Is printing photos for protection permitted?

Assalamu alaikum, so an imam told my mom to print out pictures of herself and keep them in the Quran, supposedly to guard against black magic. Isn't that haram? It feels like shirk or at least a bid'ah. Only Allah can protect us, right? I tried telling her, but she doesn't think it's wrong. Can someone clarify this? Jazakum Allahu khayran.