Stop Watermarking Your Photos

How do you watermark your images? Just don't do it! In this video we cover why photographers think they have to watermark their images, and all the reasons why it's actually a waste of time. Did we miss something? Leave us a comment below.

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[robertnovak]

You’re discussing visible watermarks. The trick is to use steganography to leave a near invisible mark that the thief doesn’t see, and thus doesn’t know to try to remove. It’s also mathematically difficult to remove, thus protecting your work more

[NextScamdemic]

Dude, I do portraits for friends and acquaintances pro bono, all I ask is credit me on social media- which they proceed to post without crediting me. My photos rock, I deserve the credit

[erictaylor]

I do a-lot of weddings and events. If the client agrees to a certain amount of images, the images that are being proofed are all watermarked. Once they've made their final selections, I remove the watermark and send them their final gallery. So IMO watermarks are important.

[rockonyo]

Watermarking photos helps in two ways 1. It deters theft to a large extent. 2. It serves as a means of identity/brand recognition when your images appear in image search engines like Google. I use a tool called Mass Watermark to watermark and resize my images in bulk before uploading them online.

[Fxckkitt]

Two years late but a small watermark does more advertising than you think
If I see two really good photos in different places and see the same watermark on both, my mind already starts going “This photographer is good” even if I don’t know exactly who they are

[dewbedew]

I am a photographer and I totally disagree with your idea. My pictures were stolen from competitors around the world and my watermark was cropped out by the thieves. Now I have to put a big watermark in the center of the image to prevent my hard work being stolen.

[PhotoshopArt]

I'm proud of my art and my signature and watermark and never gonna remove it.

[Djole_NS]

There are no general rules. For some uses watermarking is good, for some others is not. Some photos are works of art, but the majority are products. And every product, not that may have but must have information about its producer. Watermark is one of the ways to give that information to the consumers and to ensure them that you stand behind your work.

[imacarguy]

To prevent piracy, you should watermark your photos and videos. Buddy, some of this stuff isn't even available to download and people still steal it and post it on the internet. People rely on these pictures and videos to make a living. A watermark can honestly help with the Copyright process as well in certain instances.

[keremgoart]

Never listen to the people who keep saying this. NEVER. And ALWAYS watermark your art and photography. ALWAYS.

[pl]

WRONG! Ask any copyright attorney—only a hack would not watermark their copyrighted work and only a thief or moron would encourage you not to. How stupid!

[deanjagger]

I take the time to take the picture, pay to get there, I think it's better for me they know who you are. Not guessing at it.

[matrixphotodesign]

Actually some solid advice, and entertaining at the same time. Refreshing !

[JMissyPAGE]

People will steal photos with and without the photos. I hate watermarks in my photos. I don’t pay attention to water marks. It doesn’t make me know the photographer more.

[Leth]

Yeah i dont watermark anything other than my realestate images before the client pays for it then its removed.

[logut]

How do you prove the photo is yours to get royalties from it??

[austinhall]

Alright, who’s watermark hurt this man?

[iamdjfidel]

I am not in for your arguenemt.
Why are you not able to play music from popular artist nowadays on YouTube without a strike? or use them in your works to promote the artist? That is because they deem it necessary for the artist to be paid. Even when you pay for a subscription you still can't use those songs legally.
So why can't photogs and videogs use that sweet watermark they paid for or created by themselves. I agree some watermarks are just horrible on the photo and spoil the photo itself. Too large or just in the wrong places. I had a client who asked me to remove the logo from my pictures I took of them. I declined to do so because they were having a big head about it. Their approach alone made me not want to remove the logo and told them I will file a lawsuit if they printed my work without my permission or altered my logo. I really dont care but if I give you a quote and you turn to demand for a lower price I stamp my logo on your photos because you are not willing to support my asking price. I said enough let me leave some room for some @ from others.

[kevinrichardson]

Are watermarks useful if I'm making original paintings, but selling only prints of the original paintings on my website ? What's stopping someone who came to BUY a print from just printing it for free?

[yuding-sltg]

how to back link, could you help me to understand? I'm not tech. savvy