(IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME SEEING THIS PHOTO, ALL I'M ASKING IS FOR YOUR OPINION ON THE WATER MARK I HAVE JUST CREATED :D)
Okay so I took Louise's advice, and just started a thread because I feel like it is smarter haha so for those of you who have already seen this photo, did you notice I moved the watermark? Most of you thought it would look better in a lower corner...and I agree. I also changed the "overlay" effect to a faded white color because that way you can actually read it. Oh AND I enlarged it :)
Does it still detract too much from the main subject?
What are your opinions on the font choice?
Do you think I should just not have a watermark all together?
I am just so confused and don't know what to do.
but I am more looking to advertise...or get my name out there more than I am afraid of people stealing my photos if that helps any.
So if you would just give me a COMPLETELY honest opinion.
Thanks!!
Lauren :)
I already commented on your photo, but I thought I might as well comment here too. :) I like this one A LOT better! I don't think it distracts from the picture at all!
I did notice that Emily. THank you SOO much!! I wish I could comment back to everybody's comment to tell them how much I appreciate your feedback. but I just don't have the time =/ anyways, thanks so much!! so you dont think it's "unprofessional"?
I like this better than the other one. Keep in mind that you might need to change the colour on different photos though - the white works here, but you might need something darker on a pale background.
I commented on your photo too, wish I saw this first as this section of the site allows for editing, which I need to do a lot when I type responses. I am with others to the fact that it is cleaner, easier to read and great placement. However I don't like the handwritten last name and I don't like it in small letters. Personally I think you have it reversed. Meaning: your name is smaller size then photography, I would switch that and make it bigger. the name is written and the photograhy is a font. I would switch that too.
My theory, everyone knows it is photography, hence the picture. It is your name tagging it (or your company) and to me this should stand out more then what the item I am looking at (photography). Just something I thought you might want to think about.
In conclusion: bigger name and in a font, smaller size "photography" and hand write this if desired instead. again just my 2 cents for what it is worth.
Love the picture still :)
.... see I am editing :)
I read all your questions on this thread. keep in mind that watermarking will not prevent theft. watermarks do help get your name out there, as long as the thieves don't remove it. you are really worried about taking your image and claiming it as their own and profitting from it.
do I think you should. YES, it doesn't hurt and it will help you get your name out there for those that leave your image alone and not clone out or crop your tagging.
you have beautiful work, and you should consider looking at pro photogs in your area and see if you can do an apprenticeship with one of them. This could help develope your talents even better. And it might help you decide what style of photography you really want to do. There are many arenas of photography and can be really good in a lot but find your niche.
That looks better! The watermark is definitely more clear, but not distracting. I would say it's more like a signature than a watermark though, which is good.
Jeff - thank you SOO much Jeff. I can see we think alike. I really appreciate you taking time out of your day and putting in all the effort to write that.
I agree with EVERYTHING you said. And I think, because of you, I have decided to keep a watermark. as soon as I find one I am SURE I like and that I feel is perfect. This one...the one that I have...is NEAR perfect ...to me anyways. but I agree DAHLHAUSER should be the main focus, it should be capitalized...and...probably bigger than photography. I guess...in my defense (well not really defense, but you know what I mean ;D) I was more focused on making it LOOK good. and to me...this LOOKS good. but you have opened my eyes to pay attention to the important details I passed over. I will work with it a little more and let you know when I have something :) then, can I have your personal opinion again? :)
Lauren absolutely. Like I tell a lot of people, everyone is entitled to my opinion whether they want it or not :)
I really do think you should look in your area for some apprentice job. Keep in mind photography is very hard to make a living at these days. Ask the pros on this site they will tell you. There is people like you out there that give some pros a bad name. So pros need to make sure their stuff is identifyable as theirs. Take Joey L. he is about your age maybe a year or two more but has his name in the pro industry. Look him up JOEY L I think he still lives with his parents too :)
I agree with Jeff. You want YOUR NAME to stand out and be larger than photography. I love the use of two different fonts, it creates your own sense of style and adds visual interest, so I wouldn't change that. As long as your name is bigger whatever font you choose should work just fine. I also like how you have photography indented (that helps make your name stand out more)
(sorry I'm late to join the party!)
Hope this makes sense and helps!! :) I haven't tried a watermark yet, but I was thinking about it.
You're getting some great advice here Lauren. I agree with the cursive thing. We all know your name, but someone else out there doesn't, so printing might be simpler. Looks great otherwise!
Jeff - That is an excellent idea. I am really liking your advice.
Its funny too because just about a week ago my dad was saying I should look for an apprentice job. It is a good way to broaden my knowledge about photography and really get the feel for what it's really like.
