21/07/2026
Would you walk out of Tesco with a trolley full of groceries without paying?
So why do so many people think it’s okay to ask for watermarks to be removed from a photographer’s images?
Or how would you feel if someone stole £300 straight out of your bank account — money you’d put aside for your child’s birthday, Christmas, or summer plans?
It sounds dramatic, but this is exactly what happens when people ask for watermarks to be removed from a photographer’s images. It’s something that’s been playing on my mind for a while now. I’m seeing more and more posts online where unpurchased images are edited, shared, or used without permission — and while it might seem small or harmless, it has a very real impact on photographers and creatives. Many of us are parents trying to support our families, and when income is taken, it isn’t just a business loss… it’s plans cancelled, budgets wiped out, extra shifts taken, school assemblies missed, and children who need routine and plans suddenly left without the support they rely on.
I’ve written a full blog explaining the emotional, financial, and legal impact of watermark removal — not to shame anyone, but to help people understand what it really means when creative work is taken without permission. If you have a moment, please read it. It matters more than people realise.
http://www.katemorleyphotography.co.uk/blog/why-removing-watermarks-is-theft-and-why-it-hurts-real-families-behind-nottinghams-newborn-family-photographers
