How do I protect my images once I post them online?

Once you publish an image online you are volnerable to an unauthorised use of your image. There are a few steps to limit the chances of that from happening.

Some photographers use a watermark to protect their shots. This is fine, although they can be easy to clone or crop out, and often damage the aesthetics of the image. Instead, it's best to only upload low-res files where possible- this will also mean the images load faster. If you want to check if one of your images has been stolen, you can use Google's reverse image search (go to Images, click the camera icon at the right of the search bar, upload your shot and search for similar images). A more advanced option is to set up an account with Copytrack (copytrack.com), which will search the web for your shots and report back, boasting an accuracy rating of 98%. Copytrack then pursues the use for a post licencing agreement and ensures proper legal enforrcement. Setting up an account with Copytrack is free.