When I first started blogging I did not want any pictures on it because I didn’t want them to take the place of my “writing”. [insert guffaw here] But if you want your posts to be noticed and immediately attractive, get a picture in them!
YOUR PHOTOS
Of course a personal photo is best IF you are taking some good photos. You don’t have to own a DSLR to take good pictures. There are so many places to find good photo tips. It only takes a few good ideas to get you started. I usually just play with the exposure and saturation levels in iPhoto.
Then I have to watermark and rename my photos. I already wrote a whole post about this. Check it. It might change your life.
NOT YOUR PHOTOS
If you need someone else’s photo, you MUST make sure it is has a Creative Commons license. If it doesn’t you are effectively stealing that photographer’s work. You can find all kinds of creative commons photos on Flickr and of course you can buy them on istockphoto or other sites.
I have recently found a few photographers on flickr who have sets of free photos. I also search through some of my photographer friends‘ photostreams to see if they have any creative commons photos so I can give them traffic.
Oh, and my flickr-searching tip? Add a descriptive word. For example, I didn’t just search for “camera” for the above picture. I searched “vintage camera” and found more interesting photos. For me and my tastes, I usually add the word “vintage”, “retro” or “bokeh” and can usually find some creative stuff that way.
NOW WHAT?
Once you find the picture you want, you need to upload it to your blog. I used to just copy the HTML from flickr or photobucket, but if the owner deletes the photo for some reason, it will be gone from your site, too. So, it takes an extra step, but one that will save you later on!
When it’s uploaded, I like to center it and size it to 500 pixels wide. I don’t want the pictures so big you can’t see any text without scrolling. But not so little it looks like a thumbnail either.
Finally, you must link back to the photographer. This is called attribution. I usually just write photo source: photographer. Sometimes I put it in the caption so it’s right next to the photo, other times I shrink it (using the <small> tag) and put it at the very bottom of the post.
This doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, but finding pictures is one of the biggest times sucks for me. I usually have the perfect photo in my head and can never seem to find it!
What’s your blog-and-photo tip?
Coming Soon: Part 5 {SEO}
Thanks so much for the free photo links! 🙂
I use the zemanta plugin for wordpress.
I forgot about Zemanta!
{for anyone wondering: Zemanta looks up pics & links for you based on the keywords of your post. Then you can just drag them in, etc. It’s kinda cool. Here’s the link:
http://www.zemanta.com/ }
Thanks, Jen!
a
Hi there,
I found you via Lisa-Jo’s (Gypsy Mama) tweet about your post series.
Thanks for the heads up on Zemanta. I will be checking them out!
I find the photo search sometimes to take longer than writing the post. While the amount of time it takes can be really aggravating, I love finding the image that really helps to set the mood for my post.
Your warnings about attribution are well taken. Folks have had to pay fines and go to court over stolen images, even when they didn’t realize they were stealing. It certainly is User Beware!
This is a very helpful post! I’m just coming out of a place of ignorance regarding use of photos (I’ve always sourced them but haven’t paid a lot of attention to copyright – yikes!).
Trying to be more careful, and focus more on my own photos which has been super fun.
I’m interested in the rest of your series – off to check it out!
I had to smile because I “write” my posts exactly the opposite way… you mention your initial focus on the text/content and then the photos….well for someone like me who does NOT enjoy writing, I focus on the pictures and include the least amount of writing that I can get away with! I LOVE taking pictures, on the other hand.
Very true. I read somewhere once that you should strive to have a photo in every post. That may be overdoing it slightly, but it’s a good rule of thumb to get yourself in the habit of posting photos.
I’m all too guilty of just Googling for the photo I want and then pasting it in my post, without any thought of who’s photo it is. I really need to be better about this – thank you for raising the bar! I’ll have to check out some of those Creative Commons links you gave.
I do put a photo in every post for a few reasons: 1) if it’s in Google Reader, it adds flavor since they can’t see my header/sidebar, etc. 2)If I ever link my post to facebook (which I do regularly), pinterest or anywhere else that would take a photo preview w/the link, I need that photo in there so it doesn’t take a preview of one of my ads or something! (Does that make sense?)
