This week I want to talk about blog images. One of my blogging dislikes (just me personally, no offence meant to anyone) is no images in posts or small images. As you can imagine this is quite a large topic, but I wanted to pull all the relevant information together in one place so you don’t have to go searching; it will be a long one! Maybe you should go and grab a cuppa, then we can get started.
Blog Post Image Tips
- Make all images big, as large as your template allows.
- Images are a fabulous and effective way of sharing your world with your readers and may help to build a community around your blog.
- Images help break up your text and can make long posts easier to read/more appealing. They can also be used to illustrate your point.
- What you share is your choice. I share pictures of my daughter (but always fully clothed or shoulders up). Some people don’t want to, but may still involve their children in picture, you just might not see their faces. Even if you don’t want personal pictures, you can still utilise images in a beneficial way for your blog.
- Reduce the file size, large images will take ages to load, but you can reduce the size so it loads quicker. In PicMonkey just go to the reduce size option, reducing to about 30% of the original size should do the trick. If you use Lightroom, you can set up a size and export all images in that specific size, all of mine are set to 1000px wide.
- If your images are dark you can lighten them using the curves tool in PicMonkey – see my PicMonkey tips here.
- If you haven’t taken the image make sure you can use the image and if you can, then credit the right person (see below for more on Attribution).
- This is not appropriate for all posts, but if the post is a useful post; one which someone might want to bookmark or pin, then make the image pinnable. Good pinnable images are vertical, attractive and most have the title of the post on them. This will encourage someone to pin it and others to see it and repin, equalling more traffic. You can create a small vertical image and pop it at the end of your post, or you can use a larger image (which is vertical) as the first image in your post and pinterest will shrink it to 238px wide, but it will remain vertical.
- Don’t put an image first in you post. Lots of people, (myself included for a long time), put the image as the first thing in their posts. The search engine bots will crawl the first part of your post, so this needs to be text which includes your keywords. An image first won’t help as much in terms of SEO. Start your post with a short paragraph (including keywords) then the image (with title on it if appropriate).
- Make sure you name your pictures correctly. Use your SEO keyword in the title! Use descriptive text in the Alt text, this helps the search engines determine the content of the image. The Google bots will rely on the text info attached to your image to give a value to your image/post, they won’t be able to see if your keywords are neatly typed on the reader facing side of the image. Don’t forget the title of the image is what your readers will see if they hover over your image, so even just for aesthetics it is better to have your images named correctly, rather then lots of numbers or a random name.
- You don’t need a posh camera, some of my favourite pictures were snapped on my iPhone. However, if you are serious about photography it could be a great investment. I recently wrote a post about how to take the best images you can.
Copyright
Copyright laws protect intellectual property. Before you use an image that was taken by someone else, you need to have permission and that permission comes in the form of a licence.
There are various different licenses;
- Commercial use – If an image has this licence you are free to use it in a part of your blog that you earn from, a typical example would be as the image in a sponsored post.
- Personal use – You are free to use the image, as long as you are only creative something for personal use, a picture on an invitation given to family or friends, for example.
- Attribution required – This means you can use the image must you must reference (and usually link to) the person who took the photo/created the image.
- Creative Commons – This is one of several public copyright licenses that enable the free distribution of an otherwise copyrighted work.
Always make sure you read the licence and you adhere to the terms of the agreement, otherwise there can be some pretty hefty fines from breaches of copyright.
Blog post image superstars
There are so many beautiful blogs that use stunning images. Here are some of my favourites;
- Amy Treasure– Amy’s pictures are divine; whether she is photographing her gorgeous children or an amazing cake she has just baked, you can be assured the images she produces will be wonderful.
- Mummy Daddy Me – Katie takes mainly family pictures, focusing on her two beautiful girls. The photos are large, vibrant and always stunning.
- Tigerlilly Quinn – If there was ever ‘cool’ written all over a blog, it would be on Fritha’s. A mixture of family, fashion and lifestyle with super cool images makes this blog awesome.
- Pinch of Yum – An amazing US Food blog, which uses fabulous images. It is easy to see why it is a huge success.
