10/11/2026
I read an article in The Times today about parents using AI to remove watermarks from school photographs so they can keep the images without paying for them.
It really struck a chord with me because this has happened to me — and I have lost sales because of it.
I photograph children in nurseries and pre-schools, and there is something about my particular business model that I think many people don't realise.
The nursery doesn't pay me to do the photography.
I don't receive a photography fee for turning up, photographing the children or editing the images.
My income comes from parents choosing to purchase the photographs afterwards.
So when I spend a day or two at a nursery, photographing every child, editing hundreds of images, creating private galleries, communicating with parents and processing orders, I am taking on all of the financial risk.
If parents buy the photographs, I earn from the work I've done.
If they don't, I don't receive a fee from the nursery to cover my time.
That is why using AI to remove a watermark isn't simply a clever way of saving a few pounds.
The photograph is my copyright. The watermark identifies the photographer and makes it clear that the image has not been purchased or licensed for use.
Removing that watermark and then keeping or using the photograph doesn't change who owns the copyright.
And for a small, independent photographer, that sale is the income that pays for the work.
I've invested in professional equipment, insurance, software, travel and, most importantly, many hours of work before a parent even sees their gallery.
I completely understand that family budgets are under pressure. Nobody should feel obliged to buy photographs they don't want or can't afford.
But there is a big difference between choosing not to buy a photograph and using AI to remove the watermark from a photograph that hasn't been purchased.
There is also another consideration when the photographs are of children.
Uploading a child's professional photograph to an AI tool to remove a watermark means that image is being put somewhere beyond the photographer's control. It raises another important question: what happens to children's images once they are uploaded to these platforms?
This is why I have now introduced a much more robust watermarking system on my nursery galleries.
Not because I want to make life difficult for parents, but because I need to protect my work, my copyright and my livelihood.
I've been photographing little ones for over 20 years and I absolutely love what I do.
But behind every photograph is a small business, a huge amount of work and someone trying to make a living from their craft.
There isn't an AI button that pays the photographer. 📸
