watermark or not?

Aaron Wilson

What is your opion? Use the watermark or keep it off? I have them on all my photo's but should I take them Off?

From another... a commit was made "customer is too distracted by the watermark to appreciate the pic & buy it...big problem" (David)

Do you find this as a common comment from people that go to your site?

mercphoto

Aaron Wilson wrote:

What is your opion? Use the watermark or keep it off? I have them on all my photo's but should I take them Off?

From another... a commit was made "customer is too distracted by the watermark to appreciate the pic & buy it...big problem" (David)

I dunno. One thing I do find from my local competition (motorsports photography) is that they all watermark, in some manner, on their website. Without exception. I turn off access to large and original files, as well as "protect" the images from right-clicking. But I'm considering a change to watermarking.

KimballPhotography

mercphoto wrote:

I dunno. One thing I do find from my local competition (motorsports photography) is that they all watermark, in some manner, on their website. Without exception. I turn off access to large and original files, as well as "protect" the images from right-clicking. But I'm considering a change to watermarking.

I'm going to start using watermarks as well. It was brought to my attention that even with the professional membership to smugmug that Mac users can still steal photos. I also have a mac laptop but only do outside work with it and don't use it for online work. I find it interesting that they can save any pic even if you have blocks on it. I'm hoping that the watermarks don't hurt sales.

Natalie

dkapp

Aaron Wilson wrote:

What is your opion? Use the watermark or keep it off? I have them on all my photo's but should I take them Off?

From another... a commit was made "customer is too distracted by the watermark to appreciate the pic & buy it...big problem" (David)

Do you find this as a common comment from people that go to your site?

Kinda chopped the quote, so I'll provide the rest.

The other part is turning off large sizes only leaving medium for them to steal. If they want to take it and make a crappy 4x6, let them. They are not the type to buy in the first place, so no money lost.

My problem is people have complained how big the watermark is, and have had a hard time seeing past it. Losing those sales is a big deal to me.

In the end, do what your happy & feel comfortable with.

Dave

evil eggplant

I don't
Right click disable doesn't work. It is easy enough find the photo's location, then go there and download it.

IMO watermarking is kinda cheesy. You want to use one of my 800 X 600 images, go ahead. No problem. i don't see how this can hurt me. Potential customers get to see the full image. If they want something big enough to print, then they call me and pay.

If they wanna print from my 800 X 600 without paying, they quality means nothing to them, they are driven by the larceny in their heart. I don't want this person as a customer anyway.

Just my two cents.

Tak care

Aaron Wilson

thank you all... sorry dave.. didn't mean to chop it to much.. was getting what i thought was the most important part. But you all have great ideas... does any one know the 800x600 pic... what the print dpi is on it? hard.. keep or get rid of... lol

mercphoto

Aaron Wilson wrote:

does any one know the 800x600 pic... what the print dpi is on it? hard.. keep or get rid of... lol

Its just math. If the 800-pixle-side is the 6" side of the print, the 800/6 = 133 dots per inch.

Aaron Wilson

hmmm sounds simple... but i have a few programs were I can boost that dpi... so was just wondering.

mercphoto

Aaron Wilson wrote:

hmmm sounds simple... but i have a few programs were I can boost that dpi... so was just wondering.

You can smooth out the edges, but you can't add detail. For some people that is fine (or they don't know any better). I'm still leaning to watermarking. My competition has to know something I don't yet...

Shay Stephens

Why I watermark. Customers mother had her son print out the photos that were posted in a proof gallery. I heard later through the grapevine that there were complaints that the prints looked very low quality. Anyone who views a print from a watermarked image would not make the assumption they were looking at an original print. So even though a watermark bugs some, the risk of a bad reputation more than outweighs that. I watermark, and am not shy about it anymore ;-)

evil eggplant wrote:

Right click disable doesn't work. It is easy enough find the photo's location, then go there and download it.

IMO watermarking is kinda cheesy. You want to use one of my 800 X 600 images, go ahead. No problem. i don't see how this can hurt me. Potential customers get to see the full image. If they want something big enough to print, then they call me and pay.

If they wanna print from my 800 X 600 without paying, they quality means nothing to them, they are driven by the larceny in their heart. I don't want this person as a customer anyway.

Just my two cents.

Tak care

Aaron Wilson

Hmm that brings up a very good point! lol.. go im going back!! lol