December 5, 2011

Watermarking Your Images

Watermarking. To do, to not do. That is the question that plagues many of us photographers.

Sigh. Don’t we have enough to worry about?

Probably, but for many, protecting their work is a top priority.

I love the idea this Photographer has . . . . And I quote:

“Please respect all photographers LOGOs on pictures we post on Facebook. Don’t let it come to us using this as our watermark. It ruins the picture.”

{ image credit: lily photography, inc. }

Laughs. Well said. Could you imagine?

Along the same line . . . . what if we did not watermark with logos or text, but instead with mustaches and beards?

{ My son would kill me . . . . }

Would people be inclined to lift images if they were sporting an 80′s ‘stache? (Would they be inclined to order them at all? lol.)

I have said for years on various online photog forums, as well as discussed at my former Workshops —> if you are not watermarking your images, you are lowering your sales.

Some of you are thinking, “Oh, but I have a “disable right-click” deal on my blog.” Sweet. But, what about the “print screen” option? If it’s on the screen, someone can snag it. Don’t rely on a disable right-click code to protect your work.

One photographer at one of my workshops once shared the story about a client that admitted to snapping a picture of each session image that scrolled by in a “protected” slideshow. Uhm. Wow.

I won’t go into the argument of having the images on your website watermarked, but as for your blog (especially for “sneak peek” images for clients) and social websites, I strongly suggest you watermark.

sneak peeks

Let’s talk about the sneak peeks. After a fab session you post a few images on your blog to get your client excited about their images. I totally get that. (Although, may I kindly suggest that you limit it to one or two images, and never show the best from the session. Leave those for the ordering session!)

My issue of concern comes from photographers that post images (that have yet to be purchased) with little logo at the bottom corner of the image. Can you say “crop-able”? On top of that, the logo is so pretty, it almost makes the image even more desirable.

Remember, clients often do not have the same standards we professional photographers hold. Many photogs scoff at the thought of a client being satisfied with a 5×7 printed from the web, especially with a little logo in the corner.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Sure, most would rather have the professionally printed version, however, what they are enjoying is the ability to view the image. They are able to put it in a frame and look at it whenever they wish; under their terms.

My rule is this — when it comes to preview images, the watermark touches or goes through either the chin or the forehead.

Adjusting the opacity of the watermark is the key to not overpowering the image. Opacity, my dear, is your friend.

online ordering

Same concept as above, but I step things up even more. After all, why would a client place a big order from you if you make it so easy to snag every single image? People can justify themselves into all sorts of crazy. Especially when no one is looking.

{ Skye uses her stern voice. }

Never make business decisions based on depending on the integrity of others.

Get full payment before even ordering images from the lab. Never loan out a proof book. Watermark your images. Get proper credit when due. The list goes on.

I digress.

Here’s an image I snagged from a recent online ordering session of mine. Even if they snag it, there’s no doubt that A.) this image belongs to Work of Heart Photography and B.) this image was not supposed to be taken.

Maybe a bit hardcore for some of you. I understand. However, at least consider watermarking through the chest of your subject — this makes it hard to crop out your identity.

I had one photographer cringe at the thought of watermarking her images. She thought her clients would be offended and have “hurt feelings”. Ladies, yes, I am talking to you ladies as no man in business would even consider this concept, leave the feelings for behind the camera — capturing the emotions, the moments, the beauty, but when it comes to business – leave the feelings behind. Feelings are fickle and are not facts. If you lead your business with your feelings . . . oh wait now, I’m beginning to preach and go off topic. We’ll leave that for another day.

Let’s do the math. If you charge $40 for a 5×7 print and ten clients lift fifty un-marked images from their online gallery and therefore print 5×7′s per year . . . . that adds up to $2,000 out of your pocket. Ouch. Couldn’t your family use that $2,000 this year?

I cannot tell you how many photographers have told me over the years something along the lines of, “Thank you, my sales went way up now that I’ve been watermarking my ordering sessions!” Again, I’m not talk about “pretty-logo-in-the-bottom-corner” type of watermarking. No need to go crazy like we all did in the 90′s with our bedazzlers . . . just be proactive.

social websites

Social websites such as Facebook and Twitter can be a huge benefit to your business. Just be smart about it.

Photographers love it when clients tag session images so their friends and family can view our work, but, many will save right-click your image and upload it as their profile image. Often times they’ll get crop-happy and crop out any pretty little logos tucked away at the bottom of the image. Don’t leave it to them to credit you in the description either. If there is no identification, how can you get referrals?

I even have a stern warning to not do this, and some do, this is why it’s essential to have watermarked across an important part of the image. A part that chances are they won’t want to crop.

In the image below I placed the watermark slightly lower so that part of it would touch the rooster too.

I will say I don’t believe clients are intending to be malicious or rip us off. Certainly not. However, let’s not make it easy for people snag our images.

pinterest interest

Enter in Pinterest.

I don’t think my {creative} life will ever be the same. Sigh.

But, that said, just as with Facebook, the new inspiration-laden Pinterest has caused many photographers to re-evaluate the way they do things.

How so?

If you’ve been browsing via Pinterest even for a short time, you probably have seen numerous examples of . . .“Boy, they reallly should have watermarked that image.”

With Pinterest, there is great potential to gain heaps of traffic to your website or blog. I read recently that some folks have experienced more traffic via one image on Pinterest than a year of traffic the old fashioned way. Snazzy.

Before you get so excited you call your Mother, remember there’s always a flipside. If you don’t watermark your work . . . it may end up namelessly floating around the halls of Pinterest. How so? A less-than-tech-savvy admirer pinned your un-watermarked image and didn’t leave a source to your blog/website. Even if they put your name as the photographer in the comments box, they next person who pins that pin may not.

You don’t have to put your image protection in the masses hands; honestly, that’s your responsibility. Take a few minutes to watermark it.

Remember, your work is worth knowing.

in summary

There is much more to cover on this topic, but to sum up:

1.) Watermarking your images protects your images.

2.) Especially watermark images that haven’t been purchased by client yet.

3.) Don’t make business decisions depending on other’s integrity

4.) Watermarking is cool.

5.) Your images are worth protecting.

Will watermarking your images be 100 percent foolproof? Of course not, but again, take the steps to protect your work. If you don’t, then who will?

And am I jaded? I’ve had images of mine ripped off numerous times. Even as far as to have had a former student of mine using my images in her marketing materials as if they were her own. I take that sort of thing seriously. Wouldn’t you?

Before I go, I know there are a few who would like to learn more on how to make a watermark. If you have some version of Photoshop, click here for some resources. It’s easy, pink swear.

For more on this topic, and much more — check out my Workshop Workbook.

Have a Watermark story to share? Leave a comment on the blog. I want to hear from you!

Until next time!

- Skye, xoxo