Bonnie - Yes...my name :) so I think I've decided...to make my name slightly larger...and gosh...I REALLY like it in cursive!!! maybe I'll find a font somewhere that is cursive, lets me capitalize the D....AND is readable?
Loni - yes I really am!! it is helping SOO much. So you think no cursive altogether?? I'm considering it...its just...I reallly like the cursive! must be a me thing. I DO think it should be more readable. then again...maybe I'll completely change my mind and give up on the cursive thing...who knows :P
I think it is a little hard to read. You want to have something that is identifiable and easy to read. I think the size and opacity is fine. Maybe add your website if you have one?
Jonathan....I dont have one! but I would love to learn how to make one. Am I even ready for a website do you think? how do you know when your pictures are good enough to put on their own website?
I like it in cursive too. The font doesn't bother me at all and I like it... you don't even have to capitalize the D, I actually prefer it lowercase. I can read it just fine. I can see where some people would have a hard time though... BUT it just isn't as easy to read on a quick glance. If you stop and take the time, you can easily make out all the letters just fine.
You just have to go with what you really love!
Loved your comment on my shot today. Loved. hehehehe :)
Lauren - you may not remember me, but I walked with you at the heart walk. You may have even been abused by my dog. I want to encourage you to check that apprentice job. I actually know of a place near you that you can at least call. I have admired his work for a while and Carla and I have a classmate that has actually gone out shooting with him. http://www.anthonymosleyphotography.com
doggonecrazzy77 - omg! I totally didnt even know that we lived so close haha no I don't remember you...but I know you are a friend of Mrs.Smith's...but gosh thank you so so much for the link! I will definitely talk to my dad about it and see if I can "work with him" maybe....I am sure looking for an apprentice job!
Jordn - yes I realize this, thanks :) and thanks for the link too! I found that very interesting...what you said was a lot of help.
Jeff - no no! I don't mind! I love how you made it my favorite color :) the oonnly thing I would really have a hugge problem with...would be it matching my photos...maybe it's a girl thing? haha who knows...I definitely agree that my last name should be capitalized...and maybe even I should have my first name in it...and photogrphay should not dominate over my name. Thanks so much for your help Jeff. I love how you used a picture of Charlie too hehe
Lauren when you have a watermark, you can easily adjust the color. For my professional photos I also have a watermark and since it is another layer, I simply change either the contrast to make it all black or all white or the saturation to change the color or depth of color. Here are some examples....I am not crazy about mine...I'd like to have a professional one made, but I agree that a larger name and smaller words photography is nice and always make your marks larger.
Keep in mind that people watermark for 2 reasons...to label themselves and to keep others from stealing images to either print or call their own. You want your watermark to be big enough to read, touch parts of the photo that cannot be cloned out, etc...
These look real grainy for some reason but here are my examples....
regular watermark and colors...
Now contrast increased until it turned black
if you adjusted the hue and saturation you could completely change the colors all together
Jeff is a wise man.
But I actually like the fonts you've used, perhaps just switch them around.
And I'll just reiterate what I said elsewhere.
Aside from identifying you, I think of a watermark as the finishing touch.
The signature.
Photography is art, and a photo isn't complete until its been signed.
I actually love watermarks for that reason. I think of it as an extension of the photo.
And I am old enough to remember a time when all professional photos ( portraits, I mean ) were stamped with the photographer/studio name on a lower corner of each photo. All of my parents and grandparents portraits, had them....so I guess I've never thought of them on modern day digital photos as being intrusive.
My name on my photos certainly isn't going to stop anyone from cropping it out if they were really determined, but I like that it identifies me as the artist.
Jonine....I use picnik - which you can use for free - that has a number of fonts that you can use. More are available, if you buy the membership.
hmmm. :) i love it. :)) i'd add a little frame type thing around it...it draws a little more attention BUT it won't distract from the main thing too much more. :) it's great though!!!!!!
I read through some of the feed back you have gotten but there are so many and I am pressed for time so if I am repeating anyone I do apologize. Lauren the top font to me was not legible. I spent a few seconds trying to figure it out and I think it is because I have never really paid attention to your last name. It is easy to pick out and read something if you kind of have an idea of what it will say. Does that makes sense at all? I like the font it's very cute but might be better suited for the "photography" word instead. I do agree with some of the other comments about Your name should be larger than the word photography. I would also like to say I do like the size and placement of your watermark. Some people use huge watermarks in a attempt to prevent others from stealing there work. A false hope because anyone with some photoshop knowledge can remove. Large watermarks are tacky and distracting in my opinion. I do think you are on the right track though :)
I like the top watermark, but agree with making your name easier to read. The placement doesn't distract from the picture, and the "faded in" look is subtle.
