As a photographer, your images are your art, your business, and often your livelihood. But did you know that just taking a photo isn’t enough to fully protect it? While your images are automatically protected under U.S. copyright law the moment you create them, you must register them with the U.S. Copyright Office to enforce your rights in court and unlock powerful legal remedies.
Here’s why filing for a copyright is essential.
1. Copyright Registration Lets You Sue for Infringement
Let’s say someone steals your photo and uses it in a marketing campaign without your permission. If you haven’t registered the photo with the U.S. Copyright Office, you can’t file a lawsuit for copyright infringement unless you register it before or shortly after the infringement begins.
Without registration, you’re left with little recourse.
2. You Can Get Statutory Damages and Attorney’s Fees
If your photo is registered before the infringement (or within three months of publication), you may be eligible to receive:
- Statutory damages up to $150,000 per infringement
- Reimbursement for attorney’s fees
- No need to prove actual damages or profits (which can be hard to calculate)
That’s a major advantage if you ever need to enforce your rights.
3. It Proves Ownership — Officially
A registered copyright creates a public record of ownership. If someone claims they took the photo or questions your rights, your registration certificate can quickly shut down disputes. It’s a clear, time-stamped record of your authorship and ownership — which is hard to argue with.
4. It’s Affordable and Easy to Do (If You Do It Right)
Copyright registration is surprisingly affordable, as little as $65 if you group register images. But the process can get complicated, especially when it comes to properly grouping unpublished or published photos. That’s why many photographers work with an attorney to ensure the filing is done correctly and all rights are preserved.
5. It Discourages Theft Before It Happens
When you file for copyright and add your registration number to your portfolio or watermark, you signal that you’re serious about protecting your work. That deterrent alone can prevent misuse.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Too many photographers come to us after their photos have been stolen, only to find out they have limited legal options because they never registered their copyrights.
If you’re a working photographer, filing for copyright protection isn’t optional. It’s one of the smartest business decisions you can make.
Need Help Registering Your Photos?
At Landry Legal, we help photographers secure their rights, register their work, and fight back against infringement. We’ll guide you through the registration process and be in your corner if someone steals your work.
Email us at contact@landrypllc.com to get started.
