06/16/2026
I want to bring attention to an issue that photographers across the country continue to face: screenshotting proofs and attempting to remove watermarks for personal use without purchasing the image.
Many people believe schools pay photographers to come take pictures. That is simply not the case. For every school we photograph, we are only paid when families purchase photos. In addition, many of our school partnerships serve as fundraisers, with a portion of sales going directly back to the school. We also provide many images to schools at no charge for yearbooks, programs, social media, and other school-related uses.
For years, we've tried to keep our proof watermarks as unobtrusive as possible so parents could easily view and choose their favorite images. Unfortunately, the increasing use of screenshots and AI tools to remove watermarks has made that more difficult.
Because of this, you will begin seeing stronger watermarks on our proof images. We will still do our best to allow families to view and evaluate their photos, but we must take reasonable steps to protect our copyrighted work.
When a watermark is removed or a proof image is used without purchase, it is the same as using any other product or service without paying for it. Photography is how we support our family, our employees, and our business. Every image represents time, equipment, training, travel, editing, and years of experience.
Going forward, if we become aware that a proof image has been posted, shared, printed, or otherwise used without being purchased, we reserve the right to invoice for the appropriate digital image license and pursue collection of that payment.
To the overwhelming majority of families who support our business the right way: thank you. Your purchases allow us to continue serving local schools, providing images for yearbooks and programs, supporting school fundraisers, and creating memories for thousands of students each year.
How can you help? Please like or share this post. Help educate others about photographer copyright. And if you see someone asking how to remove a watermark or sharing an unpurchased proof image, please encourage them to support the photographer who created it.
We're not trying to call anyone out. We're simply asking for the same respect and support that every small business deserves.
