Picture Perfect?

Pictures.

They are a big part of a blog post.  Admit it, we all like a little visual prettiness in the middle of our reading.  There are all kinds of blog posts that admonish you about the use of pictures.  Most of all -- to USE them.

I've always taken my own pictures, and enjoy doing so.  But sometimes... well, you know - the well runs dry.  Like... in January.

From my archives.  (Thank you for asking - ha!)

Now, mind you, I've been known to ask someone if I can use an image from their blog or website.  In that case, it's someone else's image, used with permission.  This is usually only the case if I want to talk about something in particular, like a giveaway, for example.

Well, one day, in desperation, I used a photo from the Flickr "Free Use Photos" on an ordinary post of mine.  It felt strange.  Even though the photos in this particular Flickr group are available for use by anyone, it felt odd to be using someone else's work to "embellish" my own post.

Personally, I don't think I'll do it again.

Do you use all of your own images?

Are they always current - or do you sometimes pull them out of your archives?

Do you have another source that you draw from?

C'mon.  Spill the beans.