Technology

Stock Photography: Strategies for Fighting Image Theft

When first consulting with me, most photographers want to know, “How can I ensure no one will steal my photographs?” There’s no foolproof way to prevent your photos from being stolen, but you may take some precautions.

Some photographers argue that the “Save image as…” option in the right-click menu prevents unauthorized copies of their work. The answer is no. To begin, it is not compatible with Macs or Linux. And second, this right-click menu will function on Windows if you disable Javascript. Third, viewing the page’s source code may save any image displayed in your web browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer).
Additionally, some software providers offer add-ons that claim to address this issue. In most cases, these “solutions” are too expensive, and in reality, not even the most complex software with separate server-side and client-side implementations can prevent screen capture. That’s all there is to it. No amount of effort or money will be able to find a technical answer.

If this declaration stokes your worries, consider How much you care about pleasing your customers? Clients will have more difficulty viewing your work if you restrict access to it. They might as well go next door if they need a plugin to view your content. It’s lousy security to make clients feel under constant surveillance because it drives them away. Don’t “punish” 99 out of 100 customers for the actions of 1 thief. Don’t bother with business if you can’t trust your fellow man.

What, then, can you do? First and foremost, watch what you put up and where you put it. Sharing your high-resolution photos on Flickr or any similar site is never a good idea. It was an unpleasant experience for Icelandic photographer Rebekka Guoleifsdottir, who had her work stolen from Flick, printed, and sold without her permission. Every photographer’s worst fear has come true. You could always consult a lawyer, but doing so would be prohibitively expensive, and, in this particular case, the alleged thief was located in a foreign country, greatly complicating matters.

First, make sure that any photographs you submit to these platforms are no more than 500 pixels on the most significant side. The image is only 500 pixels big, so even if someone were to steal it, he couldn’t sell it. To enlarge it in Photoshop would cause it to become pixelated.
Watermarking is a second quick solution. Avoid overusing the watermark, as it can be distracting. Your image is already too little to be in the center, and you certainly don’t want to scare away potential clients. If its width is less than 500 pixels, it makes no sense to place it there. The copyright sign, your name, and (optionally) a link to your online portfolio should all appear on your watermark.

In conclusion, there is no foolproof way to prevent image theft, but there are measures you may take to lessen its impact. However, it serves no purpose to frighten away potential buyers. Don’t forget that the internet operates differently from the “offline” world; your opponent could be just a click away, and if someone steals one of your low-resolution images and posts it on a personal website, you can ask them to remove it or give you credit, and they will typically oblige. After all, there was no monetary loss because it was not a tangible item.

Stock photography is a massive interest for Eric Imboden. Visit [http://www.kumaru.com/] to learn how he can promote and sell your photography without charging you any fees. Any feedback you have for his blog or articles is always appreciated. Send an email to:

linda