HEY! Know what I just finished reading? Being careful about the images you put up on your blog! I KNOW.. it’s important stuff eh? Because of all the things that you do with your blog you want to be careful that you don’t mess up your family finances because you didn’t exercise due care about the images you put up on your blog. Blog images and copyright is an important topic for bloggers to be aware of.
My usual approach on this blog, in regards to blog images and copyright, is to use images that I or my family have taken ourselves. I am not the worlds best photographer, but for background images where I want the text to be most important, it works eh? Taking images of books and what not is easy enough eh? But what do I do when I want a GOOD image for something?
Do you think I should just go to google and grab an image? THINK AGAIN!!! Can you tell from looking at an image if it is copyrighted or not? Do you think simple attrition is okay? THINK AGAIN. I know.. it’s a tough one eh? I am not a lawyer, and I don’t understand all the ins and outs of photo usage, and frankly some of it doesn’t make sense to me, but what it comes down to is this… people don’t like other people using their images without permission. Get permission OR use what is yours to use and don’t take it if you aren’t sure.
What to do?
The easiest and best thing to do is to use your own images. It’s to your own advantage right? Line up some books, grab an image at a bookstore, or take a picture of some wildlife or nature scenery, use your children as a source and if you’re worried on how those images can be used on line, be judicious in how to you take pictures (like from behind or the side, or block out their face). It’s so easy now-a-days with cellphones and tablets so easily at hand.
If you can’t take your own though, or you needed something specific, what do you do?
Where to find Blog Images
Well, you can look for public domain pictures. Wiki has a list that you can find here.
You can find photos under the Creative Commons rules. Read the fine print.. can you use it for private or commercial use? DO your research. It’s important.
You can buy a subscription to a site like PhotoSpin, StoryBlocks, ShutterStock and others. Buy a subscription or an individual photo and work with it in your blog. You are paying for fine quality photos.
Utilize free image sites like Pixaby, Unsplash, Startup Stock, StockSnap, Burst, Free Range, SplitShire, Gratisography, and more. You can find 21 different places listed here.
Here’s a list of about 80 libraries you might want to make use of.
Just be careful eh? Be alert to what you are using it and WHERE you are using it. Consider if you break copyright with places like Pinterest, twitter, facebook and such like. THEY won’t be held liable.. YOU will be.
On ANY site that you go to, do your due diligence, Read what they allow and don’t allow. Decide if it’s in your budget to pay for images, and if it isn’t, make it work. Be aware of the copyright issues. Here’s another link you might want to check out.
So mind your back, but have fun with your blogs, with your livelihood. Don’t be helter-skelter in your approach to using images. Get them from places you trust, or your own abilities. Make your blog pretty, but be honest and be safe for all involved. 🙂
original image from Kaboompics. 
Great list of places to look. I too use almost exclusively my own photos so I don’t have to think twice about it.
thank you. I learned much in the background as I put this piece together.
Very important info! I use my own photos when I can, and images from Pixabay (usually) when I need things for a graphic or button.
I think everyone has a favourite graphics spot don’t they? I turn to unsplash when I don’t have a picture of my own to use.
This is awesome, Annette! Thanks for the great info. It seems like things in the (back-end of the) blogging world are always changing.
I”m glad you found it helpful. 🙂