Why I Use Watermarks on My Photography
Protecting authenticity and respecting creative labor in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Me, warming up with a mug of hot tea on the black rocks of Isle Royale - following an arduous and very, very wet 7.7 mile hike during my time as the Isle Royale Visiting Artist in 2024.
Photography in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is as wild and unfiltered as the places I guide people through. Every image I share—whether of northern lights over Lake Superior, migrating warblers in the Huron Mountains, or ice forming on inland beaver ponds—carries with it the time, patience, and presence required to make it. That’s why I watermark my photos.
What a Watermark Means Here
A watermark is a gentle imprint of my name or logo, added to images I publish online. It doesn’t interrupt the photo—but it does protect it.
Here’s why I choose to use them:
Prevent unauthorized use on other websites or commercial products
Credit the artist when images are shared or reposted
Signal authenticity—that the photo was made, not generated
For anyone booking a guided photography excursion in the Upper Peninsula, I want to be transparent: watermarked images online are a preview. When you book a session or workshop, you receive full-resolution, non-watermarked images for personal or commercial use depending on our agreement.
If You're Wondering About the Watermarks...
You might be browsing and thinking, "Why the overlay?" It’s not there to block the view. It’s there to protect the story. These aren’t stock photos. They are made in real time, in real weather, in real wildness.
Purchasing or Licensing My Work
If you’d like to purchase prints, license an image, or use photos from one of our excursions, I offer watermark-free files and printed formats. Just reach out directly via the contact form.