Someone Stole My Photo — What to Do
If someone is using your photo without permission, the key is proving the shot is yours and that it existed before their use. Document where the photo is being used with a date, gather the original file and the raw frames, and secure a certificate with a trusted date on your authorship declaration. The date settles the dispute — not the complaint.
First steps: do this right away
- Document the infringement. Screenshot the site or post using the photo, with its visible date and URL. Save the link before it's taken down.
- Check where else it's spreading. A reverse image search (Google Lens, TinEye) shows everywhere the shot has been uploaded.
- Gather the original. The RAW file, the full frame series, the edit versions — anything the thief can't possibly own.
Why EXIF data isn't enough
Many photographers rely on EXIF metadata as proof, but it's easily stripped or altered, and its date isn't independently verified. Uploading to social media stamps a date, but the platform isn't a neutral witness and dates can be manipulated. What actually carries weight is an independent, verifiable date placed before the photo appeared anywhere public.
How to prove the photo is yours
| Method | Gives a trusted date? | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| EXIF metadata | No | Easily stripped or altered; date isn't independently verified |
| RAW file / original series | No | Shows you took it, not when the shot was taken |
| Social media post date | Partly | Contestable; platform isn't an independent witness |
| Authorship-declaration certificate with a trusted date | Yes | Doesn't make the authorship claim for you — it certifies when and by whom the declaration was made |
StampR issues a certificate that records when and by whom an authorship declaration was made. It isn't a registry and doesn't make the authorship claim for you — but it fixes a moment in time the other side can't rewrite. In a dispute, that's the difference between "this is my photo" and "I can show when I took it."
Certify your photo — your first certificate is free.
Frequently asked questions
Does EXIF data prove the photo is mine?
Not on its own. EXIF is easily edited and its date isn't independently verified. A certificate with a trusted date carries far more weight.
Does the Facebook or Instagram post date help?
Partly, but it's contestable and depends on the platform. An independent dated certificate is stronger, especially if made before the post.
What if the thief cropped or edited the photo?
The original series and an earlier trusted date remain strong arguments, even when the final image has been altered.
When is the best time to issue the certificate?
Before you upload the photo publicly. That gives you a trusted date that precedes any use by others.