I picked this answer because it went into detail about different motivations for asking. I hadn't considered at all that it was a mere social nicety. I've never been in the opposing situation and didn't know at all that it was common. Knowing that most likely, because I'm in the US, there's not likely to be a very serious desire to see the photos makes it a lot easier to feel okay about insincere assurances that things'll happen later, but the answer is also very clear about what to do if there really is serious intention. Thanks so much. — friendly 42 secs ago

@OwenReynolds That's a good point. I edited the question for clarity. — friendly 1 min ago

"I would really love to but my relatives who are in a witness protection program could potentially be endangered by doing so, so I really can't. Sorrryyyyy!!!" — Bob Jarvis - Reinstate Monica 2 mins ago

I don't see the problem. Just tell them what told us. — DKNguyen 25 secs ago

Before accusing your neighbor on a gut feeling, you should at least install a security camera to verify. If it's not her, it would be quite a bummer to hold a grudge and ruin your relationship with your neighbor... — bobflux 19 secs ago

OK, time to leap into the broad generalizations here, but if there's one thing I could change about American culture, it's Option #1. It's no wonder that foreigners are apt to characterize us as "friendly, but fake." It's the wedding-photo equivalent of saying something like "oh, yeah, we should totally get together sometime!"—which we're known for saying, but never doing. It's like the old adage: "do what you say, say what you mean." — TheDudeAbides 1 min ago

Thank you for reiterating that one doesn't have to lie in a situation like this. — TheDudeAbides 1 min ago

Share your address - I need some firewood. — Michael Harvey 2 mins ago

Would it be too hard to turn criticisms into a to-do list? Reframing your feedback, that means: Ask less for help, test code better before reviews, and no volunteering. Also, it is quite untrue that there is ever an expectation to get work out that is wrong as "fast as possible" and incorrect...rushing out work that is not ready. Yelling, challenging, and baning tables are requests for being fired. — Yosef Baskin 52 secs ago

I have over 5000 wedding photos because I'm a hobbyist photographer, one of my relative is also a hobbyist (but using an "enemy brand"), and I also hired out and requested all photos... So I show them only my favorite top 4-5 and they tend to be satisfied. Nobody has yet to request for more. It's really just asking for the sake of asking. — Nelson 1 min ago

Actually, I suspect married people will understand this. I'm only married two years and when my wife goes "Hey, the garbage can is full", I have been replying with "Thanks for letting me know." I find the lack of a request of action to be a bit passive-aggressive, as if I'm at fault for not pre-emptively knowing that the garbage is full. — Nelson 3 mins ago

If you want to be even more honest with the first answer, you might want to add a maybe. "Yeah, maybe I'll bring them in sometime." is even more non-committal, and you aren't technically lying. — vsz 1 min ago

You cannot pick out one shot that is the least painful, as a polite response to coworkers who are being appropriately friendly? You use the name friendly. Compared to this tiny concession, all answers here are complicated though well done. — Yosef Baskin 19 secs ago