I’ve heard of this type of “cyber crime” happening to other bloggers, and I knew that it could definitely happen to me too, but I never realized just how far someone would go. If you’ve noticed, I’ve always had a small watermark on all of my photos. I do this to deter others from snatching my photos and passing them off as their own. Well, it doesn’t always work.
It’s come to my attention that a person, who I won’t name because she deleted the page, was posting pictures of Corbin and Lynley on a fake Facebook page. She named them Connor and Claire and claimed that they barely made it through the first 72 hours of life. She posted photos of my family members and the wonderful nurse that we bonded with during the NICU stay. It’s unbelievable to me that someone would basically steal my children’s identities. And to top it all off, she was posting this info to moms of a preemie group. Moms who possibly lost babies or had very difficult struggles. I am so terribly sorry that this person hurt them by posting false information and pictures that were not hers.
Corbin and Lynley did stay in the NICU for 41 days. Those were the longest days of my life. Derrick and I made a 45-minute commute daily to visit them and spent at least 4 to 5 hours at the hospital. There were a few days that scared us, like when Lynley suffered from cold stress and they thought it might be NEC (thank goodness it was not.) Or when Corbin turned blue trying to drink from a bottle and needed a second under the oxygen mask to get him back on track. Despite those two events, my sweet babies did not face any serious problems, thank the Lord. They were born nine weeks early, and miraculously just needed to gain weight and mature. They never needed lung treatments or needed intense intervention, and so far, they have no developmental delays. They are true miracles. It saddens me that someone would say otherwise about them, especially to moms who know exactly how hard it can be in the NICU.
I write all of this to make you aware that there are people out there who will do unimaginable things. I don’t know this woman’s circumstances or what caused her to do this. But, I pray that whatever it is that made her do this not only to me, but to other preemie moms, she gets healing from. If you see this happening on Facebook or message boards or support groups, please report it. And if you’re a blogger, I strongly suggest a better watermark than just text, like I was using. And better positioning than I had too! Here’s a great tutorial on how to create a watermark bar in Photoshop. It’s pretty simple to do, and difficult for thieves to edit or crop out.
You’ll be seeing a new watermark on all of my photos, and I hope it doesn’t keep you guys from loving our posts! I thought that I could avoid having to use a complex one, and I did for 17 months. But in order for me to feel comfortable and continuing to post, a new watermark is the only way. Thanks in advance for understanding!
How to Watermark Your Photos for Instagram & Other Social Media
I’m so sorry this happened to you…this is something I worry about all the time as I do reviews on children’s fashion, so I always watermark somewhere along my daughters face…It makes me feel somewhat better!
I will be doing just that in the future!
I’m SO sorry this happened to you. How selfless for you to apologies on their behalf, but how scary for you to find this out! I would be mortified!! Would you be able to post a tutorial on how to watermark? How to make a watermark? xx
Thanks Harley. Yes, I would be happy to write up a tutorial on watermarking. Look for it sometime this week!
I cannot believe that someone could be so insensitive. There are so many cruel people out there. I am starting a new watermark as of today!
Wow! That is unbelievable. I’m glad that it was brought to your attention and that the woman deleted the page. I think now is the right time for me to add watermarks, Thanks for sharing!
Mo
That is really disgusting.
I hadn’t really thought about watermarks, but will look into it. Do you have to go back and replace every picture on your blog? That sounds daunting!
Yes, I am going back. It’s a pain, but I do not want this happening again! I’ll have some tutorial posts on watermarking coming up soon!
I am so sorry to hear that this has happened to your family. To anyone’s family. I love that you have not judged in your post. It would be easy to do given the harm that has been caused. However, we do not know this person’s situation. I’m glad that you have found a way to protect yourself in the future. A little watermark won’t keep me from reading. Happy Blogiversary!
Besos, Sarah
Blogger at Journeys of The Zoo
Thanks Sarah! It would be so easy to toss out accusations as to whom this person is, but I’ve always followed my mom’s advice when it comes to situations likes this, and that is to stay true to yourself, forgive and move on because you never know a person’s circumstances.
Thanks for the blogiversary wishes
It is crazy what some people out there will do! But this is a good reminder to me to watermark my pictures, I forget to a lot.
It’s so hard sometimes to remember, and I’ve had to delete photos on social media that I just uploaded, watermark them , then re-upload! It can be a pain, but it’s worth it. Watermatking tutorial in the works!
I’m sorry this happened to you. What a sick person!!
XOXO