The Scam of a Lifetime: A Wedding Photographer’s Deception
Sayf Najafi, a 28-year-old wedding photographer, has been accused of scamming dozens of couples out of thousands of pounds. He promised to capture their special days but vanished without delivering the photos or videos.
Najafi is said to have taken payments from around 40 couples for wedding photography and videography that never materialized. In some cases, he showed up, while in others, he claimed illness and sent a stand-in. Either way, he cut off all contact and never delivered the promised work.
Despite owing thousands in court-ordered refunds and relocating to Dubai, Najafi has continued to take bookings through his business, CapturebySZ, as recently as last month. This has left many couples frustrated and desperate for their missing photos.
A Lavish Wedding Gone Wrong
Adam Jed, a 32-year-old tech consultant, and his wife Amar, 25, booked Najafi for their lavish wedding at the Hilton in Kensington, central London, in January this year. They discovered CapturebySZ through Instagram and paid £1,600 for a four-hour photography package and pre-wedding shoot.
They were promised all the images within two months, but none arrived. On the day of the wedding, Najafi told them the original photographer was ill and sent a replacement who appeared unprofessional. Despite repeated attempts to contact him, they received no response.
Mr. Jed said, “We did our research when booking him – he appeared to have good reviews and sent us samples which we were impressed by.”
He added, “For my wife, it’s been devastating. Weddings are one of the biggest moments in your life – to not have photographs of the day is just heart-breaking.”
Court Orders and Unpaid Judgments
Three couples have taken Najafi to small claims court, public records show. He was ordered to pay £4,459 on October 1, £1,023 on July 1, and £3,940 on December 6 last year. All of the judgments against him remain unpaid.
Hira Ghani, 28, and her husband Ali, 34, are currently suing Najafi for more than £2,000. They paid CapturebySZ £1,970 to cover the glitzy two-day affair in Croydon, south London in March. However, Najafi did not attend – instead sending third-party photographers in his place.
No photos have ever been delivered to the Ghanis, despite one freelance photographer confirming he had sent on the photographs to Najafi.
Mrs. Ghani said, “I had spoken to a few other photographers, but he was the only one who really listened to what I wanted.”
She added, “He clearly has no sentimental value for the photos – he’s just taken the money. It’s awful. Just really scummy.”
A Long Wait for Memories
More than 40 couples, all of whom claim to have been fleeced by Najafi, have joined a group to share their ordeals and discuss next steps.
Among them is Imaan Ghauri, 29, who has waited 17 months for her wedding photos and videos. She paid £975 for CapturebySZ to attend her marriage to husband Zeeshan, 31, at a stately home in Berkshire in June 2024.
On that occasion, Najafi attended in person where he demanded the remainder of the payment before proceedings began.
Mrs. Ghauri, from West Drayton, west London said, “We had such a bad experience with him. He was rude to us, rude to our guests, and I remember at the time thinking I was going to leave a bad review.”
The Daily Mail understands that Najafi fled his home in the Hall Green area of Birmingham in March for a new life in the United Arab Emirates. Victims claim he had been working at a real estate broker in Dubai, while still touting for work as a wedding photographer.
His social media accounts remain active, though comments have been restricted to prevent criticism. Meanwhile, the business’s website continues to boast: “You’re not just booking a photographer, but making friends for life.”
Despite being in Dubai, Najafi struck again as recently as last month when hired for the glamorous wedding of Ismael Benchamcham, 31, and wife Fahima, 29.
They paid him around £1,000 to cover their ceremony in Southall, south-west London. Mr. Benchamcham, a graphic designer, said, “We booked him in March, paid the deposit straight away, and didn’t really think much about it after that.”
He added, “This was our once-in-a-lifetime day. We had relatives fly in from all over the world, people we may never see for a very long time.”
Trustpilot Reviews and Online Complaints
The experiences of newlywed couples are also revealed in damning Trustpilot reviews. One wrote, “Absolute scammer.” Another said, “Over 40 people scammed and he’s run to Dubai.”
A third aggrieved couple added, “On the wedding day, the photographers were not proactive or enthusiastic at all.”
Another post on the Scamdoc website added, “I am utterly appalled by the lack of professionalism by these people. They ruined my daughter’s special day by not giving us the videos and pictures to look back on.”
Ms. Ghauri said her outstanding photos arrived on Thursday, after the Daily Mail contacted Najafi to inform him of our investigation. She described them as “okay” but “not the greatest,” and told how she was still awaiting her promised wedding videos.
Najafi did not respond to repeated requests for comment. His ex-wife Zainab Mohamed, 28, said she was “no longer associated with Sayf Najafi and have no involvement in any of his businesses.”
