CA_CanonUser Loc: Friendswood, TX

Did you shoot your photo of the bird in RAW format? If so, you would be the only person who could have a copy of that file. That would be your proof.

jcboy3

I put a watermark on all of my images that I post. Name in lower left corner. It lets people know who took the photo. Most of my photographer friends do the same.

It's not really a protection, just like putting copyright info in the EXIF data is not really a protection. But EXIF data is often stripped from an image, while the watermark remains. It can be removed by cropping or filling in.

I reduce size to 2048 pixels. But that's still good enough to make a small print. I really don't care, because I'm not in the business of selling prints. When I was, I used a print selling website that put a big ugly PROOF watermark across the image.

I post images to share, and realize that doing so makes them available to others. Fine; if they want them, they have them.

If you are really concerned, then don't post your images.

Imagemine Loc: St. Louis USA

Anything put on the web can be manipulated & will be. My suggestion is don't put images for sale on the sharing sites use a website to show your work and make it small & offer multiple sizes

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Even the sites that disable right-click Save Image can be easily circumvented to grab the image.

Nevergone

Show Print at a very low resolution when tried to print all the colors just run together. When selling you more or less are giving up your one time rights to the photo.

Leinik Loc: Rochester NY

If it is a digital file, make sure you have filled the metadata with your information (also know that for some website/social media such as Facebook when you joined you agree to let go of your copyright; it should be illegal (just like any gag-order) but it is).
If it is a print make sure you have the © [copyright logo] followed by your name and date to inform the buyer the print is copyrighted.
In many countries, the nest step for financial damage in case of non-observance of the copyright present on your work is to register your work at the national library (or Library of Congress in the US, or Bibliothèque nationale de France in France, etc. ...).
The whole point with the two (3) procedures is to remove the fact that the buyer/owner of your image cannot assert they could not know who the author was (authorship is yours forever and should be mentioned, it is called "intellectual right") and that it is copyrighted.
Now watermarks or signatures are a pain that can easily be removed with most current software and AI (on digital images); signatures on the print itself can be visual detritus (and without the ©, they only offer minimal legal protection if any). I usually sign mine at the back with graphite in order not to contaminate the print with ink (that may go through the paper). It can be removed but then it is also anther legal issue for the remover and adds to the damage they can be sued for.
There are new camera firmwares being designed (Leica has already implemented it on its new M11-P) that will (theoretically) indelibly watermark your files.
Now the question is how many prints do you sell and what is the risk and probability of anyone will copying them and reselling them under your name.
My advice: add metadata to your files, or the © logo your name and date at the back of the prints and worry more about selling ;o)

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

A couple of my 'signed' photos, as examples of what I do for family members (calendar photos). As you can see, I like to use a Script Font. I 'pick a color' from that particular photo, to use to color the letters. I also, sometimes 'bend' the word shapes (2nd photo)(PhotoShop CS6), to help the lettering blend into the photo. The 2nd photo, there were approximately 25 more photographers taking the same photo that day...DougS.

(Download)


(Download)

Leinik Loc: Rochester NY

Do you really think the "signature" helps the image? In my view it is an unwanted distraction (that you use for people who already know whom the author is. Kinda... redundant don't you think?).

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

The recipient may, other viewers may not.
His choice really,
not anyone else's.

NickGee Loc: Pacific Northwest

But you'll certainly receive a great deal less in compensation than it's going to cost you in legal fees to enforce the copyright. Defending a copyright is the responsibility of the copyright holder.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Plus the hassle involved...