Session+4

**Session 4: Using Visuals**
media type="custom" key="545585"


 * Why Important**
 * A picture is worth a 1,000 word-post. Blogs with pictures tell a far more interesting story than those without.
 * There are millions of posts being written, those with photos grab attention
 * Photos make your posts more engaging and appeal your reader's emotional senses
 * Help improve reader comprehension
 * Photos add a personal touch to your blogging which invites more conversation
 * For those reading via a RSS readers, this encourages them to "pop" out of their reader because RSS readers are text-based designs. Scanning the images slows people down.
 * Helps with search engine optimization
 * Images are good at the start of your post to draw people into reading it
 * It is also great to use images throughout your post for visual examples of what you're writing about
 * Images may help you make your points in a stronger way


 * Examples of Using Images in Blog Posts**
 * Logos of products or services or programs you're writing about: [|TechCrunch]
 * Screen captures if you are talking about a web-based service or something technically related: [|Chris Brogan]
 * Photos of yourself, the writer: [|Chris Brogan]
 * Images that prove a point: [|Copy Blogger]
 * Images that show examples throughout the post: [|Avinash Kaushik]
 * Images as Visuals For Title [|Copy Blogger]
 * Images to inspire: [|Avinash Kaushik]


 * Where to Get Photos**
 * You can purchase stock photos
 * You can take your own with a digital camera, don't need anything fancy
 * Screen capture software like "Snag It"
 * Social photo sharing sites like Flickr


 * Understanding Copyright and Creative Commons Licensing**
 * What is the difference between copy right and CC licensing?
 * What are the difference flavors of CC licenses?
 * How it works in Flickr


 * Some pointers**
 * **Is the subject of the photo copyrighted?** If the photo is of, say, a TV screen showing a newscast or a newspaper page showing a staff photo, then you still might be liable for copyright violation despite the terms of the CC license listed on Flickr or elsewhere.
 * **Does the Flickr user really have rights to the image?** Unfortunately, many Flickr users post to their accounts images that they did not take and don't have permission to use. In that case, their CC license is invalid. If you're not sure, ask before using.
 * **Is the image genuine?** Remember, any photo (even from allegedly reputable pro photojournalists) can be faked or altered. If you have doubts about authenticity, investigate before running the image.
 * **Protect yourself.** Save or print the screen where you found the photo that shows the CC license notation.

//Whenever you use a CC-licensed photo that you find on Flickr or elsewhere, it's a good idea to **leave a comment** or send a note to the photographer thanking them and giving the link to where you ran it. That's more than just being polite -- it also can prevent criticism that you're exploiting unsuspecting amateurs. In photography, as elsewhere, appearances count.//


 * Quick Primer and Introduction to Flickr**

Let's go look at [|Flickr]


 * Resources**:


 * Pro Blogger Posts and Tips about Images**
 * [|Using Images to Take Your Posts]
 * [|Using Images to Make Your RSS Feeds POP!]
 * [|Formatting Images for SEO]
 * [|Telling Your STory with Words and Images]
 * [|How to Optimize Images for Google Image Search]
 * [|An Introduction to Using Images on Blogs]
 * [|Using Photos in your Posts]


 * Creative Commons**
 * Why Creative Commons: [|Get Creative Movie]
 * What: [|Choosing A License] and [|Creative Commons Comic Book]
 * How: [|The Six Main Licenses]
 * Best practices for [|using on blogs]

[|Flickr for Beginners: Tips from LifeHacker] [|How to get the most out of flickr] [|FAQ]
 * Flickr 101: Techniques**

[|Screencast: Using Flickr As A Resource for Presentations] [|Ten Tips for Finding Great Photos on Flickr] [|Amy Gahran's Advice on Using Flickr Photos As Source Material] [|Do you think the photos in flickr are crap? Ha]
 * Using Flickr Photos As Source Material**

[|Top Ten Flickr Hacks] [| Flickr Tools] [|Fd Toys] - fun stuff with the flickr API
 * More Advanced Techniques**


 * Screencapture Software**

[|SnagIt] [|BB Flashback] via this [|comment] on my blog [|CamStudio] (PC) (OS) (Screencast tutorial [|here]) [|Wink] (PC) (OS) Question: [|Which free screen capture should I use?]


 * Photo Attribution**

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wmacphail/60196/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbprzd/196884177/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/dpade1337/387556600/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/kacey/252912749/