Blogger Beware: Watermark Your Photos!

I'm incredibly thankful for friends who have my back and who genuinely have my family's best interest at heart. My sweet college friend, and fellow blogger, April sent me this today. It's every bloggers parent's worst nightmare. It's a scary world we live in. I cannot believe that there are companies/individuals out there who do not bat an eye when it comes to copyrights and lifting images off of the internet- especially when it comes to children. It's disgusting really.

As a new blogger {yes, my Blogger profile says that I have been doing this for 4 years, but that's a lie. I've had a Blogger profile for about 4 years but that's it. lol I've really only started seriously blogging when I created this blog at the end of last year.} I have much to learn. 

Especially when it comes to protecting my boys. 

I've seen other blogs with watermarks on their images and thought that it was a smart move on their part. That way, when others re-pin their images on Pinterest or use the image in their blog posts, the source will be credited. However, I did not realize until today how important the placement of the watermark is on your image, because apparently, there are people out there who will crop out your watermark and will use your image without permission. 

No image on the internet is safe. 

So, from now on, my images will look something more like this:

It's the least I can do to make it harder for others to steal my photos for their personal gain- and to protect my sweet boys from being exploited. I hate that I have to now put words over their precious faces, but if that is what it takes to keep them safe on the internet... I'll do it.

Yes, it's a pain in the butt.

And now I will be spending hours going over each old photo on my blog and re-position the watermark.

But it's worth it.

So, the moral of this story is- if you are a blogger- it's imperative that you watermark your photos.