You spent time capturing the perfect photo—maybe it’s of a beautiful landscape, your art, or a candid moment from your life. Then suddenly, you see it reposted on a brand’s Instagram feed, used in a blog, or featured in an ad—without your name, credit, or consent.
If this has happened to you, you’re not alone. Businesses regularly scrape or “borrow” photos from creators and everyday people alike, assuming they can get away with it. But here’s the truth: they can’t.
You Own Your Photos the Moment You Take Them
Under U.S. copyright law, when you take a photo, you automatically own the copyright. That means you have the exclusive right to control where and how it’s used—including whether someone can share, repost, edit, or profit from it.
If a business uses your photo without permission—whether on social media, their website, or in marketing materials—they are likely infringing on your copyright. And yes, you can take action.
What Counts as Unauthorized Use?
Many companies think that just because a photo was posted publicly (especially on Instagram or Facebook), they’re allowed to repost it. That’s false.
Examples of unauthorized use we often deal with:
- A company reposting your image on Instagram without tagging or asking you
- A business using your photo in an email newsletter
- A brand uploading your image to their website or online shop
- Your content being used in a digital ad, flyer, or promotional post
- A publication embedding your social media photo in an article without credit
Even if your image is reposted with credit, that doesn’t make it legal—they still need your permission.
What Are Your Rights?
If your image has been used without authorization, you may be entitled to:
- Injunctive relief – a legal order requiring the business to remove your photo
- Monetary damages – even if the image wasn’t licensed for profit, you can often recover statutory damages
- Attorney’s fees – if you’ve registered your copyright, your legal costs could be covered
You don’t have to sit by and accept that your work was stolen or used to sell a product you weren’t paid for. With the right legal guidance, you can protect your content and pursue what you’re owed.
What to Do If You See a Company Using Your Photo
If you’ve discovered a business using your image:
- Take screenshots of the post, website, or marketing material
- Gather proof that the photo is yours (original file, metadata, date taken, etc.)
- Don’t engage directly – avoid DMs or comments until you’ve spoken to a lawyer
- Contact an attorney who handles copyright and intellectual property law
At Landry Legal, we regularly help photographers, artists, influencers, and everyday people respond when their work is taken without permission. We send takedown notices, demand letters, and if needed, file lawsuits to recover damages.
How Landry Legal Can Help
We’ve handled countless cases where businesses thought they could repost content without consequences. Our firm:
- Reviews your situation and confirms your rights
- Sends cease and desist letters to stop ongoing use
- Pursues settlements or legal action to recover compensation
- Helps you protect your future work through registration and licensing
This isn’t just about protecting one photo—it’s about setting boundaries so your creative work isn’t treated like free content ever again.
If a company used your photo without permission, don’t wait.
Let us help you take control, get it taken down, and get compensated.
📩 Email us at contact@landrypllc.com to speak with an attorney and protect your rights.
