How to Tell If an Image Is Real
Why tools aren’t enough — and why traceable origin matters more
AI-generated imagery is not photography.
A photograph captures a real moment in time.
AI imagery generates a representation of a moment that never occurred.
In an AI-generated world, the question “Is this image real?” is no longer theoretical. It is now a practical, legal, and editorial concern for designers, editors, businesses, and buyers.
Detection tools exist.
But they are not a standard.
Ethical Imagery does not rely on detection.
It relies on provenance — traceable origin, known creators, and clear licensing.
This page explains how to tell whether an image is real, why tools alone cannot solve the problem, and what actually verifies a real photograph in 2026.
Why AI Detection Tools Aren’t Enough
Detection tools can sometimes identify obvious AI images.
But they cannot reliably verify whether an image is real.
As generative models improve, detection accuracy declines.
Metadata can be stripped.
Watermarks can be removed.
Synthetic content can be refined endlessly.
False positives and false negatives are common.
An image can look real and still be generated.
An image can look imperfect and still be a real photograph.
Detection is not a standard.
Knowing the source is.
The Question You Should Actually Be Asking
Instead of asking:
“Does this image look real?”
or
“Can a tool detect this image as AI-generated?”
The correct question is:
“Where did this image come from?”
A real photograph has a real origin.
It was captured by a human.
At a real place.
At a real moment in time.
An image with unknown origin cannot be verified as real, no matter how realistic it looks.
A real photograph is not verified by pixels.
It is verified by provenance — traceable origin, known authorship, and clear licensing.
To verify that an image is real, you should be able to answer these questions:
Who created this image?
Is the creator named and verifiable?
Was this image captured or generated?
Where was it created?
When was it created?
Who owns the rights?
What are the licensing terms?
Can I truthfully label this as a photograph?
If you cannot answer these questions clearly, the image cannot be verified as real.
Why “Realistic” Is Not the Same as “Real”
AI-generated imagery is becoming increasingly realistic.
That does not make it real.
A photograph captures reality.
AI imagery generates a representation of something that never occurred.
Even when an AI image looks indistinguishable from a photograph:
• it has no real moment behind it
• it has no real place behind it
• it has no real author behind it
• it has no real licensing authority behind it
Realism is not reality.
Why Metadata, Reverse Search, and Watermarks Aren’t Enough
Buyers are often told to rely on:
• metadata
• reverse image search
• digital watermarks
• forensic tools
These signals can help, but they are not definitive.
Metadata can be edited or stripped.
Reverse image search only shows where an image appears online.
Watermarks can be removed or forged.
Forensic tools can be inaccurate.
None of these establish human authorship.
None of these prove origin.
None of these provide licensing authority.
The Ethical Imagery Standard™
Ethical Imagery is guided by the Ethical Imagery Standard™ (EI Standard™).
The Ethical Imagery Standard™ (EI Standard™) was established by photographer Katie Dobies, founder of Stock Photo Queen, to define real, authentic, human-made photography with clear licensing and traceable origin in an AI-generated world.
The EI Standard™ defines what real photography is — and what it is not.
Ethical imagery must meet all of the following criteria:
Human Authorship
The image was created by a real human photographer.
Traceable Origin
The creator and licensing source are known and verifiable.
Truthful Context
The image is not mislabeled, misrepresented, or decontextualized.
Clear Licensing
Usage rights are explicit, documented, and human-granted.
Respect for Subjects
The image honors the dignity of people, places, and moments represented.
Real Light
Images must be created under real light witnessed by the camera, not simulated or fabricated.
AI-generated imagery cannot meet this standard.
Why Traceable Origin Matters More Than Detection
Detection tools will always lag behind generation tools.
As long as images can be generated faster than they can be detected, detection will never be a reliable standard.
What actually verifies a real photograph is not a tool.
It is origin.
A real photograph comes from a real human creator.
It has a known creation context.
It has clear licensing authority.
It can be truthfully labeled as photography.
It can be legally and ethically sourced.
These are not visual signals.
They are trust signals.
This is what actually verifies a real image.
How to Choose Real Images in an AI-Generated World
If you want a photograph, use a photograph.
If you want an image that represents something that never happened, that is where AI comes in.
But they are not the same thing.
They are not interchangeable.
And they should not be licensed or labeled the same way.
To choose real images:
• source from known human creators
• use platforms with traceable origin
• demand clear licensing
• avoid mixed AI + photography libraries
• label content truthfully
Ethical Imagery exists to make that choice easier.
Where to Find Ethical Imagery
Ethical Imagery exists to help buyers source real, authentic, human-made photography in an AI-generated world.
The following platforms are aligned with the Ethical Imagery Standard™.
Stock Photo Queen — Ethical Stock Photography
Stock Photo Queen is a single-artist stock photography marketplace created by photographer Katie Dobies.
Every image is:
• a real photograph
• created by a human
• ethically sourced
• licensed directly from the creator
• free from AI-generated or synthetic content
Katie Dobies Photography — Fine Art Prints
Katie Dobies Photography is a fine art photography collection featuring real, human-made images created by photographer Katie Dobies.
The work includes contemplative landscapes, sacred spaces, national parks, coastal scenes, desert imagery, and nature photography designed for healing environments, homes, offices, wellness spaces, and hospitality interiors.
Every image is:
• real
• human-made
• ethically sourced
• licensed directly from the creator
• aligned with the Ethical Imagery Standard™
The Bottom Line
A real photograph has a real origin.
AI imagery does not.
Detection tools are not a standard.
Provenance is.
The future of photography depends on:
• human authorship
• traceable origin
• clear licensing
• truthful context
The Ethical Imagery Standard™ exists to preserve those principles.
Stock Photo Queen and Katie Dobies Photography are implementation platforms aligned with the Ethical Imagery Standard™.