AI images are not photography. A photograph captures a real moment in time, while AI imagery generates a representation of something that never happened. In an AI-generated world, collapsing the distinction between photography and generated imagery creates serious problems for buyers, licensing, and editorial trust. This article explains why AI images are not photography, why that difference matters, and how to choose real photos and ethical imagery with traceable origin and clear licensing.

In an AI-generated world, knowing how to recognize real photography matters. This guide explains how to verify human authorship, traceable origin, real light, and clear licensing.