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Category: Photography Careers and Making Money

Photography Question 

David B. Spooner
 

copyrights


I am very much an amateur but would like to sell some of my better photos matted and/or framed at some local arts/crafts shows and fall festivals. How do I go about obtaing copy right information for my gallery photos here at BP? Also, if some of these photos were on my facebook wall, could someone copy or download that photo without my permission?


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August 14, 2011

 

Jessica Jenney
  You can place a watermark on your images for Facebook. If someone wants to download your photo there's really nothing you can do, but a watermark with the copyright symbol © can help.


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August 14, 2011

 

Monnie Ryan
  On Facebook, I never upload any photos larger than about 400 pixels on the longest side. Even if someone downloaded them, the best they could get is not-very-good 4 x 6 prints.


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August 14, 2011

 
- Ken Smith

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Ken Smith's Gallery
  Try Digimarc...it's a plug-in to Photoshop that allows you to embed "invisible" watermarks that can be "seen" by other computers.

For example, if someone did a screen capture of one of my photos that employed the digimarc watermark, they could alter it in Photoshop to make it look like a "new" photo. And then they post it. I could then do a screen capture of the "new" image and run it thru the digimarc software and it will still show that I was the original owner. Pretty powerful. Here's a link:

http://www.digimarc.com/tech/dwm.php


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August 14, 2011

 

David B. Spooner
  Thank you guys so much for your quick response...luckily I only put up 4 or 5 photos and after I did, I realized that those images on FB were just out there with no copy right info...I also think I only made them available to certain people...I won't make that mistake again! On FB, as I add photos I post "new photos in gallery...go to Betterphoto.com and search David B Spooner"...that way, my watermark and copyright info is right there in the gallery.


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August 15, 2011

 

Thom Schoeller
  David, I'm reading your question over and over and I'm not sure if the "copyright" information you were seeking was answered in full.

You OWN the copyright of each image you make the micro second you click the shutter. This becomes your own intellectual property as creator and gives you and only you full control of how the images are to be used. The digimarks, or watermarks are not a bad idea but this won't prevent everyone from trying to download.

Here is a link for anyone who wishes to REGISTER their images with the Copyright office. It's only $35.00 for electronic filing, and registration takes effect immediately. http://www.copyright.gov site.

Be sure NOT to go to the copyright.com website, as this is a commercial webpage that wants to $$$$$sell$$$$ you something.


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September 10, 2011

 

David B. Spooner
  tHOMAS AND ALL...MANY,MANY THANKS!!


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September 10, 2011

 

Lynn R. Powers
  On the back of the matted print I have a copyright stamp with the date and my signature added. The date is the month and year it was taken. If they really want it then they take the photo out of the matte where they find the same info as well as a stamped "Do Not Copy" across it on the back of the photo. This also applies for unmatted prints.

For prints that are matted or sold without the matte, I use a gold pen and put my initials in the lower right hand corner. Some photographers actually sign it.

As far as the social networks are concerned there are 1000s of photos stolen from it daily and they don't care if it is copyrighted or not. They are under the impression that if it is posted on the web it is free for the taking to use as they please and even sell. The same thing happens with Flikr.


Lynn


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September 10, 2011

 

Thom Schoeller
  Tru dat, Lynn. You can control things at Flickr by not allowing anyone to view the large sizes. The medium 500 pixel size is absolutely worthless for resale or to make large prints from. Also you can disable right click.

As for those other photo share sites, I do not use them. Back to Flickr, you can use the URL to do a tin eye search to look for stolen images if you notice an unusual flow of traffic views for a specific shot.


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September 10, 2011

 
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