to Watermark or not? I am starting to shoot and post more and post photos on social media. I am looking for advice from fellow photographers on Watermarks, both pro and against. Do you...

Crad1998

I am starting to shoot and post more and post photos on social media. I am looking for advice from fellow photographers on Watermarks, both pro and against. Do you watermark your photos why or why not? I am not worried about someone stealing a photo as much as I want the publicity.
Second question if you watermark, which photos do you put your watermark on?

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Crad1998 wrote:

I am starting to shoot and post more and post photos on social media. I am looking for advice from fellow photographers on Watermarks, both pro and against. Do you watermark your photos why or why not? I am not worried about someone stealing a photo as much as I want the publicity.
Second question if you watermark, which photos do you put your watermark on?

Even though, I realize that a watermark does not provide any protection, I still put my WM on any picture I post on social media, or any I may!

gtilford Loc: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

I use to watermark but if you put the mark where it makes the photo useless to anyone else you ruin the photo and if you put it where it doesn't ruin the photo then it can be easily removed so why bother. I suppose if you are a professional photographer and trying to get your business recognized then sure but otherwise why bother.

Garden Gnome Loc: Central Pennsylvania

I just started using a signature brand on my photographs. I ran across an article when researching the pros and cons and decided that the pros outweighed the cons. I had "Photologo" design a signature/watermark/brand for me and I am very pleased with it. Here's the article, though: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/pros-and-cons-watermarks-photographs.

I generally watermark everything that is online and have just now started to brand my photographs that I display for shows and sale. Like you, it's just getting my name and work out there.

I have a tendency to do things against the grain which generally causes some people to look down their noses at my choices, but hey--my theory is to do what pleases you. It's your work and if you want to watermark, I say go for it.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

If publicity is what you want then watermark every photo

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

As PR it is fine. As protection it is worthless.

For PR include a URL or email. The watermark is useful for when your photo has been copied and posted elsewhere. In your original post your identity is already known. If someone sees it on a repost they will be able to find you. But watermarks seem to prevent an image from going viral.

Sunnely Loc: Wisconsin

Crad1998 wrote:

I am starting to shoot and post more and post photos on social media. I am looking for advice from fellow photographers on Watermarks, both pro and against. Do you watermark your photos why or why not? I am not worried about someone stealing a photo as much as I want the publicity.
Second question if you watermark, which photos do you put your watermark on?

1. Do you watermark photos; why or why not? Not always. Mostly the reason - Forgot.

2. If I remember to watermark, which photos? - I have only one photo in my file I use marked, "Watermark." It's not a registered brand, so if someone uses my watermarked photo or video I posted on social media, I'm out of luck. Just a simple cropping or a brush stroke through photo-shopping would make my watermark disappear.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Also do not post a full res on social media. Just one that has enough resolution to look good a screen. I mean why give away the best when minimum is all that is needed.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Crad1998 wrote:

I am starting to shoot and post more and post photos on social media. I am looking for advice from fellow photographers on Watermarks, both pro and against. Do you watermark your photos why or why not? I am not worried about someone stealing a photo as much as I want the publicity.
Second question if you watermark, which photos do you put your watermark on?

I put my name on all of my photos if I think they are good enough to show! Just like any other artist would do. If you're proud of your work let people know you did it!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

dsmeltz wrote:

Also do not post a full res on social media. Just one that has enough resolution to look good a screen. I mean why give away the best when minimum is all that is needed.

What I do. (Will not look great if someone prints an 8x10(12) )

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

I'm not so sure watermarking directly onto images will really help to boost publicity. If someone is truly interested in your work, they can already see your name within the context of the social media. The great majority of people don't pay much attention to watermarks on uploaded photos; the internet is inundated with millions of them. I think getting prints of your images into art shows is a far more effective means to boost publicity.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I just don't like watermarks esthetically. Traditionally art photographs are not signed on the image but on a border or matt. I don't believe it protects images from theft, and anyplace I post them, such as here, the context shows it's my photo.

User ID

It's like a wing and a bra on a hondaa Civic..

Garden Gnome Loc: Central Pennsylvania

dsmeltz wrote:

Also do not post a full res on social media. Just one that has enough resolution to look good a screen. I mean why give away the best when minimum is all that is needed.

Yes! If I'm posting online, I make a copy in PhotoShop, then save it in a folder for online postings at a lower resolution and definitely not full size.