A is an image made when light hits a photosensitive surface, such as film or an electronic image sensor. In copyright terms, a photographic work is any image made by recording light or other radiation on a surface so it can be viewed or reproduced using chemical, electrical, or other technologies.
Artistic and documentary photography
Photographs may be artistic or documentary in nature. Artistic photography is shaped by the creator’s vision and style. Documentary photography records real moments, events, people, and places to communicate information or raise awareness. In both cases, what matters for copyright is that the photograph reflects creative choices, such as the selection of the subject, timing, composition, or perspective, rather than mere technical accuracy.
Ask yourself: What makes my photograph more than a simple record? Is it the perspective, the mood, or the story it tells?
Authorship and ownership
Copyright protection applies to the photograph as a work, and the work may exist in different forms, such as negatives, digital files, or other storage formats. These materials keep the photographer’s creative intent and remain linked to the author.
By contrast, owning a physical print or a copy of the digital file does not automatically mean owning the copyright in the image; those remain with the creator unless expressly .
Image credit: Mohammad Alizade