Are you on Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest or Instragram? As a photographer, it’s especially apparent that today’s online environment embraces photo sharing. Posting (and re-posting) images is now an integral part of social media communication. However, while photo sharing is a useful platform for promoting purposes, photographers are finding it increasingly difficult to prevent photo theft and misuse.
When it comes to managing the risks of photographic artists, your APA Insurance Services problem solvers are the experts! We recognize that with the growing popularity of photo sharing, photographers must take extra measures to protect their work from photo theft.
Three Easy Ways to Protect Your Photos:
1. Watermark
The watermark isn’t news, but it’s underused! Watermarking your images is an easy way to keep thieves away from your owned images and promote your business. In order to use it most effectively, keep your watermark subtle, but still difficult to remove. This will ensure that the benefit (keeping your photo safe) outweighs the cost (interrupted viewing experience).
2. Resize Your Photos
High-resolution images are the number one targets of photo theft. Before you publish any images online, make sure resize your images for web use only. Many photographic artists recommend 72pixels/inch. This size is great for viewing on a screen, yet not ideal for print. This is an effective way to make sure your photos aren’t being sold as prints without your knowledge or consent.
3. Register at Copyright.gov
Of course, there’s always a copyright! Registering your photos on copyright.gov won’t necessarily stop someone from saving your photo and using it for their own purposes. However, it gives you (the photographer) the right to sue for monetary damages upon discovering the misuse.
APA Insurance Services is the exclusively endorsed insurance provider of APA National. Our agency is proud to provide complimentary certificates of insurance, with a standard 24-hour turnaround.
As your dedicated photography insurance experts, we make it EASY for you to secure the RIGHT insurance for LESS! Call APA Insurance Services today at 877.269.9021 to request your FREE proposal of cost and coverage! Or, click this link to receive your custom proposal online!