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I can do a better watermark, I swear!

Each Monday, I bring you a list of five articles from around the web that I’ve read the week before that I find particularly entertaining, informative, or inspiring.

It may be Monday, but at least the snow is finally gone and things can get back to normal, but first things first, here’s a look at some of the posts I’ve been reading lately.  Of particular interest this week is a look at how watermarking can create an advertising opportunity that you may not have expected.  Beyond that, there’s a DIY light tent that costs less than a dollar, some tips on how to avoid becoming a professional photographer, ideas to improve your portraits, and some new places to show off your photos and hopefully make some $$$.

• Top 10 ways to make sure you’ll never be a pro

Sometimes I’m put off by these reverse psychology type of posts.  It’s not that I don’t get them, I just don’t like how they’re presented usually.  This one, however, on Paul Burwell‘s nature blog is different.  My personal favorite tip here is in the body of #2, entitled Just take photos; don’t tell stories.  Mr. Burwell writes that if you can’t immediately come up with a story behind an image, then it isn’t a great photo.  I’ve been trying to do this with the photos I’ve taken since reading this post on Friday, and so far, I think it has helped my composition.

• Watermarking – How I Utilise this Advertising Opportunity

I hate watermarks.  I hate seeing them on images, and I hate using them, but I understand the need for them.  The first time I ever encountered theft of a photo was not online, but at my then local Eckerd drug store about 8 years ago.  I had dropped off some film from a job shoot I had done, and when I went to pick up the film a week later, one of my photos was framed and on display at the Photo Services counter without my permission.  While I was extremely insulted by the theft, I turned the incident into an opportunity.  I spoke with the manager and explained that they could continue to display my photo as long as my business card was also on display along with it.  This article from Elizabeth Halford on Digital Photography School takes this same concept into the digital age by showing how she uses discreet, yet attractive watermarks to advertise her business, so even if an image gets stolen, she’s still credited.  I’ll be reviewing the watermarks on this site soon to follow her example.

• Helpful Portrait Photography Tips

The always helpful folks at The Photo Argus provide these simple tips on how to breathe some new light into your portrait photos.  The best part about this post is that they offer extremely simple changes that can dramatically alter the outcome.  For example, the most basic change that they suggest is changing your perspective away from eye level.  Similarly, the post suggests moving your subject’s line of sight away from the camera lens as well.

• A Paper and Binder Clip Light Tent

I’ve mentioned that I’ve created a cardboard box macro studio before, but this design from Peta Pixel puts my box to shame.  These DIY tutorial shows how you can take four binder clips that you’ve probably got laying around in your desk right now and a few sheets of paper to create high quality macro photos.  I don’t see this replacing my box studio anytime soon, but this is a great trick to know when you’re out and about, and need a macro studio stat, so start packing some paper and clips in your photo bag now!

• Stock Photography Agencies for Amateur Photographers

I don’t post enough stuff from Photopreneur, but posts like this one will almost always make the cut for me.  In this post, they’ve offered up a sampling of the outlets for photographers to sell their images, but it’ll help to keep in mind that not all of these websites will accept your content for free.  Other than a few submissions to an open call from Getty Images, I haven’t really explored this option as in depth as I should, but I’ll be looking to do more of this in the coming days and weeks.