- Fable & Folk – Annie’s blog is earthy and beautiful. Her images have a gritty, but magical air to them. She uses Squarespace, as her blogging platform, which allows her to make images the main focus of her blog.
Blog post images sources
If you are working with a brand and for some reason are unable to use your own pictures, then request high resolution images from the PR/brand.
Regarding stock images, you must make sure they have the appropriate licence. For those of us who make money from our blogs, labelled for reuse or commercial use allowed is what we need to bee looking for. If you haven’t monetised your blog, then a note that they can be reused and what accreditation you need to give to the image owner.
So where can you find images? There are so many awesome image resources, some are free and some you will have to pay for. Personally, I am not interested in paying for images when there are so many fabulous free images out there.
I have put together the ultimate list of 65 FREE stock images websites. It is one of the awesome downloads in the Blogger’s Resource Vault.
If you want to join my mailing list and get access to my epic Blogger’s Resource vault of cheatsheets and downloads as a welcome gift, you can do that here.
Comments 133
These are GREAT tips thanks so much. I have just done a recent post on how improving my images has improved my blog traffic and social media followers too. I wasn’t really thinking about my images before that. Now I know a little more and try harder with better pictures. Thanks, great advice xxxx
Author
Thanks huni! I hope they help. I think images can make or break a blog xxx
Great post. Canva is a great tool too. Take a look. I invest in a Picmonkey subscription as I feel it is worth while
Author
Thanks huni. I have used Canva, but I really love PicMonkey and have the upgrade too x
some super tips on there Aby .. I often give a shout out to bloggers i know if i am looking for an image and will credit back to them if i use theirs .. helps both parties 🙂
Author
Thanks huni. That’s a great idea x
Thanks for the advice. I enjoy taking photos but I really struggle with getting the size right when I upload them and I am baffled by the text and alt descriptors so this has been very helpful.
On the point about how big to make the image, does a big image effect how well your post displays on mobile? I found that when i made my images large they took ages to scroll on a smartphone so i made them smaller as I didn’t want to deter mobile readers.
I also wondered if you think it’s best to use an editor like picmonkey to add a copyright notice to each image. I do worry about my pics being downloaded and used without permission elsewhere.
Thanks again
Adrian
Author
I don’t find it a problem, maybe because I have reduced the volume of the image. Most successful blogs have images that are as wide as the blog template allows, for me the is 610 wide.
You could add a watermark in picmonkey or you can get a watermark plug in. I always forget to add it so don’t bother.
Great advice! Especially the not putting the image first and naming the images correctly. I’ll be doing this from now on!
Author
Thanks, glad they are helpful x
I always put a picture at the beginning of posts! Thanks for the tips I really want to improve my photography skills this year – any tips on a good DSLR camera? X
Author
No problem huni! I don’t have enough knowledge of DSLRs to recommend, but tweet Em @snowingindoors and I am sure she will help you x
This is a brilliant round-up….I have only just started adding titles to my photographs which seems like a crazy thing not to have done for so long! These are such useful tips.
Author
Thank you. I hope they help x
Thanks very much for the tips, I always put a picture first so now will rectify that.
Author
I have done that for so long too! x
What a fantastic post – so informative and helpful – I am guilty of always putting a photo first! I must change that! Thank you for sharing – pinning this for later too xx
Author
Thank you huni, I am happy it will help xx
thank you for this , im in need of all the help i can get x
Author
Hope it helps x
Great tips and i will definitely be using some of your links to find good pictures. Thanks so much for sharing xxx
Author
My pleasure huni xxx
I think making them big is the most important tip, I see so many blogs with tiny images, it’s a shame!
Author
I totally agree x
Great tips, I look back at when I started blogging and my photos were so small. It made a real difference to my blog and followers when I started making the images nice and big – always landscape too! x
Author
Thanks huni. Big IS better 🙂 x
Somw very good tips I have to say as I do sometimes struggle sorting pictures out.
