When it comes to business and love or really any aspect of life that is interesting, there is risk involved. A pipe could be stamped Dunhill but when you get to see it in person it could be a burned out shell of a lakeland smoked POS.
However, if someone refuses to send me a picture, then I just write them off, especially if they start giving me excuses for not sending a picture. If my camera doesn't work (or they happen to not like having a cell phone) sometime within the next 24 hours a dozen people will at some point be around me with a camera in their phone that I could use. My 80 year old neighbor has a cell phone and sends me annoying pictures of blurry birds at her birdfeeder.
But, every opportunity comes with risk. If the risk is worth even a fraction of the adventure, then go. But, there is no reward worth having without the risk of failure.