How Michel Klooster's Photologo Watermark Kept His Name Circulating When His Controversial Photo Went Viral

A photo you have taken going viral is a double-edged sword: you want it to happen, but at the same time, you relinquish control and too often, credit for your work. When Michel Klooster’s controversial wedding photo went viral, his Photologo watermark kept his name intrinsically linked with the story.

Last year, Wedding Photographer Michel Klooster had one of his images go viral. It’s a beautifully composed, lit, and framed image, but its hook was that it was a touch out of the ordinary. Bride and groom portraits are paramount to the shooter of the big day, and there are entire classes dedicated to posing the happy couple as they aren’t models and they can look a little… stiff. Well, that might have been a problem for Klooster, but thankfully we won’t know.

Surprisingly, the concept for this polarizing image of modern love was suggested by the groom’s new mother-in-law. Little did she know that this innocuous suggestion would lead to the resulting image taking on a life of its own. Once Klooster had posted the picture to his Facebook page, it spread like wildfire. After all, you seldom see oral sex in a wedding album.

So, we arrive at that double-edged sword. The exposure from having a photo go viral — and multiple photos go viral daily — is unparalleled, and that’s not hyperbole. The downside is that seldom will you find the photographer’s name anywhere near it, and big, ugly watermarks over the center of the image are thankfully a thing of the past. Fortunately for Klooster, he had a Photologo watermark subtly to the left of the… intimate moment. The signature doesn’t draw the eye enough to detract from the image in question, but it is noticeable enough that you will remember his name once you’ve closed the photograph. That is not to be underappreciated, as it’s a line that’s difficult to walk: being present enough that people remember your name, but subtle enough that it doesn’t encroach on the composition.

Klooster having his Photologo watermark on his image that went viral was the difference between complete loss of control and complete loss of control but with recognition — a worthy distinction. As Klooster worded it: "Having put my Photologo on it, it fueled me to become famous, because everyone knew I took that photo."

The kind folks at Photologo allowed me to trial their service, and the results are pleasing. They offer a soft, signature-esque design that looks closer to an autograph than an unsightly watermark. Whether your photos are likely to go viral or not, having not just a watermark but your name on your images makes the task of finding you significantly easier. Klooster has had many people contact him since that photo went viral, which I can only presume wouldn't have happened to anywhere near the same degree had it have been without his name clearly visible.

If you are interested in adding this simple but attractive layer of protection to your work, Photologo is offering a discount on their customizable, hand-crafted logos for the Fstoppers readership.