the dress and sometimes venue being tagged.
Cue the montage!
Also, here is Google confirming that it was edited or generated using Gemini.
Another image was posted by Bonphotage that appears to be an edited image from another photographer.
The original image is from Clary Pfeiffer and can be seen on her Instagram page.
The image posted below by Bonphotage is yet again, strikingly similar save for the couple that don’t match the scale of the backdrop. Look how large the groom’s feet are on the stairs. The above photo shows the accurate scaling for this church. The grass, high/lowlights, shadows etc. all line up.
You wanted another montage didn’t you?
Poor Clary also had yet another image altered.
This photo posted by Clary Pfeiffer in 2019 shows the scope of the Chicago Union Station in its size.
Bonphotage posted this photo on March 3rd of a couple dancing at the Chicago Union Station. Note the change in the scale of the humans in the photo compared to the unaltered image above. The reflections/angles/shadows all align.
Montage!
Another image that pinged me as possibly AI early on was a photo Bonphotage posted of The Beverly Hills Hotel. This image appears on their Instagram and their website. Google was able to identify this image as having SynthID watermarks which identify that Gemini created part or all of this image.
The other issue is that the outside columns of this hotel are round and not square like in the photo posted by Bonphotage, there also is not a planter around the base, it is red as is the curb.
This image posted by Bonphotage at Greencrest Manor. Again, by identifying invisible watermarks, Google was able to identify this image as created or edited by Gemini.
This image is easy to pick up AI on as you can see some oddness on the right hand side of the path. Google verifies that all or part of this image was created with AI.
I wasn’t going to look at this one but I noticed she deleted it from her Facebook feed.
And another:
Here are more from the Instagram feed that Google was able to view an invisible watermark in to determine that Gemini was used in part or whole to create the image.
Many of the images from the bonphotage Instagram also appear on the listing at The Knot and many of those images have been identified by SynthID as images that have been generated or edited with Google AI. When applicable, I’ve also added into the collage if the image has been used elsewhere by Bonphotage such as the website and/or Instagram profile.
This image also appeared in the Bonphotage website slideshow.
The Knot isn’t the only place that Bonphotage is using images that Google has identified as AI, Style Me Pretty is another location where images are displayed that Google has identified as likely AI.
The horse image as well as her icon have been both identified as AI with Google Gemini SynthID.
Derivative Infringement and AI Images – Lumiere and Grain
Over on Lumiere and Grain (which multiple planners have stated is another branch of Lynzie’s photography empire) there’s a photo posted of a veil and shoes stuck into shrubbery. Lumiere and Grain listed the location as the Union League Club of Chicago.
The photo was posted by the venue The Merribee in October 2025 on Instagram and credited to Ashleigh Haase Photography and appears to be photographed during a styled session.
The image posted by Lumiere and Grain has the same shoes but the veil has been changed slightly. They have changed the location to the Union League Club of Chicago.
Another montage where you can see the shoes are the same and the branches are the same.
There is a photo posted on Lumiere and Grain that is tagged as The Rookery, I am told that this is not that venue. No venues match this image from what I can find.
This photo is allegedly at The Drake Hotel but I’m told that there are no doors on the property that match this door. Note that Simply Contract is also allegedly a business that Lynzie owns.
In this image posted by Lumiere and Grain someone called out the AI and they acknowledged it and said they edited the ‘horrible carpet’ out for the clients. Note there’s also not pillars here either like the other commenter pointed out and the lights are missing from the base of the rotunda that are shown at the top of this post.
This image by Lumiere and Grain is allegedly at The Ritz Carlton in Chicago and has been stated that this image doesn’t accurately portray the space, which is true.
Theres also a boatload of AI images on this account according to the robot overlords. A few have been deleted but the vast majority of what remains is identified as AI.
AI Images – Bonphotage Petit
There were a lot more images but I honestly had my hands full with the stolen photos. However, there are still about 11 images left on the Bonphotage Petit / Bonphotage Family Instagram Feed. They’ve been hidden with the use of the new “edit grid” option through Instagram so the newer photos appear further down the page.
