Do you watermark ALL your images?

[ThePirateHulk]

I never watermark because:

A. It distracts from the photo
2. Nobody in their right mind would try and steal any of my work
III. I have nothing worth advertising.

I have however prepared a little vector logo in photoshop in case I ever change my mind

 

[mrk]

I didn't/don't but selectively am depending on where some are being shown. Nothing distracting though.

 

[Amp34]

The only time I have ever watermarked was to advertise. I've gone back to shooting just for myself so I don't bother with any watermarks. They never enhance a photo, I'm not looking to advertise or make any money commercially, a watermark won't stop anyone taking your photo if they really want to.

The point is though (at least with internet sized images - 800/1000 on the longest side) as a commercial entity (selling prints of it for example) your image is too small, especially if someone crops off the watermark.

Most "theft" and use of my images have been on web forums and blogs. Small entities that probably don't realise they are doing anything wrong and in my books not something to go after and be heavy handed about. These sort of people don't remove the watermark and I'm quite happy to let a non profit making entity keep using them because the small watermark in the corner shows whos image it is and advertises the site.

So no it doesn't stop someone taking it, it does however exert ownership of that image.

 

[Rojin]

The point is though (at least with internet sized images - 800/1000 on the longest side) as a commercial entity (selling prints of it for example) your image is too small, especially if someone crops off the watermark.

Most "theft" and use of my images have been on web forums and blogs. Small entities that probably don't realise they are doing anything wrong and in my books not something to go after and be heavy handed about. These sort of people don't remove the watermark and I'm quite happy to let a non profit making entity keep using them because the small watermark in the corner shows whos image it is and advertises the site.

So no it doesn't stop someone taking it, it does however exert ownership of that image.

Your watermark will allow it to be traced back to you if someone wants to, so that would be advertising. Which can be useful, although if you are not selling images then what's the point? Watermarks do not stop people taking your image if they wish to do so, whether that be for use on the web or printing. It's just how it is.

 

[D.P.]

I've also seen people steal water alerted I,ages, remove the watermark with photoshop smart fill etc. and then put their own watermark in its place. If you put the photo online without security /making it private then you just have to accept the fact that people can and will take the photo. If you only upload small images then their commercial value is small.

It is also a bit like the pirating music/film debate. Those that steal are unlikely to magically track you down and pay for your photo because you have watermarked it, and those that would pay won't steal the photo in the first place and anymore signal would look at the embedded EXIF and IPTC entries for copyright information.