Signiture Pictures

[wilsongideon]

so question for some of you pro photographers that are always signing your photos. Whats the reasoning? should I have signiture on pictures I post so people do not take them and use them? just curious about some of the different reasons why you should. my pictures are all snapshots but every now and again I have a decent picture but I feel strange signing the picture. here is a sample.

[wilsongideon]

I have seen "incredible" pictures on here not signed...and I have seen "pretty good" pictures on here signed. beauty is definitly in the eye of the camera holder. I like seeing signed pictures but was curious on the reasoning is all.

[grandpawrichard]

Gideon,
The reason I sign my photos is because many years ago I took a photo of an Eagle that was a Spectacular shot. I had enlargements and copies made to share with friends and family members. When I got the enlargements made they came back to me but the Negatives did not. About 6 months later I was in a store and passed by the Post card rack, what did I see? I saw my Eagle Photo on Post cards! 
I tried to Legally get my photo rights back, plus Payment for the usage of the photo, but ended up loosing the case. After that, I never took another photo to a store to be developed or enlarged. I paid a friend of mine to develop my photos and do the enlargements for me, then I signed Every photo by hand!

Today I share a lot of my photos on the internet so I always sign and date the photos. Then I save the photos to a DVD for safe keeping as proof that I took the photo. Most of the people here on the internet are honest people, but there are some *censored* bags that are out there to steal your work! It's a little harder for them to copy and steal your photos if they are signed, but it still can be done!  Someday I plan on paying for a Watermark software so that I can embed my signature into the photo to make it even harder for my photos to be stolen!

Another reason I put my signature in my photos is a "Pride" or ego statement! The photos I post I am very proud of, so it really makes me feel good to see my name on them! Many years ago when I was learning about photography and art I was told by my instructors that a true Artist or photographer Always signs and dates his work. So, that is another reason I sign my photos!

Your Eagle Shot is Spectacular! It Definitely Should be signed and Dated to protect it and to show your pride in it! I would suggest that you use a smaller size font and move the signature down just a bit so that it does not detract from the Beauty of the photo.

Dick

[JKEEN33]

Great picture!

Another reason I put my signature in my photos is a "Pride" or ego statement! The photos I post I am very proud of, so it really makes me feel good to see my name on them! Many years ago when I was learning about photography and art I was told by my instructors that a true Artist or photographer Always signs and dates his work. So, that is another reason I sign my photos!

Dick

And you should be proud. I see some great pictures on here. Makes me want to get serious about my pics one of these days.

[wilsongideon]

Okay that makes sense to me. I would be upset if someone used a photo I took to make money, without even giving credit to the photographer! I definitly am proud of my pictures,I will make my signiture smaller and try not to ruin the picture with it. I appreciate the responses!

[Dbow]

Very nice photo, to me the expression call for a caption like "The Eagle is awake, and he is not Happy!

[Lowedog]

I think all you photogs should sign your photos.  Like grandpawrichard said it shows pride and from my point of view it adds a touch of class or professionalism to your photo.

Nice shots of the eagle!!!

[jab89]

Interesting. I suppose everyone should sign their photos, even photos they deem not so great could still be used unwantedly. I will have to start doing it.

[BoomWhop]

ok how  do you sigh one?   I have a Cannon 7D and am just starting.  Is it sofeware or a setting in the camera.

[400out]

ok how  do you sigh one?   I have a Cannon 7D and am just starting.  Is it sofeware or a setting in the camera.

good question 

[jab89]

most any photo editing software has options to put text onto pictures. the canon software that comes with the cameras can do it. ms paint can do it also. i use picasa because it is free, but i am looking in to getting photoshop of some sort

[400out]

but i am looking in to getting photoshop of some sort

  I for see you in a picture with a 500 class elk, a 100 pound king with a cougar on your shoulder 

[jab89]

but i am looking in to getting photoshop of some sort

  I for see you in a picture with a 500 class elk, a 100 pound king with a cougar on your shoulder 

and thats on a slow day 

[jab89]

[grandpawrichard]

ok how  do you sigh one?   I have a Cannon 7D and am just starting.  Is it sofeware or a setting in the camera.

Here's a little write up I did  while back:

In Adobe Photoshop CS3 putting your signature on a photo is quite easy. To start with you need to create a signature like mine:

© Richard M. (Dick) Raymond Jr.

Then when you are almost finished doing your Photo editing you look on the tool bar on the left side of the screen for the big T (this is the Text button).

Click on it and then put your cursor in the spot on the photo where you want the signature to be and click your Left mouse button on the spot you want. Then you copy and paste your signature on that space. You can change the Font size by highlighting it and go to the top task bar on the screen. Select the font size and the color of the text. You can move the text all around the photo to get it situated to your liking.
When you get the text where you want you will then go up to the task bar and look for the LAYER command. Slide your mouse cursor down to the word RASTERIZE. I normally select the All Layers command. This locks all the layers of the photo and the signature together. You have now added your signature to the photo.

If you are using Picasa software you do the following steps:

On the left side of the workspace look for the Text Button. Select that button, move your cursor to the selected spot on the photo and click your left mouse button. Now Paste in the signature. You now can move the signature if need be, you can edit the font and size or color of the text. At this time you can select the APPLY ALL button and you are done.

For Gimp Software you do these steps:

Look for the big A (text command button) and click on it. Now move your mouse cursor to the spot in the photo where you want the signature. A little text box will pop up. Paste the signature in this box and then click Close. The signature is now in the photo. You can highlight the text and move back to the Text editing section on the left hand side of the work space to edit the font, the size and the font color. When that is done you simply save the photo to your hard drive.

Picasa and Gimp photo editing software are Free programs that can be downloaded to your computer at:

Picasa: http://picasa.google.com/
Gimp: http://www.gimp.org/

I hope I made this easy enough to follow and it works for you.

Dick Raymond