Well, yesterday’s post was text-heavy, so today’s shall be image-heavy. I meant to have this out earlier this morning, but beter late than never! Here’s the follow-up to the Krystle and Chris teaser from earlier in the week. This sesh was dogcentric, so get ready for übercuteness. I feel so delightfully fortunate to have had the opportunity to run around Balboa Park with these guys. I really do. Cuteness overload. Thank you Krystle and Chris for letting me share your sweet little furry family with everyone!
Oh… and I have a quick question for you. I am curious about everyone’s feelings on watermarking images. I almost always find they ruin an image for me, and thus I never watermark my images. But I’ve had enough occurrences of people using my images lately that I’m wondering if I ought to? Okay, now, let’s get back to the doggies!
Tags: Balboa Park, Dachshunds, frolic session, love, Magic Light, san diego, weiner dogs
Hello from Australia! Thank you so much for commenting on my blog so that I could find yours. You have created a wonderful space here and your photos and words are fantastic. Looking at your wedding party photos, I discovered you have the kind of smile that could brighten anyone’s day – you are truly beautiful. This session is just adorable. I love the dogs standing at their feet in the creeper plant wall. As for watermarks… I think it is the sad reality that there are so many people on the internet who are unaware or disrespectful of the copyrights held by the creator. I see so many photos from bloggers that I personally follow, being splashed across the internet with no attribution. I’ve tried to track them back for one photographer that I informed and the lack of attribution went way back across many blogs and tumblrs and image-sharing sites. It’s really sad. But I think it’s a personal decision. If you are comfortable with knowing your images will be stolen, used, shared without acknowledgement, then that’s ok. I’m personally not comfortable with that, as, with any of us, my photography is a very personal journey for me, I’m proud of overcoming my challenges to take photos and I don’t want people taking that without respect for my journey. I know that the watermark affects the viewing experience, but I’m prepared to deal with losing a couple of followers for those who understand my desire to protect these parts of me. Also, I publish photos as very low resolution files so that photoshopping out the watermark wouldn’t produce a great quality image anyway. I know that watermarks in the corners are less intrusive on the viewing experience, but I have seen those watermarks simply cropped out. I know not everyone is intentionally cruel when doing this, there is a balance of those who just don’t know these rights, are too lazy to seek the attribution and then there are those who intentionally seek to capitalise/recreate someone else’s work. Look forward to hearing what you decide!
Nice, Jaz! I did a shoot with the staff at Surfer and their dogs in the office studio that was so fun, I’ll get it online again someday. I DO watermark my images because I, too, have had people take them and use them without permission or credit.
I do a text box in Photoshop and since it’s a new layer, reduce its opacity so it’s there but doesn’t overpower the image. And register all important pics with the copyright office! It’s like $35 a batch. I did this with my Zenyatta photos http://www.backside55.com
Hello! Thank you so much! You are so sweet.
I definitely see where you’re coming from. I am eager to protect/preserve the work I put out into the world, but I also want to be realistic. I am just trying to weigh out whether watermarking becomes a deterrent or not. I always felt like it was for me, but if it isn’t the case for most people… Hmm. It’s just a toughie. Feels like a bit of a lose-lose!
AHHH Balboa Park! I love our city so much. Such an amazing set of photos, you’ve capture the beauty of the people, the dogs, and the city.
Where is that wooden bridge?
Lovely, lovely, lovely! I’ve yet to visit Balboa Park, and this has definitely inspired me to.
As for watermarks, a photographer friend of mine says he’d rather his images be stolen than ruin them with a watermark. But that’s just him. I see nothing wrong with putting a discreet copyright notice at the bottom of your images. That way, if someone Tumbles you, their followers will at least know where to find you – and it could potentially be a valuable form of (free!) advertising.
As for me, I rarely upload images greater than 800 x 600. (Mind you, my pix aren’t really worth stealing.) I guess you could always disable right-click on your site, have you considered that?
The light you captured was perfect! I love the dogs in the car too! So fun and unexpected. I know I’ve read about ways to prevent copying/saving/right clicking of any sort on web site images,and on my old blog when you right clicked on an image a window popped up that said the material was copyrighted and that they could f-off
So just Goggle that shit and I’m sure you’ll find a solution other than a watermark.
These photos made me smile so much. Lots of love here and Krystle’s smile is contagious. I want those cute dogs. Nice combination of photos!
I have a very “people are inherently evil” attitude when it comes to ‘stealing’ (or whatever you want to call it, because really, it isn’t ALWAYS stealing). I, too, have fought with myself regarding the great watermark debate, and have decided to refrain from it for three simple reasons:
1) I’m way too lazy to watermark every photo that I throw up on the internet (that sounded gnarly – not my best word choice ever).
