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To watermark, or not to watermark?

Friday, February 24, 2012 Posted inALL,BUSINESS,PHOTOGRAPHY

To watermark or not to watermark? With the rapidly rising popularity of photo-centric-sharing sites like Pinterest and Tumblr it’s becoming more and more common to see people posting things that don’t necessarily link back to the artist or creator of the photograph.

For example, if someone wanted to add one of my photos on Tumblr they would have to right click on the image, save it, and then upload it onto Tumblr. Whether they give me credit or not is left completely up to them, and is sadly, more often than not, totally forgotten. And so I see my photographs wondering around the world of Tumblr. Creditless.

I know this really angers countless photographers, and rightly so. It is their photographs and they are free to feel whatever they want on the matter. But whenever I see an image of mine on Tumblr followed by hundreds of notes, comments and reactions – it makes me happy.

I feel like my images take on lives of their own, fulfilling their life purpose by being shared and viewed by eyeballs all over the world. They are somehow making the world a prettier place, a happier place, a better place. So it’s hard to be anything but proud and happy. The last thing I could think of to be is mad.

But something happened this week that really got me thinking. I stumbled across a GORGEOUS image on tumblr. Oh my gosh, it was pretty much life changing. I loooooved it. I stared at it, enjoyed it, cherished it. And I had to figure out who the photographer was. Normally I click on the image in search of a photographer’s credit, but I always get led back to more curation tumblr blogs, which is of no help at all.  But this time the image had a watermark. It was very small, discrete, and I didn’t see it until I looked for it. This small watermark gave me the website of the photographer. So I typed it in and was able to check out her entire portfolio and got to enjoy her creations even more.

And then I thought to myself, I may not mind if people share my images online, but it would make me very sad if someone wanted to discover more of my work and were unable to due to lack of credit.

So to make a long story short … I’ve decided to add a watermark to all of my future images. I’m still experimenting, but my intention is for it to be incredibly small and discrete, as to not get in the way of the image, but prominent enough so that if you were looking to see who took the photo, you’d quickly be able to find out :).

One last thing before I love you and leave you: To those of you out there who don’t use watermarks, or don’t want to use watermarks, but are worried about people saving your images and claiming them as their own – let me tell you a little story.

Once upon a time my photos were stolen (DUN DUN DUN!). A few people had mentioned that maybe I should hold more responsibility, as it could “easily have been avoided” had I watermarked my images. I would like to point out that my photos that were stolen WERE WATERMARKED! Watermarking your images will not protect you from image theft. It was very easy for this man to save my image, and clone out my watermark, and add his own watermark. Yes, a watermark may deter some thieves, but it won’t fully protect you from them all. Nothing will. It’s one of the cons of posting your images online, but I believe that the pros of posting your images online strongly outweigh the cons – but that’s up to each individual to decide for themselves.

I want to know – what are YOUR thoughts on watermarking? Does a small, subtle watermark really bother you? I’m interested to know what you think of it all! Do you watermark your images? LET ME KNOW, LOVELIES! <3

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Posted inALL,BUSINESS,PHOTOGRAPHY

  • http://www.kaitdean.com Kait Dean

    Hi Alex!
    I used to watermark my photos, but stopped because of the idea mentioned in your last paragraph: If somebody REALLY wants to steal an image, they will (by cloning/editing out the watermark in PS.)
    Instead, I resorted to only uploading fairly small, low-res images online.

    However, I do like the idea of a small, discrete watermark mentioning the photographers name… I too have been in a situation where I am dying to find out a photographers name but can’t because of a lack of credit.

    Thanks for the idea, I may start doing that with my images as well. :)

  • http://www.cathieheartphotography.com/ Cathie – Cathie Heart Photography

    I’ve always watermarked with my brand on the bottom left and my web address on the bottom right. It doesn’t stop people from stealing but at least I know that if they leave the image as is, people can find me from it :)

  • Chiara

    Hello! I’m still not sure about the watermark question because of all the reasons you mention, as well, but also I’m really indecisive about the design it, potentially, has to have. I mean, I’ve tried to simply watermark my pictures with my nickname, but it doesn’t lead to anything that could link directly to me, because I don’t have a blog or a flickr to link to(yet!). But since I’m not a professional photographer because I simply shot for my own pleasure and maybe for my friend’s, it’s not really a problem. I just think that if pictures should be watermarked, it’s better if the watermark is either really dicrete and informative, but also kind of good looking and interesting. Maybe it’s just a second level, perhaps one should previously choose if have or not a watermak, I know, but I usually am retained by this aspect of the matter,too.

  • http://www.alibeephotography.com Ali Brown

    Excellent points, Alex! I’ve never watermarked my images, but this has really opened up my mind to the idea. I’d love to know who the photographer you discovered is!! Please share :)

  • anna

    I’m an artist and i always leave a tiny copyright info on my images. Yes, it doesn’t prevent from stealing (I’m dealing right now with 3 brands who used my pictures on their clothes.. for commercial use obviously).
    I think it’s just more of an illusion that you can protect your artworks and photos. The only good thing about it that people will know who is the author :) You should use it but try not to overwhelm the picture with it.

  • http://www.simply-splendid.com Marla Misclevitz

    Hi Alex! I watermark my images for the reason that if someone were to stumble across one and loved it, I would want them to be able to find me. I agree that watermarks don’t prevent thievery.