Author
Thanks huni, hope they help x
Such great advice and tips Aby! Thanks so much for mentioning me too. x
Author
My pleasure huni, your pictures are always stunning x
Great post, thanks!! Will be using these tips to help me with using pictures =)
Photography is an aspect of my blog that I have been making more of an effort in lately, mostly inspired by that list of bloggers you have included here! I find words easier, but am gradually improving my skills and am tempted to treat myself to a better camera soon! Great tips – thanks.
Author
My pleasure huni. I think images make such a difference to a blog x
Ooh these are a great list of websites, have bookmarked this!!
Author
So glad it is useful. x
I have book marked this post, so many useful bits of information x
Author
Fab huni, hope it helps x
Great thanks – good to have all those free image sites listed in one place!
Author
My pleasure x
Great tips, I tend to put images first so will change that. But obviously if it’s an image post then it’s necessary to put it first! Also, reading comments…. I didn’t know there was a watermark plug in, I’ll go check that out. Thank you x
Author
Yes, obviously if there are no words then the image has to go first, but then without words the SEO would be rubbish anyway so it doesn’t matter. I can’t get the plug in to work, but I know it works for others x
Hi Aby, handy tips for the best use of images in blog posts. Images certainly add interest to blog posts and I do try to use photographs I’ve taken myself although they aren’t always great.
The links you’ve supplied are handy too. Thank you.
#BrilliantBlogPosts
Author
My pleasure! I hope it helps x
I don’t make eniough use of images, I want to work on my photography too.
Author
Good luck with it x
I agree wholeheartedly. I occasionally post without an image and I always hate doing it. I only ever post without an image if I just can’t find one that is suitable. Sometimes thats the case though as I don’t like to use stock images and only ever use images I have created.
Author
I don’t mind using lovely stock images for certain post. Most are personal though, as that is the nature of my blog x
I get really frustrated when people use teeny tiny images……I want to see the pictures
Author
Me too! So frustrating x
Some excellent and really useful tips in here, things that can so easily get overlooked when writing a post.
Author
Thanks huni, I hope they are helpful x
Great tips lovely. I try to credit other bloggers more often than stock images
Author
Thanks huni x
I didn’t know not to put my pic first as search engines trawl that first. I need to go back and check some of my posts. Thanks for that. Great links to places for obtain pics too.
Author
My pleasure x
Great tips Aby, thank you for sharing. I’ve been working on making sure I have a pinnable image where possible but I didn’t realise that putting the image first wasn’t a great idea. Will be changing that now.
Author
Happy to help huni x
Thanks for the tips – I used to put pictures first – not any more!
Thanks for hosting #TheList x
Author
Glad it was helpful x
Fab tips and ideas! will definitely be using some of these! Thanks for sharing x
Author
My pleasure huni x
AMAZING post! I don’t share images at the start of my post but did not think of it from a SEO point of view. Thanks for sharing #Thelist
Author
Thanks hun. So glad you like it. x
Super helpful as always. The only problem is that each time i read your posts it gives me more work to do as you highlight my failings!! Thanks so much for sharing another set of great tips 🙂
Author
Well that is your homework! 😉 x
Thanks for the tip hun, I really do need to use my camera more, my phone is just such a more convenient snapper! one second the kids are doing something unbelievably cute and then by the time I have the camera out they have moved on! its good to know other people rely on their camera phones too 🙂 #thelist
Author
Definitely, I would say 90% if the pictures on my blog are taken with my phone. x
Lots of great ideas, thank you!
I don’t make good enough use of images on my blog. I just don’t take enough, usually too busy doing stuff and it’s only after I realise I should have taken some photos!!
I’m having a bit of a revamp with my blog at the moment, images will definitely be a priority going forward, these tips are going to be really useful!
Xx
Author
I am so glad it will be helpful huni. I hope the revamp goes well xx
I always use an image now, even if it’s only tenuously linked to the post 😉 because it does break up the text to make it an easier read. x
#thelist
Author
It makes the post so much more attractive x
Such great tips! I’m definitely going to get some of those free photos!
Author
Happy to help x
Love all of these (need the reduce size and sometimes I put it first – must change that). The other idea is to watermark all your pictures so that if someone pins them or shares them your website goes with.
