Photos Increase Your Page Views on AC

Regardless of your subject matter, articles with photos are most likely to get attention from a reader just browsing a particular topic. Articles with photos also tend to be showcased by AC more often than those without photos. So where do you find photos to add to your article and catch attention?

There are several websites that offer stock photos, some even for free, as long as you credit the photographer. But the terms are often tricky and as a writer, I wouldn't want someone "stealing" my material, so I would never consider using a photo without following the terms. So many articles contain photos of famous people that it's hard to believe that they haven't been swiped from a copyrighted news outlet. But, hey, it's the Web and seemingly anything goes -- unless you get caught. I can't honestly say I've heard of anyone getting caught downloading a photo from a site and using it with his or her article. But that's not my way of doing business.

Photos found on Wikipedia are generally free and up for grabs. That is the only source I will use, but I much prefer to take my own photos. Digital cameras have come down so much in price that I believe every writer should have one. In December, I needed one to take photos for a magazine article I was writing. The photographer from the magazine was unable to make the photo shoot so I was forced to buy my first digital camera, a Nikon Coolpix L6, and I quickly fell in love with it. Digital cameras make photographers out of the most inept people -- take me, for example! Now I never leave the house without my camera and I take pictures of almost anything for future use with an article.

One beautiful Sunday, I took a walking tour of a neighboring town and shot about 50 photos. I took pictures of signs, dogs, homes, statues, landscaping, stores, the backs of people (you don't need a release if you can't see the faces), a freight train, the Amtrak station and many other interesting subjects that might just come in useful one day. When I got home, I uploaded the photos onto my computer into a folder called "Stock Photos" to refer to in the future.

I have continued to take pictures wherever I go because the camera is just so darn good I can't resist! For a millisecond I considered giving up writing and becoming a photographer, but that feeling passed quickly. Writing is my passion, but taking pictures has become my second favorite creative activity. This way, I don't have to steal photos from websites or hunt for them on the Internet. Of course, I don't have any photos of Sanjaya in my stock photos folder, but then, I think I can live without one. (Although, has anyone noticed how articles with pictures of Sanjaya seem to be showcased regularly on AC? What is the fascination with that guy?)

I recommend that any AC writer who does not already have a digital camera saves up their pennies and buy one. If that's not an option, ask for one for your birthday, graduation present, Mother's Day, Father's Day, or whatever appropriate holiday is coming up soonest. Digital cameras are like cell phones -- once you have one, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it!