Summary
- Wedding photographer Katie Hunt bought $250 worth of Kodak Portra through Amazon.
- At a wedding venue, she discovered rocks inside cartridges instead of film.
- She already had enough backup film and said the assignment was never at risk.
- Amazon refunded the purchase through a gift card, while no official response had been published at the time of the report.
An order of extra Kodak Portra for professional assignments turned into a bizarre incident when a wedding photographer found rocks inside film packages purchased through Amazon.
Katie Hunt, a wedding photographer from North Carolina, had spent $250 on Kodak Portra and discovered the problem after arriving at a wedding venue. The moment was captured on video and posted to her Instagram account, showing her opening the packages and realizing that rocks were inside instead of film.
She said she normally buys Portra from B&H, but turned to Amazon this time because she wanted several extra rolls for upcoming assignments. She also noted that she had previously purchased Kodak film through Amazon without a problem.
Hunt does not assume the seller was responsible
The photographer made clear that she does not believe the incident proves the seller was at fault. Her own theory is that a previous buyer may have removed the film, replaced it with rocks, carefully resealed the packages and returned them, allowing the items to be resold without the tampering being noticed. That is Hunt’s assessment, not a confirmed finding.
PetaPixel reported that it contacted Amazon for comment and had not received a response by the time its story was published.
The purchase was refunded — through a gift card
In a follow-up video, Hunt said Amazon refunded the purchase, with the refund issued through an Amazon gift card. She also responded to comments accusing her of being unprepared.
Hunt emphasized that she already had enough film to photograph the couple and that the rock-filled rolls were extra stock. That is what kept a bizarre purchasing problem from becoming an actual problem for the wedding coverage.
The practical lesson for photographers who work with film
For professionals who rely on consumables, the incident is a reminder that checking stock before a critical assignment matters just as much as checking cameras, lenses and batteries. Sealed products purchased online can look completely normal until they are opened.
The second layer of protection is backup stock. In this case, Hunt already had the film she needed and the affected rolls were extras. For wedding photographers and other assignments that cannot be repeated, that distinction can be decisive.
What we think
The most important part of the story is not simply the oddity of finding rocks in film packaging, but how a problem somewhere in a return or resale chain can go unnoticed until the moment the product is needed. Backup supplies protected the assignment, while checking newly purchased consumables before a non-repeatable job remains a simple and meaningful safeguard.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the order cost?
Katie Hunt said she had spent $250 on Kodak Portra purchased through Amazon.
What did she find inside the packages?
According to the videos and the report, rocks were inside packages that should have contained photographic film.
Was the wedding assignment affected?
No. Hunt said she already had enough film for the job and that the affected rolls were extra stock.
Did she get her money back?
Yes. Hunt said Amazon refunded the purchase through an Amazon gift card.
Has anyone confirmed who replaced the film with rocks?
No. Hunt believes a previous customer return may have been involved, but that explanation has not been independently confirmed.