Thanks again for the tips #TheList
Author
Yes I never bother watermarking as I always forget x
Great tips again Aby! I’ve started using photos in all my posts these days, even if they’re stock photos, just to add a bit of interest but I so need a DSLR. I’ve wanted one for about a year now but it’s looking like just about everything else under the sun is gonna take priority over a shiny new camera for a while 🙁
Thank you for this. I’ve not been happy with my photos for some time so will take these tips on board. I also need a new camera phone as mine is blurry!
Author
Hope it helps x
Helpful tips, thank you. I had no idea that image can’t go first. I was under the impression that if you add a correct name to your image and use keywords it will work the same as text. Oh hey… at least now I know this isn’t the case.
Author
You want to include the SEO keywords within the first 100 characters of your blog post. So if you tag/name your image with the keywords (as you should), the bots will read all the image code (not just your words) so there will be a lot it is reading before it gets to your image name. I hope that makes sense. x
I think so 🙂 Thank you
This is brilliant thanks. I had no idea about not putting the picture first – thank you! So many helpful tips xx
Author
Glad to be of help x
Some great advice here, I’m starting to implement some myself now, like larger photo’s in posts, although I really need to work on quality more.
Thanks so much for this advice and for hosting xxx
#thelist
Author
My pleasure huni. Hope it helps x
Thanks for another great blog post Aby, I’ve really been playing around with PicMonkey lately and trying t get the best of my images. I’m not saying they are great BUT you can totally see the difference in my photo from the begining to the photos i use now!
Also thanks for the links to free images will keep those in mind x
#TheList
Author
Thanks huni, glad it helps. Have you seen my PicMonkey post? Might be useful x
Great tips. I always use natural light and so watching where the sun is before you shoot is always a great tip too, to avoid dark images 🙂
Author
Your pictures are always so light and beautiful. We have shocking light in our house, think I might buy more lights! x
You are far too kind – I can only shoot upstairs between certain hours of the day or it’s like a dungeon in here too! Haha! Most of my photos are taken on my bed 😉
These are WONDERFUL tips – thanks Aby! I am guilty of so so many ‘don’ts’ above and I’ve never really invested the time in making improvements to my images yet but it’s definitely on the list for the future so I’ll be heading back here – a LOT! And probably picking your brains more so, if that’s ok 🙂 🙂 Mim @ http://www.mamamim.com #TheList
Author
Of course it is o.k lovely, I am so glad it is useful x
What a cracking post! Feeling so inspired and have just headed over to Mammasaurus for a butcher’s (gorgeous). I love SnowingIndoors too (Em’s blog is on my blogroll).
I just love playing around with my camera and am in total awe of the bloggers who have beautiful blogs from their photography talents. I will be bookmarking this post for future reference. Thank you! x
#BrilliantBlogPosts
I love your list of free image sources, cheers! I am NOT a photographer 😉 I need all the help I can get lol.
Author
Thanks huni, glad to help x
Hey, nice resource!
I’ve recently launched a free photo website, showcasing my own travel collection – shutteroo.com. I have hundreds of photos to add over time and am always taking more 🙂 Hopefully you find it useful and will consider adding it to your list.
Cheers,
Klaye
Aw thanks for the mention and kind words lovely – you have made my day !
