This is the example of the watermark just below the item, hopefully that’s a little better for now!
Thank you all again for you advice and input 
I think the tag in the shot works really well, not distracting, not covering up anything I would want to look at and it colour co-ordinates. Definitely the way forward.
Sasha
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Fab,thank you! Seems the perfect option really 
I personally think that watermarks across the item you are selling detracts your attention away from the item too. When I take photos of my work I crop and enlarge the item so that people get a good idea of what it is like. Your work is great but maybe a close up photo would be an idea.
I really like this solution, I think it makes your hat look more professional.
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Goodmidea @patsimcox, ill definitely start doing more close ups.
Thanks very much @StephanieGuy, glad it worked well!
I use an app called PS Express to take my photos which is really simple to use. Good luck with it x
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There isn’t a watermark that cannot be removed if someone puts their mind to it. I think the best idea I have ever heard is to style it with something that has your company name. I did it (without realising it’s value) on my mirrors when I first selling them. It was the only way I could find, at the time, to ensure there were no unintended reflections. You can see both here. Wish one cannot be taken off?
Had a look at your shop. There is a mosaic of a sign "Home’ on one of the pages. I had to look at it for a while to see the wording as the picture is quite dark and the viewer is put off by the very light green background through the window above.
I would suggest you rephotograph the image to get a better balance of lighting and improved contrast, otherwise your mosaic fades into the background, and the picture doesn’t do it justice. Just my opinion, though.
I have some experience in taking mosaics for some artists, and not easy to do, due to the reflections one needs to control. So best of luck.
Finally, agreed that most watermarks can be removed with time and resources. But in that case, why bother having any antivirus software on your computer, as there is no security product out there which people cannot bypass?
Gee, I don’t recall asking for a review, Ronald. I thought this thread was about watermarks. I am sorry if you found my picture off-putting but thank you for your input.
This is a sample sign and has been clearly marked as such. As this sign has already sold, I am unable to rephotograph if I found it necessary. I probably wouldn’t given the number of commissions this sign as generated for me over the past year here and at my other online shops.
As far as this thread is concerned, I certainly agree with @patsimcox and others who state watermarks are not the way to secure photographs.
Kind regards,
Leslie
Just to add my opinion (this isn’t an official Folksy one!) I really hate watermarks. I understand why many people feel the need to use them but if you sell online I think it’s a good thing if people share your images as widely as possible just as long as they credit you and link back to your shop. And as @stevieafloat points out, people rarely Pin or share watermarked images, so in terms of promoting your shop, getting more people to see your work and getting more links back to your shop (which all helps your SEO) that’s bad.
Also, it is much harder for us to use images in Folksy promotions (gift guides, favourite finds, social media etc) if they are watermarked, and we don’t use them if the watermark covers the image. As @littleblackheart points out, we do sometimes use an image with a watermark if that watermark is really discreet (at the bottom in the corner for example) but then if someone really wanted to pass that image off as their own they could just crop it. Much better, as @SashaGarrett recommends, to somehow work your brand name into the photo through the packaging (but be careful with that too because it can look awful and again people may be less likely to share), or even better have a really clear brand identity that carries through to your product shots so people instantly know the photo they are seeing is yours.
My recommendation though would be not to use watermarks at all and instead do as Yeshen Venema suggests in this blog post about product photography and use metadata on images and chase up the credits where due. He explains that “you can do this through Adobe Bridge/Lightroom (paid options) or free on Flickr. Some cameras do it as you shoot, so read the manuals to find out.” He linked to more advice on metadata here.
The easiest way to find out if someone has used your image without your permission is to do a reverse image search on google. You can do that directly from your Folksy product page by right-clicking the image or on a Mac holding control and then clicking the image. That brings up a pop-up box where you can click ‘Search Google for this Image’. You can find more information on Google image searches here https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/1325808?hl=en
I hope that helps.
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Thanks so much for your input @folksycontent, it’s definitely made me reconsider even using watermarks at all. I think perhaps I will use my tags where appropriate/possible, but other than that I will just hope no one else passes my images off as their own. Thank you for the tip about the reverse image search!
I’ve been a bit obsessed with watermarks etc, but I wouldn’t want them to completely ruin my chances of ever being featured, or an item being in a gift guide.
Thanks so much to everyone for their advice and input- I’ve finally made a decision!
I can see the relationship between social media & possibility of your work being shared. However, that also shows how heavily we are relying on social media to promote our work. Bear in mind that there are several other ways for you to promote your work that doesn’t depend on whether you have a watermark on your photos or not.
I know a site that has public API and sellers’ photos and listings are scrapped in bucketloads and quite often. Those types of sites make money from using others’ images and listings and, some of them don’t give credit. Without watermark of any kind, no one would know this is your work. Now that I know this type of thing happens, I doubt I will remove my watermarks or stop using them. I don’t think they are distracting anyway. I truly hope people will focus on what’s essential, our products.
Metadata is used by people who wish to protect their images, but there are lots and lots of reports of unscrupulous people stripping out the Metadata, which is easy to do.
OK, Adobe Lightroom and other packages enable Metadata to be added , - I have it myself, as well as Aperture, and some others, but no one has come up with a system to make it so people can’t edit it, or remove it, called “stripping the Metadata”.
I personally don’t want my created images being ‘shared’ on Pinterest, Facebook, or anywhere else. At least, not without my written permission being obtained first.
Those that do have the choice, but the issue with modern social media is that more and more people think everything on the Internet is free, and theirs to copy or share, irrespective of whether they have authority to do so, particularly as regards copyright.
In selling images on Folksy and on my website I chose to share viewing of certain images, but not copying without authority.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, whichever way you look at it!) I very much rely on social media to get my items seen, hence using watermarks to hopefully link back to my shop as well as protect my image. @Minerva, in my opinion, your watermarks are not distracting in the slightest-mine, however, were directly over the centre of my item!
I’ve now removed the watermarks from almost all of my items. There are the odd pictures here and there with a small watermark in the corner, but it blends in so much with the background I’m not sure it’s even noticeable! I’ve also just changed my banner to images without watermarks and I have to say, my ‘shop front’ looks so much neater!
I will continue to use watermarks on my Facebook page as this is where most of my items are shared etc, and after selling hundreds of items on there I know it does not put my likers off! But for Folksy, I think non-watermarked images are the way forward for me, personally.
Thank you all again for your input and advice!
In case anyone would like to view my updated images here is my shop!
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