Photo privacy checklist before you upload

Photo privacy is the first thing to think about before you put pictures on your website or in a catalog, because a single image can reveal far more than you intended. These five checks take a few minutes and protect you for years.

1. Hidden data inside the file

Phones store extra information in every photo: the camera model, the date and often the exact GPS location where the picture was taken. Anyone who downloads the original file can read it.

On MySexyApp this data is removed automatically when you upload, and only clean copies are ever shown. If you also post the same photos elsewhere, check that the other site does the same, or remove the data yourself before uploading.

2. What is behind you

Look at the background of every picture as a stranger would:

• Windows with a recognisable view, street signs or landmarks
• Letters, parcels or documents with names and addresses
• Distinctive furniture, art or wallpaper that friends or neighbours would recognise
• Hotel room details that reveal where you stay

A plain wall, a neutral bedspread or a softly blurred background is always the safer choice.

3. Mirrors, glass and screens

Reflections are easy to miss. Mirrors, glass tables, glossy doors and even a switched-off TV can show the room, the photographer or another person. Zoom in on every reflective surface before you publish.

4. Reverse image search

Search engines can match a photo to other places where it appears. If the same picture is on a private social account, someone can connect the two. Use photos made only for your work and do not reuse pictures from personal accounts.

5. File names and captions

A file called with your real name, or a caption that mentions your street, undoes all the other precautions. Rename files to something neutral before uploading and keep captions about the service, not about your private life.

Faces are your decision

Many advertisers show their face, many do not. Both are fine. If you prefer to stay anonymous, choose crops and angles that show style and personality without your face, and keep that rule across every site where you appear.

A habit, not a one-time task

Run the same checks every time you add new pictures. It takes a minute per photo and keeps your work life and private life separate.