Why Stealing Photos – Even of Yourself – Isn’t OK.
You’re in a photo. You look great. You want to share it. So you screenshot it, ignore the watermark, and post it on social.
No big deal, right?
Wrong.
This is theft. And yes, I’m using the word theft intentionally. Because that’s what it is when someone uses images they haven’t paid for. Watermarked or not.
Let me give you two real examples.
One where I’m in front of the camera. One where I’m behind it.
The Triathlon Temptation
Earlier this year, I competed in a triathlon. After the race, I checked out the official photo gallery. There were some fantastic images of me in action — low-res previews, watermarked, but clearly great shots.
Could I have just screenshotted them and posted them with a humblebrag caption?
Sure. But I didn’t.
Because I respect the work. I lead by example. I bought the full high-res package. These images were offered voluntarily for purchase by the event photographer, and I valued them enough to pay.
Because watermarking isn’t decorative. It’s a digital lock. A boundary. A very visible ‘do not steal’ sign.
Yes, This Happened with a Client
Recently, I photographed someone in a professional context. Everything was clearly explained, from the booking process to the image licensing terms. No surprises, no fine print.
After seeing the results of our photoshoot in her personal online gallery, she wrote to me:
“I’m not interested in purchasing any images.”
Which felt odd, really odd.
Most of my clients end up selecting several images. They buy them because they see the value, the quality, the long-term impact for their career. A strong portrait builds visibility and credibility.
And yet… days later, there it was: My photo. On her LinkedIn. Cropped. Watermark still visible. Unpaid.
She hadn’t bought anything — and yet there it was, published.
This wasn’t a teenager. This was a professional in her 30s. And when I reached out, her response was: “I didn’t know.”, getting really defensive, gave me attitude, accusing me of all sorts.
Except… she did. It was in the email, in the gallery, in the terms. She just didn’t think it mattered.
Spoiler: It does.
Being in a Photo Doesn’t Mean You Own It
This is where many people get it wrong.
Just because you’re in the image doesn’t mean it’s yours.
If you didn’t create it, and didn’t pay for the rights, you don’t get to use it. Copyright stays with the photographer. Always. Full stop.
Trying to crop around a watermark?
That’s not only unethical — it’s risky. It’s like cutting a tag off a dress in a store and walking out with it.
Watermarks Exist for a Reason
No, it’s not a design flaw to see a logo splashed across your image. It’s a visual barrier. A reminder that this image is protected.
Photographers watermark images because too many people think “online = free.”
Previews are not freebies.
Using watermarked images without permission is illegal.
Respect the craft. Respect the process.What To Do Instead
If you want to use a photo, ask. Pay. License. Respect the person who made it. It’s that simple.
And if you see watermarks on an image, that’s not an invitation to crop creatively. It’s a giant stop sign.
What To Do Instead
If you want to use a photo:
Ask
Pay
License
That’s it. That’s the post.
You Wouldn’t Do This Elsewhere
You don’t:
Walk out of a restaurant without paying, just because you had a bite.
Screenshot a Netflix movie and post it on your company’s website.
Take someone’s LinkedIn post and call it your own.
So don’t do it with images, either.
Here’s What You Should Know:
1. Watermarked images are previews, not freebies.
2. Being in the photo doesn’t give you usage rights.
3. Removing or cropping a watermark is illegal.
4. If you like the image, buy it. It’s that simple.
The Bottom Line
Professionals deserve to be paid for their work.
Images are intellectual property.
So next time you think, “No one will notice…”, remember: the photographer always notices.
📸 Patric Pop, corporate portrait and high-end headshot photographer in Geneva, Lausanne, and Zurich. And yes, a guy who buys the images he appears in, too.
