Bloggers Use Caution When Using Photos

Bloggers, before you download that cute picture from Google to accompany your blog post, you better make sure you’re allowed to do so. Business owners, before you upload photos on your website, make sure you can use the stock photography. Ask your web designer where they purchased the photos. And, when you pay for stock photography, you better understand the license agreement.

Many bloggers like to have a photo accompany their post because it adds to the dynamic of the post. It may behoove you to leave out the photo. Even though you’ve purchased photos, you could still be in violation of some licensing agreement. When in doubt, contact the administrators of the stock photography website or the originator of the photo.

Who says that you need photos on your website? Most “tips and tricks” about blog posts suggest posting photos with your blog. This may not be necessary. If you’re blog is interesting, people will visit it on a daily basis. In fact, some of the highest ranking blogs don’t have photos with their blog posts.

Caution: Whenever you search Google or Yahoo Images for a photo, you receive the following message: Image may be subject to copyright. It’s understood that any work you do is “automatically” copyrighted, however, it’s not that black and white.

People who upload their work iStock, Stock Expert, Getty Images, and other stock photography websites better make sure they want to do so. If you’re concerned how your photos will be used, sell them on your website. Most bloggers will use them to emphasis a blog post, but other people may want to create marketing materials with them. It’s understandable that you want credit for your work; however, you may be better off selling your photos on your website.

Note: Many “scraper” websites are on the internet, but no one does anything to stop it. Google is certainly not doing anything about the scraper websites. The blog posts that I wrote for clients have been scraped and uploaded onto websites. In fact, some of my blog posts have been scraped as well. What can you do about it? Spend time and money chasing these people. Some will give you a backlink, but others will not. It’s your call on how to handle these websites. I have more important matters to attend to in my life. Chasing these people sounds too exhausting to me.

Most bloggers will not use a photo from Google or Yahoo Images. However, sometimes you can’t find what you’re looking for on stock photography sites and you opt to use a photo from Google. Make sure beyond a shadow of a doubt you have right to use the photo and that it’s 72 dpi. Contact whomever you must to get permission. Of course, when in doubt, leave the photo out!

Bloggers may want to read up on copyright laws. No, it’s not fun reading, but the information could help you to sort fact from fiction. It’s your call on whether or not you’ll continue to use photos to accompany your blog posts. Make sure you’re in compliance. Remember three letters “CYA!” If you don’t know what that means, email me!

Rebecca

Where do you get your photos? How do you organize them? Share your thoughts.