FAQ - Watermarks on images used on the internet

Q: Firstly, how do you add a watermark?

Secondly, [and I sound naive here], but what are the disadvantages with people stealing the images ? I'm thinking it's even more publicity and compliments the photo.

A: Well how to add one is a good question, because there are lots of ways, I add a line of text, with a URL, when I crop my images
If you crop them too, this is when I would add it by hand simply because you can put it where you want to on the image

There are programs to add watermarks for you (I use Photoshop for this sometimes) but the disadvantage that way is they add the text in one area and that sometimes covers an important part of an image

You just add text, type something out you want to say, like a URL. If possible and you like the effect, you can apply transparency to

The reason I started to do it was because I host my own pics and people would steal one of my pics as a 'hot link' so I would be hosting my stolen image for them at my cost (So I was paying to be ripped off)
That was mostly on free sites, but as soon as I noticed stores and for-profit sites using my images I started adding a watermark all the time.

Mostly it stops for-profit sites from just using your images as their own without any effort
(it can still happen with a watermark, but they need to steal it first, photoshop it then host it themselves, which is more work than they want to do)

Does your pup have it's own website?
If you don't have a business, consider making a free site for the dog, if nothing else it is a place to post your photos, but you could list accomplishments, training schedules, etc.. add a few google ads and you might make a few bucks too

at that point if people steal your pics (with a watermark) it's like free advertising