thank you SO SO Much you guyss!! I really really wanted to reply to everybody yesterday...but I just dont have the time...I thought I would today...but I have the SAT coming up this weekend and I am loaded with hw. (the beauty of being a teenager huh? ;D) so I will just take this time to write to you ALL. I really appreciate all of your time and effort to give me advice and to express your opinion. After reading everything, I really agree with what most of you said. I have been working on new designs...I think I definitley want a "watermark" (if you want to call it that, considering I dont want it to be across the whole photograph)..but more for the purpose of putting my name out there and like Barb said...to "complete" it or to put it on the picture sort of as a signature. Jeff, thank you so soo much for your comments especially. I know you took the time to look at each photo and even went through the process of actually designing one for me :) I really do appreciate it. You've been a lot of help...along with the rest of you. I worked on a watermark yesterday for probably 2 - 3 hours and I was just getting so frustrated because I couldnt find the PERFECT one!! I am still trying though...just need to give it some time :)
Thanks so much again!
Lauren -
You are an amazing talent. I agree, you should definately get your name out there. If you are as dertermined about your watermark as you are about how your photos turn out, I'm sure you'll select the perfect one! Good luck!
Lauren np, I have the illustrator file of the one I did for you. And I have no problems tweeking or redesigning entirely if you give me more ideas of what you are looking for. The one I did took me all of 5 minutes to give you a better impression of what I had in mind and put a picture to the words (most of the time it is easier to show then to conceptualize the words I had given).
OH btw... since I did your designs and used one of your pics (charlie) to show you it. these are on my flickr account and you got a nice comment on charlie
"Lovely composition, great shot. Love it! I miss squirrels now that I'm in New Zealand.
"
Jeff, you are just too kind. I am trying to see if I can come up with anything...but if I do, I'm definitely going to make sure YOU see it first :) You seem to be pretty knowledgeable about watermarks. and I value your opinion. I just wish I could make a watermark that EVERYBODY will like...too bad I live in the real world where reality sucks sometimes ;) haha and I DID see that on flickr! I clicked on the picture to see it right away. I saw you gave me credit, and I really appreciate that :)
This may be carrying things off to the side a bit, but remember, there are two reasons to even have a watermark...
1) If you're going to advertise your work but not going to sell it, placement of a decorative watermark is desirable. Placement at the bottom corners are attractive.
2) If you are going to be selling your images to a customer and you have it on display for sale online, you KNOW that they will try and download the online image and try and copy it. This is human nature. In this case, you want to make sure that your watermark cannot be edited or cropped out easily. My Photo Marketing instructor tells me that you should place a medium opacity watermark diagonally across the image to prevent it from being copied. It sounds like overkill, but I certainly wouldn't want to lose the sale because my customer or other viewer decided they didn't want to pay for it, but instead use the online image.
Alex - yea that really sucks that people steal images...I will definitely keep that in mind though if I ever want to put my work up online to just sell. and I agree about the watermark...the placement of it....to put it in a bottom corner :)
There is not much left to say really jeff said it all but i just wanted to add that the fonts you chose for the watermark above did not seem to go with the feel of your work, they seemed a little at odds. The water mark jeff did was nice but i dont think it matched your style either,
You need to find a water mark that matches your style as you do not want to change it later on, it will confuse people as you are essentially branding yourself.
I think focusing on your last name was a geat move as it is unique and will stick in people mind and i can tell you from experience there are so many laurens out there.
I would reccomend adding an image to your name in the watermark as so many other photographers have their name in script with photography in plain or the reverse. It can also double as your watermark for dificult images where text gets lost.
Silohettes work great but try to stick away from butterflies and owls they are very porular at the moment, i have done 5 photographer logos this year and they all used either owls or butterflies.
I will post an example for you if someone tells me how to pip.
such great advice Lauren!!! (haha ironic that your name is lauren and you just said the name lauren is popular...well I guess thats not ironic...but you know what I mean...I guess its more support for your statement you could say :P)
pip = picture in post, never can figure out how to do it.
I had 6 laurens in my year 8 class, and everyone had to go by ncknames. I was short lauren we also had big lauren, horsey lauren, frizzy lauren, stuck up lauren and the other lauren. LOL
OK lets see if this works. Here are a few of the last designs i did for photographers so you can get an idea about what i ws on about, sometimes im not too clear. You might have to follow the liknk.
lauren, this one is a finer version of the first one. it looks soooo pro! how do you create a watermark, by the way? been wanting to put one on my photos. thanks!
