Best watermark?

[TNphotogirl]

On my iPhone I've been using a free app and editing in Lightroom but my friends have asked me to do some photoshoots for them so now I'm taking my photography up a session.

What do you say, in your opinion, is good for watermarking? As for photo editing on home computer I really don't use anything. (I know I really need to start). I shoot with a Canon Rebel T5 and just bought a Nikon P600. Any help would be great. Thank you

 

[waday]

Just trying to get this straight, you're editing using LR on computer or on phone?

If on computer, why not just use the watermark capability in LR?

 

[TNphotogirl]

Just on my phone. Only with shots i take on the iPhone but I want to do my photoshoots that people are paying me for on my laptop. Therefore, I need to get editing program for my computer.

LR has watermark? I had no clue.

 

[waday]

Not sure the LR app on the phone has that capability? I rarely use the phone app, but almost every photo for me goes through the LR computer program.

LR and Photoshop are pretty good, and Adobe has a nice deal on the set. Otherwise, lots of free software. Look around this site, there are plenty of threads on the software available. I've never used it, but some people like GIMP.

 

[pixmedic]

any quality watermark will have a mustache in it.
anything above that is gravy.

 

[480sparky]

any quality watermark will have a mustache in it.
anything above that is gravy.

What about bacon?

 

[pixmedic]

any quality watermark will have a mustache in it.
anything above that is gravy.

What about bacon?

a gravy covered bacon mustache

 

[Advanced Photo]

Invisible embedded watermarks are nice.

 

[TCampbell]

I'll be honest... I dislike watermarks.

An argument can be made that they help protect you by marking the image as yours. While anyone can just remove it or crop it out, doing so violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act -- which carries stiff fines. So there's a legal reason why someone who is actually trying to make their living from their art should want to use this to protect themselves from theft.

However... that watermark doesn't need to be big... your right are just as adequately protected if the watermark is small.

Large obnoxious "in your face" watermarks make me think the photographer has ego issues. They're VERY distracting and often ruin the image. I feel like I'm looking at an advertisement instead of art.

If I like an image, I'll go out of my way to check the corner and find out who shot it. That means it really doesn't matter if the watermark is tiny... because I'll look for it. I think most people will.

Lightroom has a built-in watermarking feature that you can enable. I generally try to make it small and mostly transparent (visible enough to be seen when you look for it, but not so visible that it screams "HEY LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!")

It will either let you pick a typeface and make the watermark -or- you can import graphics to use as the watermark (if you designed your own).

Lightroom wont put the watermark on the image while it's in your library. (so don't be surprised if you enable the feature and don't see your watermark) If you enable it's watermarking feature then it automatically applies the watermark when you export the image.

 

[vintagesnaps]

A watermark is the least of it. If you're going to take photos for clients you're not going to be providing them watermarked images. Look up how and when to use a watermark. (I customize mine on an as-needed basis.)

Find some professional resources thru organizations like PPA or ASMP.

From what you said it seems like you might have way more to work on learning before you consider taking on paying clients. How can you have clients/paid photo sessions if you don't even have any way to process images yet? You need to be able to produce professional looking results and know how to draw up contracts etc. etc. so you'd have a better chance of being successful because you'd be informed and prepared.

 

[robbins.photo]

Just on my phone. Only with shots i take on the iPhone but I want to do my photoshoots that people are paying me for on my laptop. Therefore, I need to get editing program for my computer.

LR has watermark? I had no clue.

So you want to charge people money for taking pictures of them with your Iphone and when your done add a big watermark to it?

Umm... ok. Just out of curiosity what business name are you using for the watermark? Selfie Stick Photography maybe?

 

[Advanced Photo]

The best watermark would be one that is non invertible. However even the non invertible Watermark, while necessary is not sufficient.
Invisible watermarks which are non invertible are the best choice because they are not recognized visually and therefore not as easily removed.
While it is true the Digital Millennium Copyright Act does make it illegal to remove a watermark, proving who removed the watermark is a much more daunting task and anyone can make the claim that they found the image with the watermark already removed and used it without malice or intentional harm intended in which case there could be no punitive damages awarded only an order by the court to cease and desist.
It also does not protect you from the use of your image for any fair use or buy any Institution that is sovereign and cannot be sued.
The only sure way to protect your image is to never post it online and not to allow photographs where your printed image is being displayed.
If you ever find an image of yours being used without your permission you should first send them a letter to cease and desist and ask that the image be removed. If they do not do this then that is also evidence of malice and intent to defraud which can be presented in a court case.
But even then pursuing it in court can be a costly and very time-consuming effort and may or may not result in your court costs being returned to you.

 

[pixmedic]

lets be honest here....
watermarks are for advertising, and client proofs.
in all reality, its doubtful that anyone doing people photography will ever need to worry about their images being stolen for anything except someone trying to use them as their own portfolio. certainly not for selling them. people photos (unless its something unusual or someone famous) are pretty much only purchased by the people IN the photos, or friends/relatives.
of the remaining categories, given the immense number of photographs being uploaded to various online outlets and stock sites, you would have to have either a simply spectacular one of a kind image, or something so totally amazing that it would beat out all other photographers versions of it to really justify a watermark as a means of theft deterrent.
watermarking an image because you fear theft and a loss of potential income is kinda naive, and pretty silly.
even more so is the fear of posting images online for the same reason. (*cough total cop out cough*)
IF your photography is so spectacularly fantastic that you simply cannot risk posting it online even with a watermark (im calling a preemptive shenanigans on this one) then joining an online community based on the sharing of photos probably isnt a good fit.

so in conclusion...
watermark your images if you want a little advertising on them.
otherwise, dont worry about it. noones stealing your images and selling them behind your back.

 

[Advanced Photo]

lets be honest here....
watermarks are for advertising, and client proofs.
in all reality, its doubtful that anyone doing people photography will ever need to worry about their images being stolen for anything except someone trying to use them as their own portfolio. certainly not for selling them. people photos (unless its something unusual or someone famous) are pretty much only purchased by the people IN the photos, or friends/relatives.
of the remaining categories, given the immense number of photographs being uploaded to various online outlets and stock sites, you would have to have either a simply spectacular one of a kind image, or something so totally amazing that it would beat out all other photographers versions of it to really justify a watermark as a means of theft deterrent.
watermarking an image because you fear theft and a loss of potential income is kinda naive, and pretty silly.
even more so is the fear of posting images online for the same reason. (*cough total cop out cough*)
IF your photography is so spectacularly fantastic that you simply cannot risk posting it online even with a watermark (im calling a preemptive shenanigans on this one) then joining an online community based on the sharing of photos probably isnt a good fit.

so in conclusion...
watermark your images if you want a little advertising on them.
otherwise, dont worry about it. noones stealing your images and selling them behind your back.

Actually Getty, iStock and other companies have created very lucrative businesses selling pictures of people (and other subjects) for advertising, and other uses. I have sold several images through them in the past, I no longer have time for it anymore, but it was a decent bit of money at one time for me.