Do you use your own pictures in hubs?

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   Mom Katposted 11 years ago

   Do you use your own pictures in hubs?
   
   Do you use photos of yourself, your family, your friends, or anything else from your personal life? Or do you search the internet for pictures that match the subject you are writing about?
   What is your reasoning behind your decision?

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   WryLiltposted 11 years ago

   I don't see the point in putting my own personal photos online to be stolen. I use stock, creative commons and free rights photos from the internet; they're better than I could take anyway.

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      Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      There's nothing wrong with wanting your personal privacy or being discrete.   Don't sell yourself short though, I'm sure you can take some really nice photos if you wanted to.

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      WryLiltposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      When I was young I was good at music, writing and art. I decided to follow the writing path, and have no interest in being good at the other two, so I never will be.

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   leroy64posted 11 years ago

   My avatar is of me; but, that's it.  Nothing directly from my personal life is there on purpose.  I do try to take my own photographs of the subjects I am writing about,  It is easier to fit the photos to the writing that way.  Still there are times I use something from wiki commons or something inside of the public realm.  I can't always take pictures of what I need.  I find that when the pictures are a part of the story the hubs get a better response.

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      Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Pictures do help "tell the story" or at least draw people in, & you are correct, sometimes it is very difficult to take a picture of what you are writing about for yourself ~ thanks for your answer

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   WorkAtHomeMumsposted 11 years ago

   For my recipe hubs yes but for all others no. I use images that are free for commercial use and manipulation.

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      Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I also try to use my own pictures for recipes, however, most of the time the family eats it all before I have a chance to take the picture!  LOL 
      I'll have to work on that ~ it has affected the number of recipe hubs I've written.

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5. 69

   TeachableMomentsposted 11 years ago

   I use personal pictures. I feel the pictures I use in my hubs add a unique quality. Some of my hubs are about personal struggles and no pictures I find on the internet can capture my emotions like the real thing.

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      Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Your passion for personalization is awesome! Great answer.

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   Sherry Hewinsposted 11 years ago

   I used my own photos as much as possible. I have used many from my personal collection, I use my own detailed photos in my craft and how to hubs. I am also fortunate enough to have taken photos of some of my favorite musicians that I have used in hubs. If I am not able to take my own photo, then I often use photos from flickr Creative Commons.

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      Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Fantastic! It sounds like you have amassed quite the collection of photos.  I would like to have a larger personal selection to draw from   Thanks for your answer.

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   Thelma Albertsposted 11 years ago

   I usually used my own photos and some videos or I asked from my friends. My selves taken photos give the personal touch of my articles. When I write an article I see to it that I take photos for the topics I write.

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      Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      A writer & a photographer ~double threat
      Thanks for your answer & way to go!

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   RolyRetroposted 11 years ago

   I use my own pictures whenever possible, usually pictures taken with my iPhone and edited using Instagram.  This is a great way to differentiate your hubs and ensure you stay legal from a perspective of copyright.  The effects you can achieve with this simple app are amazing, and with practise you will wonder why you ever used Google Image search!

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      Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I don't have an iPhone, or one that even has "apps" so I am clueless on these cool new tricks and tidbits ~ sounds really cool & handy.  Thanks for your answer!

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9. 68

   ShootersCenterposted 11 years ago

   Since the Google changes, I've found that using your own photos help you rank much better. They are unique to your articles which ranks better, leading to more traffic.

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      Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Good to know!  I had no idea that where the pictures came from affected traffic so much.  Thanks for your informative answer

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    pcabralposted 11 years ago

    If I have photos of my own that are about what I write, then I will use them. If not, I use some from the public domain, although one day I might change these with my own.

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       Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I do much the same & also would like to replace some with my own when I get appropriate ones.  Good answer, thank you.

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    pagesvoiceposted 11 years ago

    I understand that many writers use photos from free sites in an effort to portray a certain feeling surrounding their Hubs. However, for me, I find my own pictures work best. If I don't have a picture to fit an article, then I will find the props and create one that is appropriate. I think the whole idea of what pictures to use is really one of individual choice and how comfortable the writer is in picking the right images.

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       Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       very well said.  Thank you for your answer

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    NateB11posted 11 years ago

    I don't use pictures of myself, or my personal collection of pictures, unless it is specifically related to the Hub, of me doing something very specific related to the subject of the Hub; otherwise, I most often use pictures from Wikimedia Commons, and attribute it to the owner, etc.

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       Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you for your response.  It's nice to see that you attribute to the owners of the pictures you use.  Nice.

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    peachpowerposted 11 years ago

    If I post a recipe (which I have), then I will use my own. Too bad that my pictures don't look like those of the food photogs though!!! I feel like maybe I'm doing a disservice by using my personal pictures- they are really quite terrible, actually.
    
    For the other stuff, I use royalty free/stock pictures. If I have to, I'll crop it using iPhoto or whatever so it doesn't look JUST like the next guy's, but I still give full credit to whomever it is that I've used. 123RF.com seems to have a good selection.

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       Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Come now, your pictures can't be THAT bad... lol
       Great share ~ thank you!

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    freecampingaussieposted 11 years ago

    
    
    I feel happier with my hubs when I have taken my own photo's especially when I take photo's of places I have been like recently the Horizontall Falls in WA or the Whitsundays - The crocodiles I have seen here .
    I try take photo's that are a bit diferent if possible !

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    1. 77

       Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       That is really cool ~ I appreciate you sharing with us

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    duffsmomposted 11 years ago

    I have on occasion used my own photos but WryLit has a good point about them being stolen.  I also use morguefile.com and freephoto.biz

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       Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you for your answer ~ it's nice of you to share photo sites with others here

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    Lipnancyposted 11 years ago

    I prefer to use my own photos but on many topics I just do not have any from my personal collection that are relevant to my hubs. I do a lot of research to find the right picture because I believe that the picture sells.

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       Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       So true ~ thank you for your answer

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    watergeekposted 11 years ago

    I love photographing! Writing hubs and using my own photos has become a great way to make my hobby productive.
    
    I was convinced recently to start copyrighting my photos so people could use them, while requiring a backlink to whichever hub they got it from. I also signed onto Pinterest and started making photo boards with links to my hubs, which will follow anyone who repins. I need those links. I have good hubs, but not too many people reading them yet.

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    1. 77

       Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       that's really cool!  keep doing what you love
       Thanks for the answer

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