Photo 101: Metadata & Your Photo Copyright

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Photo 101: Metadata & Your Photo Copyright

What you are looking at to the left is about half the information which is stored on my saved RAW images. It is a permanent record and is part of every picture I take with my Canon Rebel XSi, using the Digital Photo Professional software (DPP). Near the bottom you see Gail MacMillan Copyright 2009.

It doesn't just show up, you have to take the steps to program your camera with this information. I will explain how it is done using the DPP software which came with the camera. Most DSLR's will have something similar.

First thing is connect your camera to a USB port and turn it on ;-) which will open the EOS Utility. Click on Camera Settings/Remote Shooting. The window which opens allows you to work with your camera settings similar to using the menu on the camera. The second icon half way down is a "hammer and wrench" which opens the set-up menu. Click "Owner's Name" and enter your information. Mine: Gail MacMillan Copyright 2009. Click OK - that's all there is to it!

You are now 1 step closer to protecting your rights, you have proof the photo belongs to you. Another thing I have started doing in the Title section up uploaded pictures is adding the copyright claim. When the mouse hovers over, there is no mistaking your notice.

For all of you who upload to Flickr, I suggest you read the following article so you understand that your rights may be very limited.

http://duncandavidson.com/2008/04/flickr-strips-copyright-metada.html

As I go through all the features on my new Camera I will post short turorials which should make it easier to learn if you're just getting started in DSLR.

Previous post: Photo 101: Batch Processing of RAW Images

If you have any questions or want to share your methods, please post them in the comment section. Feel free to share the "how-to" for your camera brand. HAPPY SHOOTING :-)

Posted by Gail MacMillan on 02/19/2009 02:29 PM

Comments (18)

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Originally posted at: My Titusville FL Real Estate Blog: Photo 101: Metadata & Your Photo Copyright

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18 Comments on Photo 101: Metadata & Your Photo Copyright

FEB

2009

Gail- Some of my photos I have copyrighted but the ones I put on Flickr are with Creative Commons licenses because I want them to go viral without any worrys from the people who pass it along that they may get into trouble for doing so.

We each have to make a decision with each photo; what is the purpose of the photo? That purpose then determines whether that photo should become viral or not. Katerina

Gail,

Thanks, I need to do this. I just upgraded from a Rebel XT to a Canon 50D and what a difference. I'm still learning all the features.

Rich

Hi Katerina, I'm glad you brought this up. I understand that Creative Commons allows others to use your photos as long as they give you attribution. How can you be sure this is really happening; how do you monitor the link back; do you really care? It's the missing piece of the puzzle for me and I would like to feel comfortable with CC. Thanks for your input.

Hi Richard, Yesterday I was trying to do something in my settings and following along with a tutorial. You have a choice in your settings that my camera doesn't have....I think it was an Info Button and I remember thinking it would have been a nice feature. Sorry I can't remember more. You have a great camera, look forward to seeing lots of great shots :-)

Gail - I do what Katerina does and post to Flickr also with a creative commons attached. I always if possible contact the photographer to ask permissions as well. Most always they are aggreable as long as I am not reselling their pictures. As far as tracking you can use copyscape to see if anyones using your shots. I have found my pics all over the net as I do a lot of local shots of my communities. Can be a little troublesome sometimes but most are cooperative. Thanks for this post.

Gail,

The more you talk about your camera the more I think I need one too. Thanks for the additional information. And by the way I hope that you are having a very GOOD day ma'am.

Hi Robert, Thank you for addressing the Creative Commons questions. Are you saying that without Copyscape you would actually have no way of knowing who is using your pictures? I suppose I sound a little paranoid (a problem with being a control freak) but I don't want to chase people down. This whole issue is troubling to me. I would love to work under the honor system, but it rarely works. If you or Katerina could elaborate, it might help a great many asking or wondering the same thing. BTW I wasn't aware Copyscape worked with photos.....interesting, thanks for that, it's how we all learn...valuable dialogue :-)

Hi Don, I mentioned in another post - and I meant it - just pick up the phone and call me. I will try to answer any ???'s you might have (that I might have answers to ;-). I would love to have the camera Richard mentioned above, but didn't want to spend the money. Here's a link to a post I did in December 2008 when I was looking. It helped me, perhaps it can help you as well. The Rebel XSi is excellent value for the money.

Upgrading Camera ~ Need Advice ~ Update Hope this helps

Gail, you are my photography photo protection guru, no doubt about it.

WOW GAIL !! This is all new information, and very interesting. I'm glad you are on the other end of the phone if (when) I make my big leap to a new camera. I think you are terrific!

FEB

2009

Hey Gail, I have this same ability with my camera, but never put the info in until we discussed it. It's there now. The only place it shows up is on the software bundled with the camera, together with all the meta data. It would be useful in the event you needed to prove a photo was yours. I can't think of a way to prevent a photo thief from thievin' if they're so inclined, but as I said on your above post, if you think of something - patent it in a hurry!

You're doing an awesome job of passing along info! Thanks!

Debi

Hi Gary, wish I had more answers....but I'm on the lookout and I'll pass anything interesting along.

Mary, I'm always here for you :-) Have you taken the lenses in for evaluation?

Hello D-Vine, claiming your copyright in the metadata is just a beginning. This issue may not be solvable in the near future, but the more is said and written about copyright the more people will think before they grab. Education is a powerful advocate....baby steps!

Great info and I also wnted to say :

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you...for all of your comments!

Gail, Just for fun, point out a spelling error to Russell in the above comment. See if he goes back thru all those thank yous to find it ;) LOL

Debi

LOL D-Vine, I think he'll find it now. His spell-checker....checked out ;-) He must have fast fingers which causes a missing letter here or there. We all love him anyway!

It's amazing how these posts take on a life of their own......

Gail - Some great information for photographers!

FEB

2009

Great post. It has been featured in the Photography Group.

Thanks Maureen, much appreciated.

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Gail MacMillan

Titusville, FL

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