why ONE PHOTO was worth $10,000 and yours could be too!

Vanessa Joy is a wedding photographer and educator helping photographers grow profitable businesses.

As photographers, we pour our hearts into capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments. But what happens when someone uses your work without permission? A venue? A vendor? Even a magazine?

That’s exactly what happened to me. A wedding venue and The Knot magazine used my photo for a full-page ad without my consent. I sued—and I won. Here’s what happened, what I learned, and what every photographer should know about copyright.

The $100,000 Rule Photographers Don’t Know About

Under U.S. copyright law, photographers can sue for up to $100,000 per photo if their work is used commercially without permission. On top of that, legal fees can be recovered.

This isn’t about social media reposts or “exposure.” This is about businesses making money from your work without compensating you.

My Case: A Venue and a Magazine

Years ago, I granted a New Jersey venue permission to use low-resolution photos on their website and social media—not for ads.

Then I discovered my photo in a full-page ad in The Knot magazine. The venue never asked, and the magazine never verified usage rights. Both had crossed the line.

Discovering My Rights

While speaking at Creative Live, I met a copyright lawyer who told me I could sue—even though I hadn’t registered that image yet. He explained I had a 90-day window after publication to register the photo and still pursue damages.

👉 Photographers automatically own copyright the moment they click the shutter.
👉 But to sue for statutory damages (the big money), you need to register your work with the government.

RightsClick: A Game-Changer for Photographers

Registering photos used to be confusing and time-consuming. Enter RightsClick—a platform built by copyright experts with over 35 years of experience.

It lets you:

• Register groups of images quickly.

• Organize your copyright portfolio.

• Generate enforcement tools like cease-and-desist letters or invoices.

This makes protecting your work far easier and more practical for working photographers.

The Settlement

I sent cease-and-desist letters to both the venue and the magazine. The Knot turned on the venue, and eventually I settled for $20,000 out of court.

Did it cost me a relationship with that venue? Yes. Did they try to make amends with referrals? Yes—but they never panned out.

The financial win was real, but the professional fallout was also very real.

What Photographers Need to Know About Copyright

• Venues cannot claim ownership of your photos just because they were taken on their property.

• Vendors (like florists, makeup artists, planners) cannot demand copyright to images featuring their work.

• You always own the copyright to your photos—unless you sign it away in writing.

👉 Protect yourself. Register your work. Use platforms like RightsClick to back you up.

Final Thoughts

Having your work stolen is infuriating—but it’s also an opportunity to stand up for yourself and for photographers everywhere.

The law is on your side. The tools exist to protect your work. The only question is: what would you do if someone used your photo without permission? Would you sue, even knowing the potential professional fallout?