**Registering your photographs with the U.S.
Copyright Office provides legal proof of ownership**, making it easier to navigate intellectual property lawsuits.
**You can copyright all your existing photos at one time, in one application, and for one price (about $50 in the U.S.)** at copyright.gov/eco/.
**Adding a copyright notice to your photos, such as "© Your Name", informs people of the copyright ownership** and can deter image theft.
**Registering your photographs with the U.S.
Copyright Office helps provide evidence in legal cases** and can increase the chances of winning a lawsuit.
**The U.S.
Copyright Office allows you to register up to 750 photographs, published or unpublished, in one application** for a single fee.
**You can create a new layer in Photoshop to add your name and date, and even add the copyright symbol (©) using a keyboard shortcut (Option + G on Mac or Alt + 0169 on Windows)**.
**As a copyright owner, you have the right to make, sell, or otherwise distribute copies, adapt the work, and publicly display your photographs**.
**To copyright a photograph, the image must be fixed in a tangible form, such as on film or digitally captured**; it cannot be just an idea or concept.
**If you took the photo as part of a work-for-hire agreement, your employer likely owns the copyright unless your contract states otherwise**.
**Watermarking your photographs can be an additional layer of protection**; you can adjust export settings to share only low-resolution files as extra protection.
**The Internet can be a double-edged sword for photographers**: while it's a wonderful way to share your work, it's also full of people who may download and reproduce your pictures without permission.
**Registering your photographs can help deter image theft** and provide a legal basis for taking action against infringers.
**The U.S.
Copyright Office allows you to register a group of unpublished works, including up to 10 unpublished photographs, in one application**.
**You can apply for copyright protection online through the U.S.
Copyright Office's Electronic Copyright Office (eCO) system**.
**Registering your photographs is an essential step in protecting your intellectual property and can have a significant impact on your business as a photographer**.