Alabama-based photographer Ashtynn Wilhite was only in San Francisco one day when the disaster struck.
Wilhite says the hard drive containing almost all of the photos she shot from a wedding was stolen by thieves who broke into her car near the Painted Ladies on Sept. 21, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. from camera equipment, she says.
“We had such a phenomenal day there and suddenly it was just torn away,” Wilhite told SFGATE. “It was so sad.”
The couple, Alex and Tyler Hamel, were married in Birmingham, Alabama, in early September. They are offering a $ 2,000 reward for returning the photos, in addition to Wilhite’s $ 5,000 reward for returning the hard drive and her laptop.
Wilhite said she was in San Francisco on the day of the theft to snap engagement photos for another couple. They were driving across San Francisco and taking in the sights when they decided to make Alamo Square their last stop. With no space in the trunk of her car, Wilhite decided to leave her and her assistant’s camera equipment covered in blankets in the back seat. They shot at Alamo Square for just a few minutes.
“I saw the glass, but it didn’t really hit me,” recalled Wilhite. “I thought something was broken. I got out of the car and the window broke. Then someone stole our equipment.”
A photo after the car was broken into on September 21, 2021.
Courtesy Ashtynn Wilhite
Wilhite said she was “immediately shocked,” dropped to her knees and sobbed, “Somebody stole our things.”
She said she immediately called the police, who allegedly told her to call 311, who then directed her to file a complaint online. Wilhite went to SFPD headquarters anyway to file a report, but she said she was directed to the online form as well.
“It doesn’t really happen where we come from,” she said. “If something like that happened, the police would be more interested in helping. But it happens every day in San Francisco, it sucks. There’s really nothing they can do, it’s such a big city.”
There is good news. A few days after the event, Wilhite had sent the Hamels a “sneak peek” from the wedding. She says the 50 photos she sent are now all that is left of that special day.
“I don’t usually do that,” said Wilhite. “I gave you a meaningful look back because your wedding day was so great. I came straight home and worked on a few. It was a divine thing. “