Lauren - haha that is too funny! all of those laurens...yea I'd definitely be "short lauren" ...or "midget lauren" like you..because I am short lol or I could be "twin lauren" :P
well I still have no idea what pip is...but if you figure it out, let me know.
yea, and like Jeff said, your links arent working!! :( try again maybe?? I really want to see them!
Luster --- thank you Luster!!!!! :) :) Although I like this one...I am trying out others that may be better..but for this one, I used Picnik.com. but I am also using Picasa...that's where I upload all my photos, and you can add text to it. I havnt tried adobe photoshop (elements 8) which I have, but dont know how to use it. I hope to learn soon, even though I am perfectly happy with picnik :)
Watermark is looking good..
im not so sure about your choice in text for your Last Name
it is a bit hard to read, and if you dont know your last name (example: i dont know you or your last name, so it was hard for me to read it without looking at the person who posted it" other then that the watermark is clean, simple and doesnt grab too much attention.
There are a lot of comments on here and I didn't want to read all of them (or start a new thread) so if this has already been asked and answered Im sorry in advance. I see a lot of talk about watermarks and I was just wondering if someone could tell me how to make one. I would love to be able to add my "mark" to my work. Thanks for your time, and I apologize again if this has been asked and answered.
P.S. It could just be that I'm exhausted, but I can't figure out where this picture you are referring to is... lol
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Can you tell the cursive says Dahlhauser?
And the picture is fab!
Jessica - Picnik.com :) the one and only ;)
Julia - really? awesome! that's just what I was going for :)
TJ - exactly. :)
My theory, everyone knows it is photography, hence the picture. It is your name tagging it (or your company) and to me this should stand out more then what the item I am looking at (photography). Just something I thought you might want to think about.
In conclusion: bigger name and in a font, smaller size "photography" and hand write this if desired instead. again just my 2 cents for what it is worth.
Love the picture still :)
.... see I am editing :)
I read all your questions on this thread. keep in mind that watermarking will not prevent theft. watermarks do help get your name out there, as long as the thieves don't remove it. you are really worried about taking your image and claiming it as their own and profitting from it.
do I think you should. YES, it doesn't hurt and it will help you get your name out there for those that leave your image alone and not clone out or crop your tagging.
you have beautiful work, and you should consider looking at pro photogs in your area and see if you can do an apprenticeship with one of them. This could help develope your talents even better. And it might help you decide what style of photography you really want to do. There are many arenas of photography and can be really good in a lot but find your niche.
Very nice...and professional-looking, Lauren! Well done!
Rachael - thanks for the reminder :D
Jeff - thank you SOO much Jeff. I can see we think alike. I really appreciate you taking time out of your day and putting in all the effort to write that.
I agree with EVERYTHING you said. And I think, because of you, I have decided to keep a watermark. as soon as I find one I am SURE I like and that I feel is perfect. This one...the one that I have...is NEAR perfect ...to me anyways. but I agree DAHLHAUSER should be the main focus, it should be capitalized...and...probably bigger than photography. I guess...in my defense (well not really defense, but you know what I mean ;D) I was more focused on making it LOOK good. and to me...this LOOKS good. but you have opened my eyes to pay attention to the important details I passed over. I will work with it a little more and let you know when I have something :) then, can I have your personal opinion again? :)
Kylie - good point. thanks so much!
Louise - I sure hope I'm on the right track :) I agree with what Jeff said too.
I really do think you should look in your area for some apprentice job. Keep in mind photography is very hard to make a living at these days. Ask the pros on this site they will tell you. There is people like you out there that give some pros a bad name. So pros need to make sure their stuff is identifyable as theirs. Take Joey L. he is about your age maybe a year or two more but has his name in the pro industry. Look him up JOEY L I think he still lives with his parents too :)
(sorry I'm late to join the party!)
Hope this makes sense and helps!! :) I haven't tried a watermark yet, but I was thinking about it.
Its funny too because just about a week ago my dad was saying I should look for an apprentice job. It is a good way to broaden my knowledge about photography and really get the feel for what it's really like.
Bonnie - Yes...my name :) so I think I've decided...to make my name slightly larger...and gosh...I REALLY like it in cursive!!! maybe I'll find a font somewhere that is cursive, lets me capitalize the D....AND is readable?
Loni - yes I really am!! it is helping SOO much. So you think no cursive altogether?? I'm considering it...its just...I reallly like the cursive! must be a me thing. I DO think it should be more readable. then again...maybe I'll completely change my mind and give up on the cursive thing...who knows :P
Jessica - awesome, thanks!
You just have to go with what you really love!
Loved your comment on my shot today. Loved. hehehehe :)
Good Luck and keep up the great work!
as to a website, they can be a lot of work and maybe worth it, but with facebook and wordpress you can create great sites without a website...
