Watermark size?

[roomfor2]

I spent 10+ years as an Art Director before we moved and took time off to raise my two boys. Eventually, I would like to do both design and photography, but for now I want to focus on photography. Long story short... My goal is to start up my own business once they are in school full-time, which would focus on family and baby portraits/candids. I wouldn't mind getting into product photography, but first things first.

So I looked through past posts and haven't quite found a full discussion on watermarks and size. I did read on one of the post that the larger your watermark the worse of a photographer you are. Is there truth to that? I don't want to give the wrong impression.

So what's your thought on watermarking? I know those who really want to steal your image will no matter what. I'm looking for the pros and cons of the WM size and placement.

Below is what I currently use. I try to place the WM so the image isn't totally undesirable. Most of my images include my boys in them, and I want to minimize the use by others as much as possible. KWIM? I "share" my photos on FB and a couple other social sites sparingly as well as my blog.

[ChristopherCoy]

This has been discussed numerous times. Search for 'logo' instead of watermark and you'll be inundated with threads.

ETA: How do you make your's look like that? I like the transparency of it.

[mmuhlenkamp]

I personally don't like the watermark that big. I think I'd rather have the image more easily "stolen" than have an overly large watermark that distracts from the image. There's no right or wrong answer, but I like the more discreet watermarks that let someone know this belongs to someone, but doesn't distract.

Also, take my advice with a grain of salt since I still do photography "just for fun", but feel that if I were properly motivated I could charge for my work.

[roomfor2]

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

ETA: How do you make your's look like that? I like the transparency of it.

Thank you. I will do a search for "logo".

Here's the tutorial I found to create it.
Watermarking your photos in Photoshop 7 and CS

BTW... I hadn't upgraded to CS4 when I created my WM. So I'm sure there's probably an easier way in CS4 or CS5.

[tukaniray]

You can create an alpha channel watermark with a degree of transparency. Save it as a PSD. Then in either Lightroom or Aperture you can set it as a WM add to each picture you export as a web file.

I agree with Melissa. Something out of the way that doesn't distract from the overall image, but enough to know the image belongs to someone.



-Ray-

[janikphoto]

I'd offer a package that includes web-size image use in the price. That way you can put up images without a giant watermark across it, and not worry about the client stealing them to use... they will already have paid to gain rights to the images for web use.

However, this doesn't address the issue of a non-client taking the image and using it without permission - like a random blog, or worse was the photographer that someone found with photos in their portfolio that were taken by someone else!