Note that as of 6/29/2026 Lumiere and Grain has been renamed to Muse Roll Studio and is now private.
Lynzie Backing Out
There have been many comments and messages sent to me that allege that Lynzie has messaged the client and/or planner shortly before a wedding alleging various ailments, often COVID, and reasons she will not be the lead photographer for the wedding when she was expected to be and will be sending in an associate.
I cannot verify anything (yet) but I wanted to make a note of it as it has come up in conversation multiple times when Bonphotage is brought up and has been in reviews and comments.
This is a review from Yelp where Lynzie backed out due to her son having COVID both for their engagement session and wedding. Her associate was sent instead despite promising the client when booking that it would be herself.
This review popped up on The Knot before it disappeared I was able to verify it was a real wedding photographed on 12/31/2025 (you’ll see the ISO for that date below on 1/7/2025) in Chicago. The clients didn’t find out until shortly before their wedding Lynzie wouldn’t be there due to shoulder pain. EDIT: the review is back as of 4/29/2026 but is missing the photos included.
The photos are TERRIFYING.
These backgrounds don’t represent where they went, it was WINTER in Chicago!
There was no scaffolding here I’m told.
A friend of theirs made a TikTok telling their story if you want to watch that it is here.
This review appeared on Zola before the listing was removed. The clients believed that Lynzie would be their engagement and wedding photographer but Lynzie backed out of the engagement session. They thought they’d have the same associate as who photographed their engagement session at their wedding but again, they did not. There were a lot of issues throughout their process of working with Bonphotage that has come up with other couples like being told they needed to add an hour to their coverage, not being able to use the drone and disappointments with the video.
Just a few of the emails that clients received when Lynzie was backing out (reminder, most of these associates were hired months in advance):
Someone sent me these and I thought I would add them here in case any of these dates align with the weddings you had an associate substituted at the last minute due to an emergency.
Associate Photographers
Many associate photographers weighed in on the Reddit thread and others that have popped up in its wake to allege that they have worked for Bonage and were only paid $50/hr as a lead photographer.
Many associates have alleged that they turned over their own SD cards to Lynzie and never received them back. They also allege that if the tips weren’t given to them directly that Lynzie would not turn them over to them claiming they were needed for administrative fees. Clients have supported this by stating that an email was allegedly sent near the wedding date stating that any tips needed to be sent directly to Lynzie via Zelle or Venmo
Client Complaints
Lynzie has a non disparagement clause in her client contract which is why her reviews are mostly all 5 stars. Note this isn’t legally enforceable so review away (and in Illinois they only apply to employment).
There is one review on The Knot from a friend that was posted though. In the review the friend mentions the AI edits that have also been a complaint among the comments from past clients and their friends online.
Beck gave 2 stars to Bonphotage on Yelp citing their images were altered by AI, communication was a challenge and the images did not meet their expectations.
Anne was a friend of a client who hired Bonphotage as their wedding photographer where an associate was sent in after being promised a lead photographer. Anne also mentions the additional fees that were not intially agreed upon that othre clients have brought up. Ultimately the client was unhappy with the video that was delivered with key moments missing.
Another new 1 star review from a client on Yelp.
And another from a client that went from a 5 to a 3 to a 1 after getting a C&D from Lynzie.
And here’s another one she canceled on last minute.
This couple opted to fire Bonphotage after being disappointed with their engagement session and experience working with the company.
Presenting Styled Sessions as Real Weddings
Every photographer will have their own ~thoughts~ on this but I feel that it’s dishonest to present styled shoots you hosted or attended as real weddings.
Lynzie seems to do this often. Here’s some of the portfolios from Bonphotage’s website that are, in my opinion, misrepresenting what the event actually was.
Case in point, in the elopement portfolio, “San Francisco Mint” her husband is the groom. Unless Lynzie is way cooler with things than most wives… this was a styled session. This is just an educated guess but since her husband has a model website and the images from this “elopement” appear there I feel it’s a safe assumption this isn’t a real elopement. Manna Sun Events also labels images shared on Pinterest as an editorial shoot.