I attached a link to a guy I know through a different form and I know not in english, but all in wordpress...
http://www.fotofashion.no/
The watermark would is this...
Jordn - yes I realize this, thanks :) and thanks for the link too! I found that very interesting...what you said was a lot of help.
Jeff - no no! I don't mind! I love how you made it my favorite color :) the oonnly thing I would really have a hugge problem with...would be it matching my photos...maybe it's a girl thing? haha who knows...I definitely agree that my last name should be capitalized...and maybe even I should have my first name in it...and photogrphay should not dominate over my name. Thanks so much for your help Jeff. I love how you used a picture of Charlie too hehe
Rosie - thanks!
Keep in mind that people watermark for 2 reasons...to label themselves and to keep others from stealing images to either print or call their own. You want your watermark to be big enough to read, touch parts of the photo that cannot be cloned out, etc...
These look real grainy for some reason but here are my examples....
regular watermark and colors...
Now contrast increased until it turned black
if you adjusted the hue and saturation you could completely change the colors all together
But I actually like the fonts you've used, perhaps just switch them around.
And I'll just reiterate what I said elsewhere.
Aside from identifying you, I think of a watermark as the finishing touch.
The signature.
Photography is art, and a photo isn't complete until its been signed.
I actually love watermarks for that reason. I think of it as an extension of the photo.
And I am old enough to remember a time when all professional photos ( portraits, I mean ) were stamped with the photographer/studio name on a lower corner of each photo. All of my parents and grandparents portraits, had them....so I guess I've never thought of them on modern day digital photos as being intrusive.
My name on my photos certainly isn't going to stop anyone from cropping it out if they were really determined, but I like that it identifies me as the artist.
Jonine....I use picnik - which you can use for free - that has a number of fonts that you can use. More are available, if you buy the membership.
Thanks so much again!
You are an amazing talent. I agree, you should definately get your name out there. If you are as dertermined about your watermark as you are about how your photos turn out, I'm sure you'll select the perfect one! Good luck!
"Lovely composition, great shot. Love it! I miss squirrels now that I'm in New Zealand.
"
I gave the poster your credit on the photo... :)
1) If you're going to advertise your work but not going to sell it, placement of a decorative watermark is desirable. Placement at the bottom corners are attractive.
2) If you are going to be selling your images to a customer and you have it on display for sale online, you KNOW that they will try and download the online image and try and copy it. This is human nature. In this case, you want to make sure that your watermark cannot be edited or cropped out easily. My Photo Marketing instructor tells me that you should place a medium opacity watermark diagonally across the image to prevent it from being copied. It sounds like overkill, but I certainly wouldn't want to lose the sale because my customer or other viewer decided they didn't want to pay for it, but instead use the online image.
You need to find a water mark that matches your style as you do not want to change it later on, it will confuse people as you are essentially branding yourself.
I think focusing on your last name was a geat move as it is unique and will stick in people mind and i can tell you from experience there are so many laurens out there.
I would reccomend adding an image to your name in the watermark as so many other photographers have their name in script with photography in plain or the reverse. It can also double as your watermark for dificult images where text gets lost.
Silohettes work great but try to stick away from butterflies and owls they are very porular at the moment, i have done 5 photographer logos this year and they all used either owls or butterflies.
I will post an example for you if someone tells me how to pip.
what does "pip" mean though?
I had 6 laurens in my year 8 class, and everyone had to go by ncknames. I was short lauren we also had big lauren, horsey lauren, frizzy lauren, stuck up lauren and the other lauren. LOL
[IMG] http://i41.tinypic.com/1zv35g7.jpg[/IMG]
or try this
http://tinypic.com/r/1zv35g7/5
well I still have no idea what pip is...but if you figure it out, let me know.
yea, and like Jeff said, your links arent working!! :( try again maybe?? I really want to see them!
Luster --- thank you Luster!!!!! :) :) Although I like this one...I am trying out others that may be better..but for this one, I used Picnik.com. but I am also using Picasa...that's where I upload all my photos, and you can add text to it. I havnt tried adobe photoshop (elements 8) which I have, but dont know how to use it. I hope to learn soon, even though I am perfectly happy with picnik :)
im not so sure about your choice in text for your Last Name
it is a bit hard to read, and if you dont know your last name (example: i dont know you or your last name, so it was hard for me to read it without looking at the person who posted it" other then that the watermark is clean, simple and doesnt grab too much attention.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31377960@N02/4574327611/in/pool-acprint.
P.S. It could just be that I'm exhausted, but I can't figure out where this picture you are referring to is... lol