Why I don't Watermark my photos

a note.

This is quite interesting :) 

I'm an artist. I don't do things just to get paid. I also don't do things to jam my name down people's throats. I take pictures because that's how I communicate. Some people like that, and then pay me to speak for them. That's cool. Other's just listen to it, and admire it. That's cool too. Some people "right click save" and add my images to their desktop. Cool...no problem. What's the worst that could happen? Someone takes a low-res photo of mine, and copies it, or tries to make money on it, or god forbid, publishes it? MEH...

By Danny Girl Read the entire post here http://dannygirlphotography.blogspot.com/2008/06/why-i-dont-watermark-my-photos.html

10 Comments
 
  1. Mphela

    hmmmm...I had this argument with someone at some point. we can to the conclusion most designers don't like their hard work stolen from them...and If it has to go the it shall go at a price, yet most artist and some multimedia designer (them in particular) don't really mind and take their product being take as good thing, because that means someone out there like their work and is using it in some way or another. and in that sense it keep the people coming back to see more of your work...

    ...personally I love putting my tag on my work depending on my liking of it...if I like it, its will have the 1ove...M on it, then again thats not quite a watermark is it!

  2. Neil Acid

    I make Art for the sake of Art. And even though I stray sometimes, I am glad I always knock some sense into my mind and get back to being happy. The way I see it is that, I love sharing things that make me happy [that being art, though it took me quite a long while before I was comfortable with sharing my Art and I'm still trying to get the hang of it. Photography has been the easiest.] and I want to see what makes other people happy too. I've been hearing a lot of artists [photographers mostly] shun uploading photographs on the net and so on because of copyright issues. But seriously, if someone steals a low resolution photograph of yours, what's the most they can get out of it? seriously? [I think this is the same as music artists complaining about piracy] . Though the worst they can do, I think, is when they take your photograph, edit it and publish it with your watermark still there and the photograph looking awful!
    Alas, I think people should just chill out on this.
    I sometimes add watermarks to my photographs [small text though] when I remember how sad I get when I see an amazing photograph and yearn to see more from artist but have no clue where to start looking.

  3. Buchu

    "What's the worst that could happen? Someone takes a low-res photo of mine, and copies it, or tries to make money on it, or god forbid, publishes it? MEH..."

    - Exactly!

    I agree with Neil though, when you have a watermark on the picture, it helps
    people to find you. I'm not against the watermark as long as its tastefully done.
    (Unlike my previous watermark experiments)
    :)

  4. Uno

    Interesting discussion/topic.
    I've been contemplating adding a logo/watermark to my photographs, not because I don't want people to take it (as long as it's done respectfully), but maybe because in a way it validates the artistic creation behind it, the same way painters and sculptors sign their work, why not do it with photography? Why not create a way for people to identify one's work now and in the future, when it has been removed from its original context (75, blog, facebook, e-mail, etc.) and when there's no other clue to associate it to its creator?

  5. Diaan

    I watermark so people who are interested in my photos have a starting point for finding me (and thus more photos). That means that like a good, caring parent, I don't orphan my photos. They always have a way to return to their daddy. :P

    All my photos (on here and on my site) have CC licenses anyway.

    As far as the art for the sake of art argument goes, I'm completely against that. Artists need to realise that the more income they have from their art, the easier it becomes for them to develop and grow and eventually make *better* art.

    You need money, yo.

  6. Jeff Rikhotso

    I don watermark, low or high res....i've never thought of it that way......Hmmmmm

  7. Daz

    I don't watermark, because I think it ruins the pic.
    But ... I understand Diaan's points:
    * The pics become orphaned (I include details in EXIF data for that, though its not ideal)
    * You need money, yo.
    That said, I have grown used to seeing Diaan's signature on his pics .... and he nails it, because it is more like a 'signed' work of art, than a 'watermarked logo' ... I like that.
    ... ;-)

  8. Diaan

    Maybe I'm just weird, but I don't like sharing my EXIF data with strangers.

  9. Mphela

    I agree with the signature...Its like an art work.

  10. yizzi25

    hmmm.... very interesting points

Hello, Moeti.

You have to be logged in or registered to leave your mark.

hello (at) 75.co.za
DIALOGUE

  1. Instagram: Not

    • 10h44, 11 May
      2016
    • 01

  2. UPDATE!!! ON THE 75 photo zine ----

    • 20h09, 05 May
      2015
    • 08

  3. WHO in WHo out

    • 23h15, 04 Apr
      2015
    • 14
NEXT
12 Decades Exhibition
  • 17h13, 07 Apr
    2011
“… it’s all just light and love.”
  • 20h51, 27 Mar
    2011
PREV