Watermarks: how to protect your previews (and what not to expect)
Watermarks deter, but they're not magic. Combine them with low resolution and access control to protect your work without ruining the experience.
Why watermark at all
A watermark does two things: it deters unauthorized use of your previews and reminds everyone that the final work arrives after payment. It's the most visible barrier between "showing to choose" and "delivering".
What it protects — and what it doesn't
Let's be honest: no technical measure is unbreakable. A watermark won't stop a screenshot or a photo of the screen. What it does is make that copy useless as a final product: marked, low-resolution and clearly not deliverable.
Low resolution: your best ally
More important than the mark is never uploading full resolution for selection. A lightweight preview is enough to choose and useless for quality printing or publishing. Watermark + low resolution is a far stronger combination than either alone.
Access control: PIN, expiry and revocation
The third layer is controlling who gets in and for how long:
- PIN so only your client opens the gallery.
- Expiry so the link doesn't live forever.
- Revocation: the ability to cut access instantly if needed.
Balance protection and experience
Be careful not to overdo it: a giant watermark covering the face ruins the selection. The goal is to protect without stopping the client from enjoying their photos. A discreet but present mark, over a low-res preview, strikes that balance.
Wrap-up
Protecting your previews isn't a single measure but layers: a watermark to deter, low resolution so the copy is useless, and access control to decide who and until when. Together, they protect your work without sacrificing the client experience.