By Tessa Posted on

#BookBloggerHop | Blog Images: Where Do You Get Them?

The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer @ Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer’s permission, Billy @ Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer relaunched the hop on February 15, 2013. Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end the following Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop’s purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to their own blog.

Where do you get background images for your posts, or do you create them yourself?

(submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver’s Reviews)

I use Canva pretty exclusively to create the background images / graphics for my blog posts. Once I decided on a theme for my blog (beach theme), it has guided my decisions on the aesthetics.

I like Canva because you can layer images, etc… to make the pictures you want. It’s pretty easy to use and though not as powerful as design software, it is much more user-friendly and comes with so many photos, graphics, etc. options that you can just get lost in them. Using keywords is key to finding the picture you want, so as specific as you can get the better.

I also use Canva for my Instagram pictures. When I don’t have time to take photos, I can use one of their stock photos and plop in an iPad and my book cover. The trick is to make it look like the iPad is really part of the photo you’re using. That’s the fun challenge for me.

I also use it to put “TessaTalksBooks” on all photos so that if my photo is grabbed (and sometimes it is my authors and publishers) and used elsewhere, I automatically get credit for the photo.

Where do you get your background images and graphics or do you create them yourself?

36 Replies to “#BookBloggerHop | Blog Images: Where Do You Get Them?”

  1. Jenny Mcclinton says:

    I’m still new at blogging, so I am only really using basic images which I can get through wordpress. Eventually I will explore more options 💕

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      Canva is definitely worth exploring. They have free images and you have the option to subscribe for more photos or you can buy the rights to use individual photos for very little $ if it’s a one time thing. It’s very cool ❤️

      Like

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      That’s cool! I tried to do that but beaches on the east coast of the US are mostly just various shades of grays. Not very popping banner picts or graphics. Once we can travel again, we can get to a beautiful beach and I can take some to use.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. nickimags @ Secret Library Book Blog says:

    I’m a Canva lover too but I don’t use them for Instagram. I love your beach theme and the way you put your blog name on your images too. I need a theme but can’t find anything I like on Canva related to libraries or secrets! 😹

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      I only use it for Instagram if I run out of time or take a very bad photo, usually lighting-wise, that is unusable. Most of my IG photos are taken by me rather than created by me. 😂. But creating them is fun and even more challenging than taking just the right shot, I think.

      I looked up “secret library” on Canva and found some intriguing photos – my favorite was an old time card catalog drawer (wooden) with the word secret in the label area – but I’m not sure what kind of look you’re going for. Happy looking ❤️

      Like

  5. Leon Stevens says:

    I use the free version of Canva which has limited photos. I did the free trial when I was designing my book cover. The layering is very handy. BookBrush is much the same.
    I use the Pixel Free Photos through WordPress in a pinch, but there is limited variety.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      It’s hard to get variety without paying, I agree. I ended up subscribing to Canva since I use it so extensively. But it sounds like you have found a few different options.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Shalini says:

    I use canva but use a bunch of others too. Instagram is my own props. Have yet to put my name on all pics.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      I only use Canva for IG in a pinch and because I thrive on change. But I love the challenge of making it look as natural as possible. Canva is awesome for our blogs ❤️

      Like

  8. Carla says:

    I created my page using what was available on WordPress. Graphics etc on my posts are either pictures I take of grab for free on various sites. I am not very artistic, so my site is pretty basic. I will have to check out CANVA.

    Liked by 1 person

        1. Lady Tessa says:

          I started to warn you about that. I know I logged many many hours on Canva in the beginning. Glad you came away with a whole brand kit ❤️

          Liked by 1 person

  10. Louise H says:

    I am clearly missing out by not using Canva! I love the images you use so definitely need to check that site out.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      You do. There are many free photos and graphics, you can purchase “pro” photos individually for very little money or subscribe if you use it as much as I do. It’s wonderful!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. WendyW says:

    I love Cavana too. Except everytime I google Cavana, it comes up as Carvana! I don’t need a new car. LOL.

    Liked by 1 person

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  15. Grab the Lapels says:

    I mostly just share book covers, which I believe is allowed since I am not making money on my reviews. Occasionally, I pull something from the internet, which I know I should not do. However, I’ve been using the stock photos included with WordPress more and more.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      Book covers are fine. Publishers actually want that to happen. I would be very careful about pulling photos off of the internet though., other than book covers. That can definitely open you up to problems (even without money being involved) – I researched that when I first started my blog.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Julie Anna's Books says:

    I used to do pexels and pixabay for photos (which I still use for other things), but now I use my Instagram pictures for my blog. I use canva too! It’s so convenient for editing so many things.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. writerravenclaw says:

    I hadn’t thought of using Canva for the images in my general site. I used Canva for my book cover, and I still pay for that monthly, so why I didn’t think of using them in my site I do not know. I’m very new to blogging, and still learning.

    Liked by 1 person

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