Why is an icon automatically placed in upper left of pictures/graphics?

We are creating an imessage extension that contains a bank of pictures that people can access and distribute, seperate from their iPhotos app. Kinda like dropbox.
We are finding that when you attempt to send those photos/graphics via iMessage extension, the app icon is placed in the upper left of the image automatically. Is it possible to remove that upper left icon so it just shows the image?
Additional opservations
- When accessing Apple's "Photos" app via iMessage extension, a user can send a picture or graphic image without the "Photos" app icon inserted in the upper left.
- Stickers and GIFs do not include the icon in the upper left.