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Anna!

    I am shocked to hear that three brands are using your pictures on their clothes – I just can’t believe that there are brands out there willing to take advantage of artists like that! Good luck dealing with that, poor you!

    <3

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Ali, I had totally forgot who it was – but just remembered it was Evgenia Galan >> http://500px.com/photo/4427275! See her subtle watermark? I didn’t even notice it until I was looking for it. Totally awesome. :)

  • http://www.bloggakpphoto.net AKP Photography

    I watermark ALL my photographs and dont care if people dont like it :D

    So i dont mind if you watermark your photos :D

  • http://www.ajiradarchphotography.com/blog ajira

    So funny that you wrote about this today because I’ve been thinking about it too. I used to watermark all my images before posting them online (and went through various watermarks too- just my name, my biz name, blog url, site url etc) and then stopped since I wasn’t sure it was worth the effort… but then recently started thinking that it would at least let people know who made the image they liked so perhaps I should start using it again. Sound familiar? Ha! Anyway, I had decided to start using it again but not what or how. I’m liking the idea of my name as that seems like an easy way for people to find me on the interwebs and all.

  • http://www.guypedliham@btopenworld.com Guy Pedliham

    I watermark all of my images that I load on social network sites etc.
    I don’t imagine for one moment that this will prevent the images being copied and re-posted. I kind of accept that as inevitable when I upload them to these sites. But at least it gets my name out there with the picture.

  • http://www.simonbiffenphotography.co.uk Simon Biffen

    Hey Alex,
    Really interesting and like yourself and others I initially watermarked everything as I was just starting out and thought I should! However, I didn’t really like how it looked and went without them for a long time, leaving the images clean. Now I fully appreciate the need for others to find who you are if the images goes AWOL so including a subtle watermark may be the key. Some larger subtle logos actually look pretty good if they are well placed as it gives the feel that the photographer cares enough about their picture to warrant the copyright!

  • http://meredithsledge.blogspot.com Meredith Sledge

    I listened to Jasmine Star online the other day and after she shoots a wedding, she puts a folder up of all the images and allows anyone to download those files. Her clients pay but after that, anyone can download them, without a watermark. She said it doesn’t bother her because if someone wants to hire her, they have to find out who took the picture. And then, they will contact her. She can’t stop people from saying the picture is theirs and I’m sure if that happened she would do something about it but I thought her approch was interesting.

  • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rocio-DOleo-Photography/157690 Rocio D’Oleo

    I had always use a watermark in my pictures but for some reason I stopped doing it for a while and then came back to do it again a bit ago. As far as I know a discrete watermark does not bother anybody and in my opinion it gives the final touch to the image, like your signature or something.
    The last pictures I have been uploading have no watermark but you really have made me think that I should go back to watermark all my images just in case someone wants to know a little it more about my work.

    As always, a great post!
    Have a nice day!

  • http://yellowmelle.blogspot.com melissa

    I love your stance on this, and it makes a lot of sense.

    I don’t have watermarks on my images for the same reason I don’t sign the front of my work: images tend to rely on composition. I don’t want to put the work into making a lovely image only to completely ruin the composition by putting a distracting detail on it. Some watermarks work into the composition, but lots just don’t. :P

    I get flak from people sometimes for not signing the front, claiming that I am “not proud of it enough”, but maybe I’m proud enough to not destroy it? I don’t know. That’s just how I feel anyway. Most of the proud “masters” were identifiable by their styles, not their signatures anyway.

    hehe kind of digressed from watermarking a bit. I agree, I’ve seen tons of watermarked images “stolen”, some even with the original watermark still intact! They really just don’t care.

    I found it somewhat alarming that someone would shame you for not using watermarks when yours were taken. There seems to be an increasing, heartbreaking trend in blaming the victim. Maybe we should put the onus on those who are actually doing sh*tty things instead? You know, people who actually deserve shame rather than indirectly praising them for teaching us a lesson? You don’t deserve that.

  • http://behindcloseddrawers.wordpress.com Andrea B

    It’s good to hear a photographer’s take on this, because you have the most at stake since you depend on your your eye, technique, style, and “look” for your living. I’ve also recently decided to watermark my images, although I am by no means a professional photographer. I love Pinterest, but all the uproar about copyright issues has me leery. I don’t want to hurt anyone, but I do love having visual bookmarks and reminders that might just spread the love the image or article or blog to others, as well.

    Thanks for sharing.

  • https://www.facebook.com/CtrlZMV Emilia

    I never thought much about watermarking until this… I do watermark my pictures, but there’s no website or anything that could bring people to know more of my work. I have lot of work to do then :) As always I love your posts!

  • http://www.anafotos.com Ana Luisa Sol

    I think it is better to watermark your photos, although I forget to do it sometimes…
    But although it won’t prevent the theft of the picture I usually try to place the watermark on an area that would be more difficult to clone…

  • Paulette

    i like subtle and small watermarks. they let people know who the artist is and allow people to experience a piece of the artist through their brand. the only place i don’t watermark is on my website because there it can be reasonably assumed they know who the artist is and your website is providing enough about you so that they (audience) can get a sense of who you are.

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hey Paulette, I totally agree with you! Subtle and small is the way to go with watermarks :) For sure! And I think you’re right, watermarking doesn’t feel necessary on your website, because it’s obvious who the photographer is :)