Is Watermarking Photos a Good or Bad Idea?
There’s nothing like a good, old fashioned, debate on a controversial subject right? Right!
So I rounded up a few of my Google Plus buddies so we could have a round table discussion about a much talked about subject – watermarking photos.
To Watermark Photo’s or Not to Watermark, That is the Question!
In this chat we hash out some of the following points:
- why we each either do or do not add watermarks to our photos
- when IS it a good time to watermark
- is there a right or wrong way for watermarking photos?
- will it protect you from image theft?
- what about digital or electronic watermarking?
- what are some other ways of protecting your images?
- what is the best image size to use for posting images online?
Just because you found it on the internet, no… it’s NOT ok to take it – Aaron Hockley
Participants in the discussion
What’s your take on watermarking photos?
The only way to ensure your content doesn’t get stolen off the internet is to keep it off the internet – Aaron Hockley
Tell me what you think on this subject. Do you use watermarks, why or why not?
If you want to learn how to make a professional looking, subtle, watermark on your images – stay tuned for a “how to” article on how to do just that later this week!
Cheers, Darlene
Related Posts
-
Optimizing Images For the Web
This week my special guest is Zach Prez from PhotographySpark.com If you're thinking about getting your images online Zach goes over a few things you'll want to think about including: using Facebo... -
Interview with John Corcoran – photography and the law
Have you ever wondered about taking photos of people and posting them online, or maybe you want to sell your images at a craft fair and had questions about whether you can legally do so? I sat down... -
Silhouette Photography Tips – 3 Keys to Great Photos
To create great silhouette photographs there's a few things you'll need to know. In this 40 minute silhouette photography tutorial, Erika Thornes shares the 3 keys - angle of view, separation and ... -
Go Beyond Just Being a Tourist
Has there ever been a moment, a place, an interaction with another person during your travels that has affected you in a profound way? Has travel changed how you look at a place or a country? I w...
What you get when you sign up
- a FIVE week email series to get you started with the challenges in the FREE ebook
- the FREE ebook 10 Photography Challenges to help you take better pictures
- weekly email notices of new photography articles, how to’s, tips and tricks, interviews and reviews
- a monthly newsletter with a secret tip just for you that’s not on the web site
- links to more bonus free stuff once you get the first email
- information travel photography tours and workshops as they are updated and coming up soon
Interesting discussions… Personally I feel it important to protect images with a professional presentation in style. Feel free to pass on the Branding Actions available at the link enclosed, that are made available at no cost at all – 100% free.
http://www.craigsactions.com/pgs/actionset-stylers-webbranders.html
Well thank you Craig, very helpful indeed!
Thanks for the discussion on watermarking, very interesting and relevant subject. I watermark everything I post, for a couple reasons. The obvious is copy protection, as far as that will take you. I feel if its worth stealing its going to be stolen regardless. A couple other ways I combat this is how I format the file for use on the web. My formatting consists of 72 ppi with a max size of 1000 px on the long edge. This may make a barely suitable 4×6 for print but not much else and it’s watermarked. Also I try to keep the watermark tasteful so that it does not take away too much from the image. I also like the fact that if its done tastefully that its a sort of advertising on my image. I keep a pretty consistent look to it so it does almost become a kind of branding. I have changed it up slightly occasionally but it stays fairly consistent.
Thanks again for sharing your passion.
U
Regards Sean
Feel free to check me out at http://www.facebook.com/ajsimmonsphotography
And ajsimmons.zenfolio.com
Thanks for that Sean. I see you also use Zenfolio, do you use the watermark inside that system or do you add them right to the actual images?
I generally use either the export watermark function in Lightroom or CS6 depending on what my output program is. I’ve created a custom brush in Photoshop CS6 that is very handy. There are times when I do however use the Zenfolio watermark, and that is when I set up a gallery for a client. Such as my portrait work or I use it all the time for my other Zenfolio site. That site is for my sports photography business. For that one I use the custom graphic feature to add our logo to each image. It’s a nice non destructive feature of Zenfolio that I appreciate. The other site is http://www.littlelegendsphoto.com if you would like to have a peek. There is a sample of the brush watermark on my FB page at http://www.facebook.com/ajsimmonsphotography
The rusty line heater and the dragon flies are a few that have it applied.
Sean
Custom brush, yes great idea!
Sorry for my bad english. I’m someone who is still learning about photography, but also just enjoy watching photos. I hate watching watermaked photos. I feel it ruins composition. It’s a distracting element no matter how you try to hide it. Can’t imagine enjoying “Cafe Terrace at Night” the same way if Van Gogh had watermarked it. I know many painters today do it, but I still don’t like it anyway.