Thanks for the tips. I used to have small images and you’re so right that bigger is better. I really enjoy using picmonkey but for some reason I can never save the file, so all the editing work is lost and I end up hopping over to canva. Thanks for hosting too! X
Really great tips! We never knew about the ‘image first’ issue. Fascinating…we’ll be updating our blog then! Thank Aby X #TheList
Great list of tips! And now I have a few new blogs to go and check out, thank you! #TheList
Such a useful post. I’m pinning it now 🙂 xx #TheList w
I didn’t know that about putting text first, not the image. Thanks for that! #thelist
Some fab tips here thankyou! Taking some notes! I didn’t realise about putting text first before an image – definitely something I will keep in mind. I do need to get on the case for having a pinterest board for my blog! Thanks for hosting lovely xx #Thelist
I love how you share tips! I have always been a big fan of using images just because I love taking pics so much lol. I agree I like bigger images too #TheList
This is great info – for a newbie I am still struggling to understand a lot – like what is Alt Text! I put on images but they are too huge so I resize and then too fuzzy – it is very stressful lol – but love your post – I shall bookmark and work my way through some of these 🙂 #Thelist
I’ve learned so much from you. Thank you for being so generous with your advice and knowledge! #TheList
Fabulous as always my dear! I absolutely love your tips and I am off to change any posts were my images are first. I know I do this – I thought it looked nice but come on bots I need you! Thanks lovely
Really useful, practical blogging advice as always. Pinned for when I need it 🙂
I think that I have commented on this before when I was first starting out but 4 months down the line I want to comment again to say that tips really helped me with my blog. I am often told that people like my blog for the big images that I use and that was something I learnt from this post. Also using canva which is what I used to design my logo. I love it. So thank you for your help 🙂 xx #thelist
Some very sound advice there Aby. I am also no fan of posts with no images but, likewise, the reverse is also true. Too many images can ruin a post. Thanks for hosting #TheList
Have subscribed and pinned for later! Thank you I DID NOT KNOW THAT about putting text first for SEO purposes – every day’s a school day for newbie bloggers! Just out of interest, the image at the top of this post, is that the equivalent of a ‘Featured Image’ in WordPress, therefor it isn’t actually considered part of the body of the blog text? #TheList
I always love reading your blogging tips, so useful! I love PicMonkey and have upgraded to the pro version but I’m still getting to grips with all it can do. xx #TheList
Brilliant tips and I love the overall look and feel of all your Instagram images. I’m very new to blogging and find the art and science about it fascinating. SEO is a science in itself so thanks for those great tips too.
Author
AH thanks so much x
Thanks for the useful tips, Aby. I am trying hard to improve my photos using Picmonkey 🙂 #TheList
Very informative, some great tips here as always. Thanks Aby! X
#TheList
Thank you, I know this is something I need to work on. I always use my iPhone and rarely edit unless it’s in Instagram
These tips are super, super useful. I vaguely knew you shouldn’t put a picture first even though I always do it but now I know why I must stop! Also didn’t realise re Pinterest images needing to be vertical but that makes total sense. Thanks! #TheList
These are brilliant tips I always struggled with images will definitly be looking back at this post a lot thank you #thelist
Fab advice thanks Aby. I didn’t realise you weren’t supposed to put images first in a blog, but that makes sense. I’ll be sure to use these tips going forward! Xx #TheList
Thanks for the fab tips Aby – good to have a refresh x #The List
Some great tips thanks Aby #thelist Lifeinthemumslane
Great tips Aby! Good quality images are so important. I love Canva- there’s a range of free images, and it’s easy to create a professional design that maintains your brand. I forget sometimes about naming my images properly, but am getting better at doing it now I use Canva xx #thelist
Author
Yes I seem to use PicMonkey, Canva and Lightroom all for different things! 🙂 xx
This was super helpful – especially about putting an image first because that is what I usually do! xx
this is really useful even after all this time I am still learning how to utilise images effectively on my blog @thelist
Another really useful post for us bloggers – thank you!#TheList
Great tips. I never knew you could reduce the size in picmonkey. That will be so useful
Thanks Aby. I had no idea about not putting a photo first! Great tip!!
#thelist
You share the awesome-est tips ever – thanks lovely! I was the same in putting an image first for ever, I think it looks good but I hadn’t realised about the SEO implications. I need to take better images though and stop relying on the free ones as much as I’m sure I worked through Pixabay’s best by now ha ha!! x #TheList (sorry I’m so behind from last week)
This is a fantastic post. Thank you for sharing some amazing tips! I too am guilty of putting images at the beginning
Very helpful and practical tips about blog images. I’m glad that I found your blog. Newbie blogger here.
I must be the least talented person when it comes to image editing. When you said using the curve tool in PicMonkey, I was lost 😀