Do you run a blog?
The best blog posts break up their text with headers, video clips, and images. This prevents a page from looking intimidating or boring. It helps keep visitors interested.
However, you can’t simply take and post blog post images. Someone out there owns those photos! Posting random images could get you into legal trouble, especially if you used pictures of celebrities.
Don’t worry, there are ways to work around this problem. Continue reading our guide below to learn how you can post images for your blog the right and legal way:
Take Photos Yourself
The best course of action to take when you need images for a blog is to grab a camera and take them yourself. Of course, this is a lot easier said than done. You need professional photographs, after all, and taking those require more than a decent camera.
You’ll need a high-end camera, such as a DSLR or a mirrorless camera. Flagship smartphones, like the latest iPhone, can also get the job done.
Lighting is going to be your next conundrum. Get a lightbox and some studio lights. Make sure to get a few reflectors, some diffuser sheets, and the right rigs to hold your lights up.
Once you get all that, the next step is to practice taking the shots you need.
Commission Photographers
If you don’t have the time or training to take photographs yourself, you can hire a professional instead. Hiring a photographer to take shots is a lot better than spending hours finding images you may or may not use, depending on the licenses.
Of course, hiring a photographer will cost you. Keep in mind you’re not only paying for the pictures but the rights to use those images too. You’re also covering for the photographer’s years of experience, skills, and training.
One of the benefits of taking photos yourself or hiring a photographer is the fact you can later offer the images online. Now people will have to pay to use the images you own.
Purchasing Images
If you need an image right now and you can’t take photos or hire someone to take them for you, purchase them instead. There are numerous websites offering stock photos for people to grab and use. That said, it’s not as simple as downloading pictures from their database and calling it a day.
Your main concern is image licensing. Who owns the photographs, in what way can you use them, and what are the requirements to use them in your blog?
Types of License
The most common type of license is the royalty-free license. Simply pay once and you’ll have unlimited access and use of the photo. Many websites give you access to a ton of royalty-free images for the cost of a monthly subscription.
Closely related to royalty-free images are those under Creative Commons licenses. You can freely post CC images as long as you follow their regulations for use and don’t forget to attribute the owner.
Are you writing a news story?
You can get away using free images for blogs without purchasing them due to editorial rights. That said, the image must have some relevance to the news article. The types of blogs you post, such as news reports or reviews, will determine whether you can rely on editorial use licenses.
Some images utilize a rights-managed license. These are the ones that give the owner full control. You need to pay the owner before you can use the pictures, you have to attribute the owner, and follow their guidelines.
Don’t Forget to Credit
Regardless of which license you’ll work with, you have to attribute the owner. This means crediting the person who owns or took the photograph.
Not sure how to attribute? For CC images, you have to place the credits somewhere visible. The ideal spot is right below the picture.
Include the title of the image, the name of the author, and then a link to the source. Don’t worry if the URL leads people to a paywall. As long as you attribute the image as required, there’s nothing to worry about.
For the other types of licenses, make sure to check with the database or author you bought it from. They might have special restrictions. Some might not let you crop a photo or flip the colors into monochrome, for example.
Don’t forget to attribute yourself if you took the pictures! This guarantees that people know you are the author and that they have to contact you before they can use the image for their blogs.
Buying Options
There are two main options when it comes to purchasing rights to use a picture. The first is to pay licenses for an individual photo. You’ll need to do this for premium pictures.
The other option is to sign up for a database like Pixabay. Pay a subscription, and then use the images you can access. You still need to pay fees for premium, individual pictures.
Hire an Illustrator
Not every blog needs a real-life photograph. Others need illustrations, 3D models, infographics, and other types of images. For these, you’ll need to contact an illustrator.
Treat the finished product the same way you would a photograph. Credit the illustrator and attribute the image when you post it. This ensures people know you own the image, regardless if it’s in 2D or 3D.
Get the Best Blog Post Images Today
Now you know how to get the best blog post images. There are some legal issues to tread carefully around. Feel free to revisit this guide whenever you need assistance regarding the different licenses and attribution requirements.
Of course, getting images for your blog is only the start.
Discover even more lists and guides by reading our other posts today. We cover everything from fashion to technology, so there’s always something new to learn!
