Where to Find Images to Use in Blog Posts

[Former_Member]

Hello! I'm very confused on what images we can and cannot use in our blog posts.

I want to blog about decorating nurseries. I sell nursery art prints & will use photos of my prints, but I'd also like to have some nice room photos. I have purchased some stock photography of nurseries & I know I can use those images. However, that gets REALLY expensive! ...& there's only so many times you can use the same 4-5 photos before it gets really boring, lol!

Images on Pinterest:
Is it ok to use them in a blog post? If so, what exactly do you need to do to give credit?

What are other sources for photos?

This is my biggest stumbling block in regards to blogging. I know I need nice big photos & I need to blog at least 1x/week for SEO, it seems like a huge task just to find images.

Would anyone have any advice? Thank you for any help:)

[Former_Member]

Try Googling open source stock photos you may find a few to use. :) I found some good ones for a site I built for a client recently, I found the handful I needed for her site. Also search stock photos for bloggers on Pinterest, I see Tons of pins there.

https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=stock%20photos%20for%20bloggers%20free&term_meta%5B%5D=stoc...|typed

On Pinterest most bloggers just use photos and give credit and link to the source.

I personally ask to use photos.

Just make sure you link to the source, that is the most important when using content. :) Most bloggers love the sharing, its helps all of you.

You may want to see if you can connect with some local photographers in a facebook group or meetup. You may be able to work out some trade, a photographer will throw in one of your pictures at a newborn shoot or the like. I would if I did enough newborns and babies but I do a handful a year or so.

Try to seek out people with nurseries local and see if they will let you take pictures. Through friends and such, 'network' to find those babies rooms if you know what I mean. Wing it and post an ad on Craigslist, say you are looking for nurseries to photograph your work. Give them a free picture for letting you shoot a few quick images. You never know...

Side note- Id do a picture for you. I can set it up with my jars all cute and make a baby set up. If your willing to send me something I'll do it. :) 8x10 or smaller will work. My photo boards are big enough for pictures like that.

I will also blog it as well. ;) You can too, content score! ha ha

[Former_Member]

Also set something up yourself, use some side table or the like and make it look 'baby'. Style it, you dont necessarily need a whole room to show it. Think outside the box.

The blogging is quiet some work, but it pays off if you stick to it. :)

[Former_Member]

Kelly,

Thank you so much for all the information, I can't wait to check it all out! I obsess over social media & blogging- I find it the hardest thing to do since I am not a Mom & am so much older than my target market!

I'm also an introvert, so I have a hard time writing, lol

You gave me some great ideas! ...maybe I will write some of my friendliest repeat buyers to see if they'd be willing to take a photo of their nursery where my prints are hanging.

Thinking outside the box!!!! You've sparked a few good ideas!

Thank you VERY VERY MUCH!!!!

[Former_Member]

Im not a good writer either so I feel ya! Ha ha

Youd be surprised how you can take some of your own furniture and turn a corner of your living room into a mock nursery for a few hours! Over time gradually build a 'prop' collection you can use for these mock photos. Like a cute stuffed bear from the $1 store. Hit yard sales or the like too for fun finds for photo props. I always have my eye out for something to use styling my photos, I never spend much either.

An example I bought a set of wooden spoons for a photo prop and spent a few bucks on them. I didnt have a nice matching set to use so I bought. It was well worth that few bucks for the photos. You can see them here https://www.etsy.com/listing/205349423

Look up nursery organizing and see if you have enough stuff around your house you can pull off for 'baby'. Do you have some of your own organizing baskets you can 'fake' it? You know what I mean? :)

Remember too, you can blog other Etsy sellers that sell baby related items for content. You cant think of something, blog a seller/s! he he. You could show how one of their items can coordinate with yours

I remember your new site from the forum, it was looking so good! :)

Oh to add. I have all over my shop and note to buyer about sending a picture, Id love to share it on my blog. Ive had about 10 pics sent this year and some have tagged my on insatgram with the pictures.

[Former_Member]

Hi Kelly,

Yes! I can definitely "fake" a nursery with my prints in the photo with other props, thank you for all the great tips!

...I think I didn't explain myself well though, sorry about that! I didn't mean just settings or backdrops for my prints. I wanted the entire room & that will change from week to week

I want to blog about decorating nurseries each week. Since there's 52 weeks in a year, I need a LOT of decorating themes to discuss, lol. ...nautical, butterflies, mint green, stripes, etc., etc.

