Photos. The ultimate conceit.
If someone were to use someone else's photos, what good does that do unless they plan to maintain the deception online. It's quite easy to weed out impostors, but that's probably more relevant to internet chatting/dating. It seems pointless to get compliments on how one looks when that's not even your photo.
Regarding privacy... there are so many pics floating on the web, I don't think people are in that much danger. From my own position, I totally look different with makeup than without. I would not marry this photo of me with the real me. People would be shocked.
Mostly, the harshest critics are ourselves. People tell me that I pass, but I pooh-pooh them. Do they not see the jutting eyebrow ridge, the 5o'clock shadow that never leaves, the wrong angles.
Anyways, photos have a lot do with the right lighting. I take a zillion shots of myself, (up-angle, down-angle, more exposure, less expsoure), but only 2 or 3 are decent. The rest are horrific.
To me, what photos do best are an encouragement to others. I see all these gorgeous she-male porn stars and say to myself, if they can get there, so can I. On these forums, it is doubly more impressive because we get to talk to people behind the photos and can be inspired. I see many of the ladies here and say, wow... she's achieved the dream. She's living the life, wish I was there.