Use Google Image Search to Find Out Who is Using Your Photos Online

Many people use Google Image Search to find photos on the Internet by typing text into the search box.  Google Image Search also has an easy to use Search By Image feature that can help you find people who are using your photos without your knowledge or permission.  If you upload photos to multiple websites or social media sites, it can also be a useful way for you to see where you’ve uploaded the photo.

Google Image Search can also be useful to identify the subject of your nature photography (birds, insects, flowers, and plants).

Google’s Search by Image allows you to upload a photo or paste a link to the photo in the Search By Image Box.

Here’s How You Find Who is Using Your Images Online

Step 1 – Go to images.Google.com

Step 2 – Click on the camera icon in the search box.

Step 3 – Upload a photo or paste a URL to the location of the photo online.

Step 4 – Google will present you a page of search results of websites where your photo  or similar photos are displayed.

Google Image Search Results

Overall, Google’s Search By Image worked pretty well.   Unfortunately, I did find that several of my photos were being used on websites without my permission or even credit. 

I did find a couple of small issues with Search By Image. It could not find some of the images on my Zenfolio website.  Those images were probably not indexed by Google.  Also, photos of popular attractions such as the Yellowstone Lower Falls or the Washington Monument displayed many similar photos.

So give Google’s Search By Image a try.  It can be addicting and time consuming.