2) I generally hate watermarks and find them uber distracting and, let’s face it, unless you barebones it or have the sickest logo ever (still workin’ on that one) it’s going to become very dated looking, very fast.
3) This is where my first thought comes back … If people are truly being sneaky little rat bastards, they are going to steal your images NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO. Watermarks? Crop it out, clone it out, etc. Disable right-clicking? Take a screen cap (you know that “PRINT SCREEN” button on your keyboard? It’s a one-way ticket to Screencapsville).
I know this is pretty played out attitude, but I truly believe the only way to avoid people lifting your work is to not put it on the internet. And that’s obvs. not a choice for the likes of me. Maybe when I’m rich and famous I’ll have a different attitude. Or maybe when I’m rich and famous I still won’t care ‘cos, duh, I’ll be rich and famous.
Have you ever used TinEye to track your photos down? I’ve just given up on trying to keep my photos under wraps. It’s a digital age and people are gonna do what they do. And as a former musician during the height of Napster, I know what I’m talking about.
Word.
Samantha—It’s right in the center of the park!
Lauren—It’s pretty much a must. It may be a major tourist stop, but that doesn’t make it any less charming. It’s just so full of delightful little bits and pieces. And I lurve lurve lurve the botanical building.
Jennifer—Thank you! We were scheduled to do a beach shoot and swapped out at the last minute. I think the light and location were still much fun.
Mom—Yeah Krystle’s energy was totally contagious. I think that’s why it was so much fun.
Kim—Yeah, I think I pretty much fall into the same camp as you. I find them too unattractive and distracting across the board. A friend of mine just says that the act of putting it on the internet is the acceptance of it being misused by some. A bit negative, but realistic, I guess. Overall, I just don’t think I can swing it, even if I tried. I did watermark my images once to send off to someone interested in using them. I just figured he’d let me know which ones he wanted and we’d work out a deal, and then I would provide high-res unwatermarked images. And he ended up using them—the watermarked images. Yup. Published images with my watermark in there, half cut-off. Oy. I guess one just has to shrug at some of this. Boo.
John—Yep. Yeah, that’s where my head is at, I think. Wistfully, so, prhaps. But it is what it is. I’d still rather tell the story to the full degree I’d like without distractions and selling it short, you know? Thanks for your input!
So precious! I love the shot of the dogs on that blue table or whatever it is – the one on the right is totally looking at you. Cute. And the shot of the couple holding hands in the car is another favorite.
Watermarking is a tough subject. It sucks, but if someone is really determined to steal your work, they’re gonna do it no matter what kind of precautions you take. And watermarks usually ruin a photo for me as well. Even though I’m still somewhat of a beginner and I’d feel funny watermarking anyways, I finally decided that I won’t even when I do “professional” work. My goal is to do candid-type photography of families and kids and stuff, like what you do. I think they call it lifestyle photography? Anyways, I figured as long as my clients pay me, that’s enough. I’d be pissed if someone claimed my work as their own, but the web is so vast and I can’t control it. In the end, my desire to share my photography with others and not have a distracting watermark obscuring portions of the shots is greater than my desire to deter scumbag thieves!
these are so awesome! I love the shot of them holding hands in the car. PER.FECT. the watermark thing is a pain, really, almost anyone could get rid of a water mark if they really wanted anyway. I still do it and maybe only because it is ingrained in us photographers to do so. not sure. I hate it though. seeing your images unscathed is refreshing. follow your heart on this one.
mean people that steal are always going to figure out a way to do it anyway.
p.s. – pm me and tell me about your tilt shift. I’m seriously dying over here… so so so so awesome.
these are freakin FABULOUS! love the doggies and the couple – you’ve captured such love and happy here. Nice work. Are you using a tilt shift lens or is that a PD technique? Just curious. Either way, great effect
Nice work jas! The pups drowning in foliage is by far my fav. Congrat’s on the tilt… you already know that I am jealous!
Super cute photos! these dogs and people are so photogenic
As for the watermarking; I recently started placing little “lost in wishful thinking” (my photogrsaphic name) watermarks in the corner of my photographs, so that I can be acknowledged for my photographs (if no one goes out of their way to steal my photo). This means that if the source is lost via tumblr etc, someone can search “lost in wishful thinking” and find more of my work.
I do agree that it can detract from the image, but I think within the internet these days, it is important for us photographers to maintain the credit we deserve for our work; and if that means putting a watermark on our photos, so be it. People will still be able to admire our work if it is a simple and non-obtrusive mark.