Should I Watermark My Photos?
As a photographer, it’s important to keep people from using your photography if they don’t have the right to do so. One way to protect your images is to use a Watermark.
A watermark is a logo or piece of text superimposed on the photo. It let’s everyone know who owns the photo. The mark is placed in such a way that it allows the viewer to see the image. But it keeps people from using the photo for their own personal and professional uses.
This article will discuss the pros and cons of watermarks so you can decide if it’s a route you want to take.
Benefits of Watermarking
Here are some reasons why you may want to add watermarks to your photos:
It’s Good for Marketing: If you watermark your photos, it will get the word out about your service. For instance, if you take pictures of a band and watermark them, and the band posts them, everyone will know who took them. If viewers like what they see, they may just hire you.
It’s Good for Selling Prints: Say you do a photo shoot at a wedding, and you want the couple to pay for prints. If you send them watermarked versions, they won’t be able to print them themselves. They will need to pay so you can take off the watermark and get them printed.
It Credits You for the Work: You can think of a watermark in the same way as you would think of an artist’s signature on a painting. It credits you for the work.
Drawback
Now here are some drawbacks associated with the Watermarking process.
It Doesn’t Protect You Against Copyright Infringement: Just because a photo is watermarked, that doesn’t mean it’s protected against copyright infringement. People can still use it and they may even be able to crop out the watermark.
It Ruins the Image: Even the most subtle watermark can detract from the art and diminish the power of the image.
It Discourages People from Using Your Image: Most photographers don’t like to have their images used without their permission, but others do. If you want your photography to be shared, you’ll stay away from watermarks.
Alternatives to Watermarking
If you would rather not watermark your image, there are alternatives. For example, you can create copyright metadata that stays with the image even if it is downloaded and re-uploaded. The data will include image information like the size of the photo, the day and time it was taken and the copyright.
How to Create a Watermark
To create a watermark, you must start by finding a logo that works for you. Once you have your design worked out, you can use photography software like Lightroom and Photoshop to apply it. Lightroom has a function specifically for watermarks. You can add watermarks in Photoshop with the layering function.
A watermark is a good way to discourage people from using your image but it’s not for everyone. Now that you know what’s involved, you can decide if it’s an option that works for you. Will you be watermarking your photos in the future?
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