Sadly I was taken one of the victims. My friend asked me to shoot her friend, whose a yoga on water teacher in Singapore. Was free so said ok.
The Yoga on water (you can google, if you want to know who) contacted me, proceeded to show me her previous photo shot by hobbyist angmo's husband. The backgrounds were photoshopped to blur it, using Nikon camera and kit lens obviously.
Came the day I went all the way to East Coast Park, waited, she was late. Came, was very aloof and started to demand I better do a good job, as she's using it for magazines. I brought a 400mm L lens. After the event, I showed her the photos which was clear and sharp. She complained it wasn't 'colorful' as the angmos. Told her only consumer cameras produce saturated colors. She began to ridicule me, saying are you sure? etc. Then commented there isn't a blur area at the front of the photos (not the back bokeh). I told her it's photoshopped, she replied that she asked the angmo and he said there wasn't any photoshop done. Are you sure? Such low quality, blatant 'blur' at the front of the pics, and not photoshopped? Unique lens he's got, able to shoot long distance and blur front and back as well... oh well, then demanded all my photos with or without edit, plus a tongue lashing from her telling me I wasn't up to it. Told her you know nuts about photography and I wasn't even charging you.
So much for the horrible experience. No more freebies from me.