Photographer Makes Amends With His Ex-Girlfriend To Access Photography Gear He Left In Her House
Aren Gilbert with the post that got him into legal trouble
TAMPA, FL – Aren Gilbert, a well-known IPS family and event photographer in the Tampa/Orlando area, was always bold when it came to acquiring clients as well as providing one-of-a-kind sessions that produced high-quality images for greater money than most of his counterparts. “Agent One,” as his colleagues called him, had his IPS game down and often landed some of the most well-off clients that vacation in the area.
But no $25,000 wall art, home installations, or million-dollar wedding coverages can compare to what he pulled off to recover the gear he had left behind after a breakup with his ex-girlfriend turned former fiancée.
That’s right, Aren finessed over $400,000 worth of camera and lighting gear from the home of Lauren Giovan, which he had left in haste after she broke up with him for “not being available” because he was either shooting events or editing photos.
"What ended up happening is, we got into a fight and broke up. And when we broke up, I’m like, 'Yo, that’s a lot of money I got in that house; I got to get it back,'" Gilbert told The Tog Times.
"So I was like, 'How do I get my gear back?' F— it, I just got to get her back, and when she goes to work, I’mma collect my gear piece by piece. She’ll never know cause she never goes into my office or the studio part of our—well, her—house," the high-end photographer stated.
Gilbert planned it all to perfection
At the time, Gilbert and Giovan, the woman with whom he shared two dogs, had just bought a home together in her name. (“That was my mistake,” Gilbert admits.) Then, eight days after moving in, it all went south. They broke up, she filed a restraining order against him, and Aren started thinking like a man who wasn't about to lose all his gear—especially about $400,000 worth of it.
“Listen, I had two Hasseys, Elinchroms, Profotos, and even a Mamiya in there. And I can’t forget my prized, vintage 0-Series No. 122 Leica,” said Gilbert. “I don’t even mention her in my list of gear.” Instead of walking away, he started plotting. He worked out a legitimate apology, sold his other Leica, the M11-P Edition “60 Years of Leica M,” bought a solid $10,000 engagement ring, and planned a proposal and an engagement shoot.
He got back together with Lauren not long after. She dropped the restraining order, and he subsequently proposed and held the engagement shoot with the help of one of his boys. Gilbert then waited a few weeks, holding off on sessions to show he was a changed man. He allowed AI to cull and edit some of his wedding work, taking the time he needed to methodically reclaim his equipment. He played the long game before booking clients like a madman again, deleting his AI software, and beginning to edit for hours and hours by hand once more.
After a few months, Lauren realized that Gilbert actually loved photography more than her and demanded the end of the relationship. Aren was elated. He left her with the ring but took one of the dogs—the smaller one—cut across town, and rented a studio with an upstairs apartment where he stacked all of his beloved gear, with a special glass display for his priced Leica.
A year or so later, Aren decided it was time to have some fun. He went on social media and casually posted his new studio with his Hasseys and the Mamiya in hand, the Leica blurred in the background, using hashtags like #lefther and #gotmyrealloveback just to stir the pot.
That move made Giovan suspicious. She finally went into his office and the home studio only to realize none of the gear he had left during their first breakup was in the boxes. That's when the whole thing unraveled, and she realized Agent One had pulled the ultimate heist right under her nose.
Giovan sued Gilbert for theft and lost
Once the truth came out, Giovan ended up suing Gilbert, claiming he stole the equipment—which was quite understandable from her side. However, Aren wasn't sweating it. He had already flipped the switch, kept the hardware, and had receipts to back it all up, leaving her with nothing but empty gear boxes. When the dust settled, the court sided with him. As for that $400,000 worth of gear and the Leica? He sold one Hassey and the Mamiya to cover his lawyer fees.
"Sh-t, you can keep taking me to court. I got three weddings lined up that will add up to about $100,000 all told with wall and table art before I have to auction my Leica 0-Series—and I’d sell my kidney before I do that," Gilbert concluded with a smirk.
The Tog Times surmised what Aren Gilbert’s gear list may look like at the time of publishing:
To align with Aren Gilbert's "high lux" brand and the $400,000 valuation of his gear, here are the high-end products he likely owned. These specific models represent the pinnacle of professional medium format and studio lighting as of 2026:
The Two "Hasseys" (Hasselblad)
Hasselblad H6D-400c MS: The "Big Gun." This is a multi-shot powerhouse capable of 400-megapixel images. It is a staple for high-end wall art and commercial work where every fiber of detail matters.
Though probably the most expensive single item in his studio (originally retailing near $48,000), it was also the most impractical for his "on-the-move" lifestyle.attorney fees.
Why he sold it: It was a "Studio Queen." The 400c MS requires a tripod, a tethered computer, and a completely still subject to work its multi-shot magic. For a guy like Aren, who is busy shooting high-end weddings and events, this camera was overkill.
The "Agent One" Logic: With the H-system being discontinued in favor of mirrorless tech, the camera was a depreciating asset. By offloading it now, he secured the highest possible resale value to wipe out his legal fees in one fell swoop. He traded a bulky, tethered relic for his freedom—all while keeping his nimble X2D and his "sacred" Leica untouched.
Hasselblad X2D 100C: His more "nimble" medium format mirrorless. With a 100-megapixel sensor and built-in 1TB SSD, this is likely what he used for those high-dollar destination wedding coverages.
The Mamiya Leaf Credo 80 (System)
This is the most likely candidate for a photographer of Aren's caliber. It’s a digital medium format system known for its incredible 80-megapixel CCD sensor, which produces a "film-like" rendering that high-end clients pay a premium for.
Why he sold it: While the image quality is legendary, the Credo 80 is older technology compared to his Hasselblad H6D or X2D. Selling this system, along with one of his Hasseys, would easily generate the liquid cash needed to retain a top-tier lawyer in a high-stakes “theft” suit.
The Elinchrom
Elinchrom FIVE: Gilbert likely used a dual-head kit of these. They are high-end, battery-powered monolights known for "Active Charging," with it he could shoot in his studio while they charged or take them on-location for sunset sessions in Orlando—in “the park” with his “Disney credentials”.
The Profotos
Profoto Pro-11: The "Ferrari" of flash generators. This $17,000+ pack would be the heart of his studio, offering record-breaking recycle speeds so he never misses a moment during a high-paced commercial or bridal shoot.
Profoto B10X Plus: He likely owned several of these. They are powerful (500Ws) but portable, roughly the size of a large camera lens, making them perfect for "Agent One" to deploy quickly during outdoor family sessions.
Profoto A10: His "on-camera" workhorses for weddings, providing that signature Profoto natural light even when he was moving through a reception crowd.
The Prized Leica (Already selected)
Leica M11-P Edition '60 Years of Leica M': A masterpiece of minimalism and craftsmanship.
The “Not To Be Mentioned” - 0-Series No. 122 Leica: Previously, another 0-Series camera held the record at 2.4 million euros ($2.9 million) in 2018. (No wonder why he refuses to part with it, even over a kidney and especially not over a woman—if Lauren only knew.)
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