And yes, use the CC links! 🙂
Thank you for clarifying this issue!! 1 likes
woh I your content , saved to fav! .
Good post admin! i bookmarked your website web site. i will appear forward if you can have an e-mail listing including.
Great 1 blog site operator accomplishment webpage put up fantastic sharings with this webpage constantly have fun
Full Guide
Your blog post Photo Tips for Bloggers: How I Write a Blog Post Part 4 | ohamanda.com was very well written. Thank you for sharing such high quality content. Btw, please check out my blog as well and let me know what you think, thanks!
I really like the design of your site. I value the excellence of the information. You have done a first-rate job. Thank you very much
oo good page thanks you admin antalya warez
With immense pride I wholeheartedly recommend the website http://www.seo-backlinks.org.uk to all those who are searching for quality Backlink Diversity that will knock out google panda and penguin crush your competition and catapult your website to the first page of Google search engine. I am extremely happy and impressed with their professional, prompt and dedicated services. So go online and explore the web now.
Damn, very nice website. I actually came across this on Bing, and I am really happy I did. I will definately be revisiting here more often. Wish I could add to the conversation and bring a bit more to the table, but am just taking in as much info as I can at the moment.
check this out
It became a cultural icon, a air jordan shoes made use of to increase brand value, reputation, as well as the status of icon. Not a sporting goods company’s brand as it is less identified. To prove this point, only requires to ask any individual what the Reebok logo. They may thoughts blank. The truth is, the Reebok logo having a “vector” means, it just was not ready, so that shoppers know or want to see it. Nike with advertisers wicden & Kemledy in cooperation using the hope that the Gogo in all advertising signs to be seen clearly. The company’s advertising and marketing budget, estimated at up to 10% of annual income, on the symbol to its branded deeply engraved within the minds of buyers.
Thank you for the awesome article! Will be back for more..
Thank you for the awesome article! Will be back for more..
Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass’ favor.
Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue along with your website
in internet explorer, may test this? IE nonetheless is the market leader and a huge section of other people will pass over your fantastic writing because of this problem.
When someone writes an article he/she keeps the plan of a user in
his/her brain that how a user can understand it.
So that’s why this post is outstdanding. Thanks!
It’s in reality a nice and useful piece of information.
I’m happy that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us
informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
Its like you read my mind! You appear to understand so much about this, like you wrote the
ebook in it or something. I feel that you simply could do with a few
percent to pressure the message home a bit, however instead of that, that is magnificent blog.
An excellent read. I’ll definitely be back.
After checking out a few of the blog posts on your web page,
I truly appreciate your technique of blogging. I added it to
my bookmark website list and will be checking back in
the near future. Please visit my web site as well and tell me your opinion.
Strona ?wiadczy o ciekawych wydarzeniach, zapraszam do rozmowy
Piekielnie przydatny tekst, zalecam wszystkim
I used to bbe able to find gooid info from your blog articles.
Hi! This is kind of off topic but I need some help
from an established blog. Is it tough to set up your own blog?
I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick.
I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any points
or suggestions? Cheers
In some people, this is an innate gift, but it is
mostly a quality that works day after day.
I have also developed a menu that details all of the rewards for which
the kids can cash in their points. The best Black Friday tech
sales include TV’s, i – Pads, tablets, Xbox One, or Play – Station 4 seems to be on everyone’s mind this
Black Friday season. And if those deals
are too good, will deep discounts translate into profits for the big retail companies.
Your profit is $1,000 less the $400 cost of the options,
ie. The fixed price at which the owner buys or sells at,
is known as the strike price. It means you know what the real risks are and how it’s named.
Numerous dealers invest their funds in it on daily basis. With such a
platform people no longer have to sit behind their computer screens to assess market trends and
know when to trade. The cost of trading is quite less in binary
options thus making it more appealing.