The Dillingham Ranch Elopement appears to have been from a styled session according to this blog post. [This portfolio has since been deleted from the website]
The Swan House Elopement is called an “inspiration shoot” on Style Me Pretty’s blog post of the same event.
The Wandering Tree Elopement is an editorial that was featured in Dear Gray Magazine according to Bonphotage’s blog.
The Villa Terrace Elopement is another editorial that Bonphotage claims was published in Martha Stewart Weddings in their blog.
The Maui Yacht Engagement is above shown to be a part of Donny’s Hawaii Workshop. Same for the Boudoir of Kelly in Bali, that was the same ‘bride’ who was photographed in Hawaii as part of the same workshop.
It’s one thing to put the images on your website/social media, it’s another to present them as xyz’s wedding day.
Rebuttal
Starting this (4/20/26) morning Lynzie/Bonphotage has been commenting on the various Instagram posts I’ve made about this story. I am going to try to keep them in chronological order but it was honestly hard to keep track of.
The comment she left (I THINK?) first alleges this was shot “years” ago and claims that any photographer could have a photo of any venue and it isn’t proof of anything… which makes no sense.
The issue is that it’s the same venue?
Next Lynzie Esq. starts with her legal threats but despite her being a lawyer somehow she doesn’t know that this isn’t slander since it is written.
Note: the website was shut down due to fictitious DMCA takedown requests.
Next bonphotage tries to spin this as Ashlyn stealing the image *from* her which is a choice considering the image was publicly posted prior to her version.
The client in the original photographer’s image weighed in and was not having that nonsense. Bonphotage claims they’ve photographed at this venue over 30 times and tons of drone shots from this angle because it’s iconic.
That’s not the question, the issue is the same *exact* angle with the same *exact* dimensions, highlights, shadows, blades of grass, weeds etc. etc. etc.
At this point she was in CYA mode and replying to a lot of comments in a similar manner with similar claims. This one alleges that the lawsuit was already underway. Remember, her C&D claimed I had 8 hours to remove and this was roughly an hour later.
In another post she replied to another photographer and told him to ask the source before jumping to conclusions and propogating lies.
At this point mind you we are two hours into this tirade and every reply I pretty much tell her to show the RAWs and everything goes down. So far, nothing.
Bonphotage claims they’ve sent me a link and I delete it every time. A- no link was ever sent/messaged/carrier pigeoned to me and B – you can’t post clickable links to Instagram.
Again, if this does go to court I will delight in the discovery phase and ask for the proof that she sent these links (and the RAW photos of each of these images).
Instead of producing said proof, she replies and tells me to take this shit down and implies that I’m going to be mixed up in a defamation suit and says she’s happy to share the full wedding gallery. I don’t want the gallery, I want the RAW proof with EXIF data.
Then after many commenters ask for the RAW files she keeps claiming that I’m somehow deleting them. I wasn’t. If she sues and we go to discovery I’m going to love proving she didn’t send anything and I didn’t delete shit.
Note that? Ana and Sam? Here’s a reminder of what she claimed the clients were called in her post, Mark and Emily.
She repeats this in another thread and tags some vendors. Spoiler alert, they don’t have any receipts of these clients who were now in October not “years” ago.
Then she started following me which is weird but whatever.
And here’s our empty chat.
Note, this photographer wasn’t siding with bonphotoage. Also I don’t know why it was hidden, I am guessing because of crazy?
Again, she never sent me originals.
I wonder how the bar will feel about her lying about sending me the RAW photos to these after she sent me a C&D on her own behalf??
Yet another swipe at my Go Fund Me (linked since she wants to make a *thing* of it). Almost like she’s jealous of the support I have? Because I’ll tell you one thing – in all my years of running Photo Stealers I have *never* had so many people in my inbox with universal dislike for a photographer and that includes MB.
That’s impressive.
Next up was this mess on a new post. She’s a real human and a Mom and apparently those give you a free pass. Anyway, she’s somehow shot 900 weddings and did I know post production is a real thing? Sure I do but you know what you don’t do? Use someone else’s images to merge with what you’re claiming is your own client photos.
