What to Do If Your Photo Was Stolen

A guide for creators who’ve just found their work used without permission.

It often happens by chance. You’re scrolling through Instagram, checking a website, maybe browsing an online store and then you spot something familiar — it’s your photo. Only no one asked, no one credited you, and no one told you it was being used.

The first reaction is usually a mix of disbelief and frustration. Then comes the question: “what are you even supposed to do?” Most people hit a wall right there, because there’s no obvious next step, and searching online usually just leads to conflicting advice or dead ends.

So here’s a clear path, based on what actually helps.

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Step One: Save everything

Start by leaving everything as it is. Don’t rename the file or re-edit the image. Don’t delete the original post. Details like timestamps, metadata, and where and when the photo first appeared can all help later. If you’ve already found the unauthorized use, take clear screenshots of the full page, not just the image. Include the URL and any visible context. And if it’s a story, a disappearing video, or anything that might vanish, record your screen. The goal is to save what you see before it changes.

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Step Two: Match original and copy

To move forward, all you need is a link to where your photo was originally published and a link to where it appeared without your permission. That's enough to start. Even if the image was cropped, filtered, or posted under someone else’s name, our system can still recognize the match and build the case from there. You send the links, and we take care of the rest.

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Step Three: Choose your outcome

Creators handle this differently. Some want the image removed, others are looking for proper credit, and many choose to pursue compensation, especially when their work was used commercially. Whatever your goal, you’re the one who decides how far to take it. We’re here to support that choice, whether it’s a quiet request or a formal legal claim. There are no upfront fees, and no pressure to go beyond what feels right.

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What comes next and how we take it from here

After you confirm authorship, we scan for other uses of your work, look at where and how the image was used, and calculate a fair compensation amount based on actual legal precedent. If a claim is worth pursuing, our legal team steps in and takes it from there. You don’t have to chase anyone, write formal messages, or navigate legal steps on your own. Everything is handled through your dashboard, where you can follow the process at your own pace.

If the case goes through and succeeds, you get paid. If it doesn’t, you don’t owe anything. There are no upfront fees, no hidden costs, and no financial risk on your side.

You’re not the only one this has happened to. We’ve worked with creators who’ve found their travel shots in tour ads, their Unsplash photos on magazine covers, or their wedding work reposted in someone else’s portfolio. It’s more common than most people realize and it’s something that can be dealt with.

If this sounds familiar and it just happened to you, you’re not stuck — there’s a clear way to handle it.

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‍Check your image for free