Watermarked Photos, whatcha think?

I understand putting something on a photo if you want to identify it as yours but unless you make your living off your photography or have photos of something spectacular and rare, I don't see why people worry so much about someone else posting a photo and claiming its theirs. Sure it's lame and if I found someone posting pictures of my dogs and saying the photos were theirs I'd say something to them, but it's not something I'm going to sweat over trying to prevent. I personally think smacking a water mark in the middle of a picture just to post on a forum is a bit much, and it truly does distract away from the photo for me. I can certainly understand when a pro photographer with an online gallery to showcase their work does it though.

The problem is when people calling themselves breeders steal photos of others' dogs so they can make a quick buck. (off of people who buy dogs and puppies sight unseen.)

There's a couple that are notorious for it and the authorities have yet to catch them. They change kennel names often and surf the web all over. Even when people have found their dog posted elsewhere online they don't know who to contact.

with great pictures anyone makes, I'd hate if someone else ruins it because it's not right claiming as theirs if it's not. it just is not. you pay the photographer. you pay to download a music. you pay for a page of thumbnail designs.. list goes on. you can deter theives but also deter scandals.

again, I really don't have problem with mine, many pet talkers and I too know I've been posting them and we can just point it out when needed. sometimes I'd have PMs asking me if I could make pictures a bit bigger so they can see them better, wasn't a problem emailing them in originals.

I forgot to mention - as a picture thread devoter - I started smallize my pictures so it'd be easier for dailuppers here. there were so many pet talkers complaining about how long it takes to upload the page and it has been a habit since (and easier work as it'd only border-frame any pictures less than 400x400 all at once). no...I'm not exactly lazy. :p

I once saw a website that had three watermarks in each picture. :o I can understand, especially going through this experience of stealing. they were nice color-striking pictures!

I'd do what kay does, only on my own website - more work effort and it's more official (and professional) there. but here, it's only a pet forum. kay, just so you know your pictures CAN be printed in 3x5 and 4x6 in some companies without grains.

I don't worry about watermarks on the picture as much as I worry about embedding it in the picture. As soon as I take photos off of my camera I embed my copyright information in the image. This means that if someone saves it and edits out my watermark on the image, my contact information (website, city, and business phone # for me) are still in the image. You can't take that out. If they were to save all of my photos on a CD and take them to a lab, my copyright information is still there and the photos should not be printed. I feel safer with that there.

I do think it's a little silly to watermark at all if you are not looking to sell your photos, but I can understand the concern. I go back and forth as to whether or not my photos will have a watermark just to post on forums, but my information is always embedded in each and every photo I post. I just started my website where you can purchase my photos online (although the prices aren't up there yet but will be soon) and I have my information embedded in the photos AND a watermark with my website name on it. I did that for several reasons, but one is because the photos show up larger on this website than if I had resized them myself and I don't want anyone to make a small print from it.

But, then again, I am a "professional photographer" (though that still seems odd to me!) and I am now doing engagement photos, weddings, etc. and I feel like I need to protect my images very well.

Okay, it's been pointed out to me that it's easier than I thought to get rid of embedded info too.

.... If you post your photos online, you're at risk for people stealing them. But, depending on what you want to gain out of putting them on the internet, the benefits could be better ... you could gain clients, etc. I don't really worry TOO much about people stealing them because I figure I'm the only one who has the original. I never, ever give out my original photos unless if I trust someone whole-heartedly with them.

I use watermarks because it's harder to get them out of the photo then if they are in the corner. Honestly, they just work for me. But the letters are very visible. You need to fade them more. Nena is beautiful. As for cams I recommend Nikon or Canon.

I remember like a month ago in the other forum i belong to this 12 year old girl would steal photos from Google and what not. And worse of all her exuses where LAME. She kept saying they where hers when you can perfectly see them on Google and i even posted link and yet she still claimed them! After all the fighthing she was caught, she stole over 7 photos or more and got in trouble with her mom. Never seen her online since then.

Actually, I was mainly asking about it for Ebay. I tried it out on my last pics here to see how it worked. I didn't realize it would be such a touchy subject. I also understand that my pics aren't that great, as compared to others. I guess I'm too sensitive because a few things said here hurt. I need to get a thicker skin.

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Originally Posted by dukedogsmom

Actually, I was mainly asking about it for Ebay. I tried it out on my last pics here to see how it worked. I didn't realize it would be such a touchy subject. I also understand that my pics aren't that great, as compared to others. I guess I'm too sensitive because a few things said here hurt. I need to get a thicker skin.

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I'm a bit confused as to why anyone would be hurt by anything said in here. I don't see anyone getting touchy, just expressing their opinions on the subject.

I apologize if it was anything I said.

I understand copyright issues, but honesty on a site like this, I find it extremely annoying to have someone's name right smack across the center of a photo. I'd rather you just don't post it if your that worried about somone downloading it. Using low res is a good solution because if someone's taking it, they really can't use it for anything useful besides reposting on the internet. It will look awful if they try to print it, enlarge it, etc.

It's a different matter in the case of professionals, whose work really is copyrighted.

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Originally Posted by cyber-sibes

It's a different matter in the case of professionals, whose work really is copyrighted.

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Actually every photographers work is copyrighted from the moment they press the shutter button, professional or otherwise. It might be different if the pix were registered as well for additional 'proof' it's your pix.

Either way, I believe that each photographers pix, from the complete newbie to the advanced professional, has a right to not have their images stolen and has a right to be concerned about it happening.

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Originally Posted by dukedogsmom

Actually, I was mainly asking about it for Ebay. I tried it out on my last pics here to see how it worked. I didn't realize it would be such a touchy subject. I also understand that my pics aren't that great, as compared to others. I guess I'm too sensitive because a few things said here hurt. I need to get a thicker skin.

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Val, I have never seen photos of yours that had water marks, my post was in response to the original poster who asked people's opinions on them. It wasn't meant in an angry tone or directed at anyone in particular. I just know I am a bit distracted by a water mark across the photo. It doesn't make the photo bad and it doesn't make me angry, I just am distracted by them. My point was just that if all someone is doing is using a photo to post on the board to share their pets, I don't see a real need for them for that sole reason. I did not mean a photo had to be a pro-photo to "deserve" a water mark. A water mark doesn't make a picture more or less valuable in my eyes. I meant I understand more why pros do because it's their career and I can see why theft would be more of a worry. That's just my thought on it. I hope this clarifies. I didn't mean anything I said to be hurtful to anyone.

Sorry guys. Read things the wrong way. I guess I'm overly sensitive right now. It's Duke's one year mark this weekend.