Blogs, Real Estate Websites and articles - A photo or illustration thrown in here and there adds spice, adds interest. It's easier to keep reading with something to break up the text. But no fair "borrowing" photos here and there from the web either. Most of us have heard of "copyright" and would not want our stuff borrowed/stolen either.
Stock Photos - royalty free come to the rescue. I along with major magazines, newspapers and so on use stock photos - royalty free ones. Royalty free just means that once you buy it - it's yours and you can use it over and over as often as you want for your use only. Or if you are a web designer, ad agency then also for you to use for your clients.
Think you can't afford it? WRONG! One of my favorite sources is iStockPhoto.comYou can sign up for an account and buy credits. One credit costs a little over $1 Most photos are from 1 to 10 credits depending on the size. And the smallest is usually big enough for a website or blog.
They also have Video clips, Flash, and illustrations available. They have a good search engine. Try typing in "real estate" and the choices will be mind blowing. Once you sign up for an account you can save images to a lightbox. I found dozens of images I just might want to use, but didn't want to buy them all at once.
16 Comments on A Picture is Worth $1000 - or Where to Buy Cheap Photos!
OCT
23
2008
Thanks for giving me a smile tonight. You are a good example of what you're saying. Very illustrative pictures! I like using photos too, although I sometimes get going so quickly from one thing to another that I don't do enough jazzing up. I vow to do better!
A video is worth even more: why not use your handheld device, email the video to your email, save it locally, upload it to Google Video, Youtube - or jut Veoh as we do in whihc case it automatically ends up on Google and Youtube - then embed it into a properly optimized blog, webpage, etc.
The way we do it, it is quick and easy, and video allows you to pitch the house as they walk through it, like a salesperson.
With the Photodropper plugin we use, you can use duty free photos automitcally from Google, and it automatically puts the credit and link to the photographer in one click! Free is a very good price.
Israel - Thanks for the photodropper plug in info. Went to the website and had not realized there was that many creative commons licensed photos avail. Though imagine real estate use would be considered commercial so might not be as many for that use. Nice that it does the link back automatically.
Video is certainly a great way to promote a listing. But sometimes you just need a photo or two to illustrate something. I love both photography & video!
Hi. Newbie here who just set up my profile. (Don't peek yet! I'm still setting it up).
BUT-- I have to agree regarding istockphoto. I use it extensively on my blog. Definitely perks things up and is incredibly easy to download/upload into my site.
I look forward to being part of the ActiveRain community--
Hi Eileen, Thanks for the terrific info. Your commenters are helpful too! I can't abide a wall of words blog post, so it's lots of phots (my own) for me. BTW, very smart to list your blog offerings on your profile. I like it. That's how I got here:~) PS- I've just subscribed to you!
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Plain Text Can Be Just Plain Boring
Video clips, Flash, and illustrations available. They have a good search engine. Try typing in "real estate" and the choices will be mind blowing. Once you sign up for an account you can save images to a lightbox. I found dozens of images I just might want to use, but didn't want to buy them all at once. 
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Thanks for giving me a smile tonight. You are a good example of what you're saying. Very illustrative pictures! I like using photos too, although I sometimes get going so quickly from one thing to another that I don't do enough jazzing up. I vow to do better!