Template or Pictures?

My first thought is that I am not purchasing a photo from anyone. I only use my own stuff. No issues that way.

Putting pictures in seems pretty easy.

I agree with Brad comment #10. The templates will make everyone's blogs look the same, how boring. That boringness will create high bounce rates from searchers. The biggest complaint we get from people who have tried the big ZTRs is that everything looks the same and not enough information. I do have my own templates for market reports. I tried to use the one that AR had for a while, but that one is not condusive to our market or our niche. 

As far as stock photos go, I buy a license to use unlimited stock photos from my iclipart account where I have verified what I need to do in order to be allowed to use the photos for commercial gain and business blogging and websites. 

However, most of the time, we take our own photos. I like our own photos the best. Even if I do use an iclipart photo I use canva.com or picmonkey to add different touches to it. I create my own meme's and the new rule I have is that every image needs to have our watermark on it and linked to our sites and also that every image needs to have text on it, like the title of the blog post so that when we pin it to pinterest it makes sense. I don't think you will be able to offer that service with istockphoto. Katerina

Blank page.  I like the freedom of doing my own thing, and certainly don't want to spend money on iStock.

Because this is an either or scenario, I would pick template.  Primarily because of the ease of use.  It would be easy to just put the template up and then fill in the details based on the structure that is already in place.

I'm not a big fan of templates, but I would like the option to have them and potentially modify them.  There are times I would also like to buy some stock photos.

That's an easy choice for me. I would opt for the templates. I can find my own photos, but templates that are designed to work with my blog would save so much time! Thanks for asking!

My stands is not to have a template that everyone on the community would have. Create your own and enjoy. 

NEITHER!   I agree with the others who say these features could be helpful to newbies, but it could also create a rather boring forum....everyone's posts looking the same.  I like that we all do our own thing and we all have our own format and look.

I think there are plenty of sources for pics, that don't require spending money, and newbies could feel as though they need to pay.  Also, it would feel like advertising or promoting iStock to me.

Ditto Brad #10.  And, please don't template stuff.  Google will hate us.  And, do we have to keep changing every week?

I try to use only photos I made myself.

As for templates, I did try them, but I modified it significantly( still nice to have a blue print, till you find your own style).

I rarely buy stock photos, but maybe 6 times a year.  I suppose I would use the templates more, but not regularly. Over using templates will just make the blog look like all the others.

I might use the templates to get ideas on how to lay out my blog.  I would not purchase the photos.

I wouldn't purchase photos! I would personally like the blank pages, it's much easier to customize to your liking! 

I think I prefer the template over purchasing photos.  I have found several good sites where I can get free pictures plus my own stock is large. I agree with the comment about templates can become boring if everyone uses the same.  I prefer a basic template that I can customize with my own pictures and tag lines.

Carry a camera with the safety off, ready for the local image eye candy. For the shock and awe and use in a blog post you create from scratch in the hunt and peck kitchen. So many templates, images look like tired templates and stock worn out see them everywhere images. That hurts the presentation, punch, recall of the guy and gal you are tapping on the shoulder, seeking to catch the corner of their eye. Avoid the sea of sameness.

I think that you have to personalize everything on your site as much as possible, so the Template would be best, like this Quesnel realtor has done

All good stuff, but Does anyone know how to insert pictures in the blog using an IPad?

It is really frustrating, don't understand how come they make it so cumbersome any input would be appreciated 

I have asked many times how can I place pictures in a blog using my Ipad, anyone out there?

I always always always use my own photos. I have 87,000+ photos auto backed up to Google+ photos so I have a good selection to choose from. 

Take your own images, shoot and edit your own video. And the look, in a sea of sameness, it can be bland like any industry. But the content, creative way you fill the inside of the template is what rules and causes a return of eyeballs and eardrums