Opinion on Watermarks..?

[Kris Williams]

I use Flickr and have recently started my own Facebook photography page, as I have been selling prints to family and friends for a little while through my personal FB page. The intention of the Photography page is not to sell prints, but really just to get my shots noticed more and 'out there' I suppose.

Whilst I dont have a huge issue with people who might use the odd shot as a desktop background etc, when I find out a local pub has asked someone to print my images out for them to hang and display (unfortunately they asked a friend of mine and fellow tog!) that really hacks me off...!

I'd be more than happy to do a deal on the shots - hell i'd probably do them for free if they'd let me advertise them and sell a few prints off the back of it... But when they're just stolen it makes me want to delete my shots off flickr and FB for good.

What are peoples opinions on watermarks etc? I'm not a big fan as for them to be effective they need to be across the middle of the shot.. and I'm not a graphic designer so struggle making a logo :-/ For the last few months I have been resizing my shots to a low-res, alot of my older Flickr stuff however is full-size.

As for the copyright theft, I may even let him do the prints for them. And walk in there with an invoice, havent decided yet. Banned from my FB page though.. buggers.

Any advice appreciated!

[JamesFarley]

Not a big fan of watermarks myself, although I see why they can be useful as in the above. I'd personally just stick with uploading lo-res versions to the various websites, dont know about you but I very rarely want to see the full 15 mega-pixel plus image, too lazy to use scrollbars!

Maybe ensure all your images have your contact details prominently displayed in title or comments though for people to contact you to request hi-res versions.

Cant do any harm sending a strongly worded official looking letter to the boozer requesting payment and seeing if they bite?

I suppose this is similar to the ongoing battle between record companies and downloaders, anything on the internet some people are always going to find a way of circumventing paying for

[Eifion Williams]

Hi Kris,

I'm not a fan of watermarks either, my way of thinking is to only put LOW res images so that they cant be printed a decent size without coming back to you for the larger file, or getting you to supply the hard copy (print) to them.

Please give LEE a ring, she can probably tell you whats what, and how you stand.

[Lee Iggulden]

I dont like watermarks at all. There are ways around this and I will get Flat Ant to post about something he was talking about it.

Kris, you need to call me. There are proper ways of dealing with things like this and I can take the pressure of you. You are an Academy Member and while Eif is the person you all mostly need, your membership gets me too, and I can help with stuff like this...

Your particular situation is worrying so lets talk ok. It is an Academy Evening in Llandudno tonight but you can phone me on my mobile after 7.00 when they are all blowing and photographing bubbles....

Dont get rid of your flikr or Facebook pages yet - there are ways around all that.

Hope this helps just a little.

Lee :)

[Kris Williams]

Thanks very much for the advice Lee, very helpful!

I appreciate you're never going to be able to fully stop people taking some images - even if they are low-res - but it does smart when a business (that are known to you aswell!) are happy to steal images and try and use them.

Lessons learnt I guess :o)