For example, maybe post one week about a beach themed nursery. I know I can photograph my print with beach toys or seashells in front of it, but I was hoping to find full room shots that show the entire room's decor (I'm not supposed to just have close-ups of my prints only, right?) What I want to do is to show a couple shots of an entire room & then I can photograph my own prints & include that pic as a coordinating piece for the decor.

This is why I think Pinterest may be the best place for me to find "rooms", I'm not going to photoshop in my prints on those walls-- I would just have a separate photo of my print under or next to it.

[Former_Member]

and thank you for the compliment on my site!!!

[Former_Member]

I knew what you meant, I was throwing it out there because it will give you more content. You can just blog about just your 'listings'. just do it here and there. You can even talk about how you staged it for the picture. People like the 'behind the scenes' type stuff.

Dont stress yourself, maybe do two a month on decorating a nursery, or do it once a month and do an Etsy seller, a post of your stuff and one other if your looking for weekly posts. Like top new baby products, baby clothes you think are cute, etc. Industry related. Content doesnt have to be only related to your nursery prints if you know what I mean. :) Give yourself time to get into the groove of blogging too. :D

Its much easier to do 12 months of posts on that or 24 posts over 52.

Try a goal for one post a week industry related instead of all them about nursery decor. Grow into your blog if you catch my drift.

Use what you find on the net just like I said link to it. :)

[Former_Member]

trending in baby, baby clothes, baby toys, tips on caring for babies, tips for new moms, cool storage pieces that will work good in a nursery, your personal style favs, why you make certain themes, etc.

You Can blog your own stuff and your own pictures staged. A big part of a blog Is promotional when you are using it for your business. trick is not to make Evey post about you. This is a business blog not a personal journal.

[Former_Member]

You could do a post-

Title:

Girls Pastel Nursery Decor with Turtles and Frogs

Blaha yada, yada, pastels are popular for girls, etc etc. I love mint shades, frogs are so cute, perfect for a turtle theme yada, yada. Here a few of my pastel turtle and frog wall decor pieces. Yada, yada.

This frog I used pink and mint green shades. I love these two colors together.

insert Picture

This one I did in pink and purple. We know most girls love pink and purple! Ha ha

Insert picture.


End with

What one is your favorite? Do you have a turtle or frog theme room? Please share!

Something along those lines...

[Former_Member]

Above is a 'sharing' fun sales pitch instead of 'check out this new print' share a picture and 'bounce' for every post. You are inviting engagement by asking those questions as well.

[Former_Member]

Thank you SO much for all your help!!

I'd like to pass along some tips for planning out blog posts. I am going to try this! I think my problem is that I'm overwhelmed with planning the posts!!

Use blank calendar pages to plan out your blogging/social media posts for each month of the year

Most computers have calendar programs, just print out a blank page for each month

First, fill in any holidays- what can you post about them to tie into your own business?

Then Google novelty or lesser know holidays & fill them in each month. Example: Wear a Hat Day (if you make hats). Create a fun post & tie in your hats

Then mark any events you may be doing- craft shows, a feature you may be in.

Maybe you're launching 5 new products in May- create posts to announce them

Now you can jot down ideas for each of these events/holidays, etc. to plan your posts in advance!

Maybe spend 3 hours creating 8 posts, save them as drafts & use the schedule feature on your blog, Facebook, etc. to have them post on the appropriate date.

I also read it's very important to create a "call to action", maybe at the end of the post create a clickable link that says, "learn more here" & link that to your website or product.

To start off small or manageable, maybe choose 6-8 keywords that you want to be found with- make sure you incorporate some or all of those in each blog, FB, etc. post. Also, link that blog post on your FB page.

I hope this helps everyone & thank you again, Kelly, I will definitely plan a blog post to include your jars- they are so colorful & FUN!

[Former_Member]

If I could only stick to blog schedule! LOL

I do schedule days where I do photos for my content or plan my tutorials. I also pre contact sellers I blog so when its time I already have permission to use photos.


You are welcome, that is what this team is for, its not super active but informational! :)

[Former_Member]

Have you tried some of the images-for-sale sites such as shutterstock or gettyimages? They usually license images for specific uses (print, use in online advertising, etc) Considering some of the alternatives the prices aren't really too bad.

R/Mike