I have not been taken down “many times” for fraudulent (or “fraudulous”) accusations. The website has been taken down once due to a loon filing fake DMCA claims against every image in his blog post. However if she wants to align herself with Larry, by all means please be my guest.
I never deleted any post.
The swipe at my Go Fund Me isn’t doing what she thinks it’s doing.
Again she alludes to the images being stolen from her which is a choice.
Note that in none of these ramblings does she address the accusations that she created images and videos from AI, doesn’t TOUCH the whole Meghan Markle/Olivia Wilde gaffe or any of the client/associate stories. She’s just hyper fixated on these few images that are a small piece of the story.
This (4/21/2026) morning Vanessa Joy made a video to educate people about what happened and how to verify a photographer is legit in the AI age.
Bonphotage was quick to comment.
Now, onto the wild things Lynzie has claimed about me. I’ve heard a lot via hearsay but this is direct from the horse’s mouth so to say.
Haley and Nathan hired Bonphotage in 2/2025 to be their wedding photographer in June 2026. When confirming their meal choices for the team for the wedding, they thought it was odd that Lynzie said ‘their photo team’ and not “I” when selecting their meal. There were multiple follow ups trying to confirm that Lynzie would be the main photographer on their wedding day like they were led to believe but Lynzie kept evading the question. They tried to pull up their contract to confirm that she was to be their photographer but found that their contract was no longer online.
Eventually the clients Googled Bonphotage and came across the blog post, the TikToks etc. and they made a post on Facebook about what they were going through and what they had found out about Bonphotage and they linked the TikTok with the AI images. The post was removed as a cybersecurity threat BUT it did finally get Lynzie to agree to a phone call.
They hopped on the phone call and Lynzie did what she could do to smooth the clients fears and also allegedly made a lot of allegations about me. She allegedly claimed that I hacked her 17 Hats account, editing software and her Chase Bank account among other outlandish claims. Needless to say, none of this is true, I’ve never hacked anything in my life!
Lynzie followed up the call with the following email assuring them that she would be their photographer and always intended to be.
While the clients wanted to believe in Lynzie, they just didn’t buy her stories and ultimately emailed that they would not be moving forward with her as their photographer.
Haley posted a reel online about their experience and has been REALLY brave coming out with her story.
Here’s Bonphotage’s reply:
There’s so many lies in this email but here’s some I wanted to refute while we’re here.
This email was sent within an HOUR of me getting the account removed for impersonation, not for the posts about Bonphotage. It’s curious she’s framing it in this manner.
I’m still laughing at the allegations that I troll online for money. Girl, I don’t make shit running Photo Stealers. People donate so that the financial burden of running Photo Stealers is offset a tiny bit but it’s not the windfall you seem to think it is because of assholes like you that won’t admit the truth.
The website was taken offline ONCE because Larry filed fictitious DMCA takedown requests on the images he stole claiming he owned them. The site was restored after I replied and he was asked to prove the images were his and he could not. The photo.stealers account was taken down by a bot/hacker impersonating the account and using a loophole with Meta Verified and the Facebook Page went down once about 10 years ago due to someone reporting it for posting nudity (lmao) and was restored by a VP of Facebook. Not quite the sordid story she presents.
The $100 million dollar lawsuit is also Larry and he LOST THE CASE ANNNNDD was declared a vexatious litigant in the process. I am highly amused that of all people she’s holding Larry up as some kind of signal of a person who was wronged by me considering he’s sitting in prison right now for trying to kill someone.
Finally as a reminder: this all began when someone noticed this image posted on 4/15/2026 was a derivative of someone else’s image. This blog post was made on 4/19/2026.
Anyway, I felt like this should all be included in case other potential clients are also being fed the same lies about me hacking etc.
Lawsuits
There are, to date, two lawsuits that have been filed against Bonphotage.
In 2020 a client filed a lawsuit in Cook County to get their retainer back after cancelling her December 2020 wedding due to COVID restrictions. The judge awarded the client all but $1000 of their retainer plus litigation costs.
In June 2026 a 2027 client filed a lawsuit in Cook County to get their retainer back after hiring Bonphotage. The first hearing is in August.
