how to organize photo archives

7 Free Photo Sources For Authors

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Snow-Shoes

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In former blog posts we wrote already about free photo sources. To keep you updated, here
are seven websites added, which offer free, professionally taken and Photoshop-enhanced
images, together with everyday shots. Carefully choose the resolution that you need,
especially if the the image is for print of a high-quality book cover. Some of these photo sites
require registration (free), but it’s more than worth it.

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Microsoft Image Gallery
Did you know: Microsoft has a superb online photographic resource – all free, and every
photograph is of high quality. Great for book covers.

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Kozzi Free Photo Library
One of the most popular stock photo libraries on the net. Photographs have been
professionally shot for the most part, and dramatically enhanced in photoshop.

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Stock.xchnge
The first and largest free stock-photo site online. Easy to navigate with over 350,000 images,
contributed by 30,000 photographers. This photograph is typical of the high impact imagery
available at no cost:

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Dreamstime Free
Professional quality photographs. This is the free section of the Dreamstime paid site. The
photographs are of superb quality and great for cover backgrounds.

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Free Range Stock
Most images on this site are color improved by professional photographers. Not quite as
large a collection as other sites, but mostly high-quality images.

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RGB Free Stock Photos
RGB Free Stock has an extremely user-friendly interface. A huge number of dynamic
photographs, most at a highly professional level.

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MorgueFile Free Photos
Once more our favorite, we mentioned it in earlier blogs:  Morguefile is a gorgeous photo library full of sumptuous images – all contributed by creatives, for use by creatives. The library offers a huge number of photographs, most of high resolution. Use several terms / keywords to search for particular photos.
These images are all free to use. A fantastic offer for authors – including freelance writers and bloggers!
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What About Google Images?
Avoid using any images taken directly from “Google Images” search. Almost all belong to someone and you would infringe copyright. If you definitely want to use an image from
Google Images, track down the owner and ask for permission, and pay if required.

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $159 for three months! Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars
Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/
to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 970 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://www.111publishing.com

http://www.e-Book-PR.com/

http://www.international-ebooks.com/

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: file size, free photos, Google Image Search, how to organize photo archives, image caption, inexpensive photos, name your photos, royalty free photos, royalty-free, SEO

How Important is a Great Author Photo?

Look Great in Your Author Photo: Key element to design your author photo: Quality
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Rolleiflex-Kamera
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If you’re not seen as a professional,  you will be seen as an amateur.  Professional authors have professionally taken profile photos. This is immensely important for any author – no matter what genre you write. You can’t use a Facebook photo, not even a high quality wedding image that you might have cropped to show only your head.  Or a snapshot with a cluttered background, out of focus image, and an unflattering and uninteresting picture.  Even worse:  Party or holiday photos with several persons, or with your dog or toddler. To top it: some authors show instead of a portrait or head shot an image of their dog, cat or their car.  I cringe every time I see these images
used on Twitter or Google+.  Don’t forget:  Literary Agents and Publishers are on these Social Media sites too.  And you never get a second chance for a first good impression!
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Every Author Needs a Professional Head Shot.
If you promote yourself and your book, you will need one and a photo can do wonders in terms of giving you credibility or establishing trust. The prices for these photos are varying a lot, it depends on the location, on the experience of the photographer, on his or her popularity etc.  The honorary can vary from less than $100 to thousands.
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An Author Photo is an Important Piece of Your Brand.
If you have a photo you like, you can use it for years – and use it everywhere, not only on your books, but also in articles, promo material or your avatar for Social Media. When people see it, they will think of you and of your writing.  Have a look at the famous photos of people like JK Rowling or Stephen King and how they convey so much at a glance. Pick your photographer by looking at the photographer’s web site and if possible meeting him or her before you decide having him/her as your portraitist.
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A Book’s Back Cover Will Often Include the Author’s Photo.
On a hard cover, the photo and bio are often placed on the back flap, while the books back cover is used for blurbs and reviewer comments. Paperbacks typically have the sales copy, an author photo and brief bio all on the back cover.  Get both: a black and white glossy print and a full color cover. It’s important to realize that your author picture is for a different purpose than any photo you have ever had taken.  Its main objective is to sell you as the expert.
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Have it Done by a Professional!
This part of your “brand” will present you to the world via social media, book jackets, etc. If you have a photographer friend who will do it for free or at a discount, all the better.  Ask the photographer to give you both versions digitally: in TIFF for print and in jpeg for the web, and also preferably in several sizes, if you are not an expert in Photoshop or other image programs.
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Make Sure the Photo Reflects YOUR Personality.
Have your expression match your personality. For instance, if you are considered a pretty upbeat person and you are usually smiling, a pout would look ridiculous. The author photo needs to give the viewer a good sense of the persona of the author and, most of all, be close up enough that the face is almost format-filling. It should also be a well-composed and an effective photograph of high-resolution quality.
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In this cyber-over-exposed world, your photo may stay with you for a very, very long time.  Ask yourself how you want to be seen by the world…

Get More Tips from a Photographer

http://www.fromthewriteangle.com/2013/02/author-photos-step-by-stepthe.html

http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/02/how-to-take-good-author-photo/

http://indiereader.com/2013/02/tips-for-avoiding-awkward-publicity-photos/

http://www.ebookpublishinghq.com/5-tips-for-taking-a-good-author-photo/

http://www.authormedia.com/how-to-take-portraits-for-an-author-website/

http://authorculture.blogspot.ca/2012/02/is-your-author-photo-sending-right.html

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If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $159 for 3 months! Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars
Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/ to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 950 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://www.111publishing.com

http://www.e-Book-PR.com/

http://www.international-ebooks.com/

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: author bio, author photo, author portrait, Author portrait is part of the author brand, avatar, Google Image Search, how to organize photo archives, image caption, photographer, professional head shot

How to Make the Most Out of Photos

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First of All: Where to Find Inexpensive or even Free Photos?
You might be an avid photographer, just like me, taking often several hundred images a month. However, from time to time the need for a certain motive arises, and the question is, where to turn to for inexpensive images for a blog or a web site? A lot of research brought up a handful of online offers that I like to share with you.

How to Use Photos on Your Online Articles
Improve SEO through your photos: There is more to it, than just placing attractive photos on your blog or website. Here are some tips how you can optimize your photos to improve SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and to get more traffic to your website or blog.

Post LARGER Photos!
Use LARGER photos on Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. (Facebook shows them prominently in the Newsfeed). People love to share photos and you can now use #hashtags on Google+ and on Facebook. See also 11 Tips How to Create Web Content Without Writing
Getting more visual in your book marketing pays!

Find websites in these articles that provide good deals on royalty-free photographs or even free ones. If you don’t know the difference between royalty-free and free photos, take the time to read these articles below thoroughly.
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Stealing Images Online VS Using Images Fairly

by Imgembed.
Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.
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Where to find free photos and illustrations?

Part II of Free Image Sources

Part III of Free Image Sources

Part IV Free – Inexpensive Photo Sources

Why Steal When You Can Get it for Free ?

5 Laws Writers Should Know to Avoid Getting Sued

10 Rules of USA Copyright Infringement

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Our largest visitor stream we ever got on any blog was via Google Image Search. People were looking for a certain image on Google and found our website. The photo had the right size, motive and it was named with the right keywords. Images are an important part of the web presence!

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If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/ Once you are on this website, click on Seminar to register.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are 880+ of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Chime.in, Facebook, Tumblr and to StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://on.fb.me/TvqDaK

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: file size, free photos, Google Image Search, how to organize photo archives, image caption, inexpensive photos, Morguefile, name your photos, royalty free photos, royalty-free, SEO