To: “I’m 19 and just started college. I went for a routine gynecology exam.”
I think you are overacting. In the US taking pics is routine. It’s a professional procedure accepted or prescribed as being correct or most effective. That’s why your girlfriend confirmed that her Doctor took pics too. The new tech savvy Practitioners do it, where the old antiquated ones don’t. More Doctors are moving to the newer technologies as the old Doctors retire.

Your face would be in the pics. I wouldn’t question your Doctor about it again unless you want to lose him as your physician. Then you will have to get a new Doctor who will likely do the same practice. When you filled out the paper work you signed a release for him to take the pics and provide the best practices. So yes, it’s normal now. He has your pics for comparison on future visits.