Attention Self-Published Authors: Source High Quality Stock Photos from Dreamstime

Hey there, fellow authors! Let’s chat about something that can seriously level up your content game—stock photos. If you’re writing a book that can benefit from visual imagery, running a blog, launching a brand, or just trying to get your message out there, visuals are key. Enter Dreamstime, your new best friend for high-quality stock images.

Here’s why you should consider using stock photos and how they can help you shine.

1. Budget-Friendly and Professional Appeal

Let’s face it, hiring a pro photographer for every single photo shoot is not exactly budget-friendly. Did you know that Dreamstime has a huge range of affordable stock photos that won’t drain your wallet? With flexible pricing options, you can snag stunning visuals without sacrificing your savings.

2. Time-Saving Treasure Trove

Dreamstime has millions of images at your fingertips. Their smart search filters make it super easy to find what you need. You can quickly narrow down results by category, color, or even mood. This means less time scrolling and more time creating beautiful content that resonates with your niche audience.

3. Top-Notch Quality

Nothing screams “amateur” like low-quality images. With Dreamstime, you’re getting access to high resolution photos that look amazing. Whether you’re after vibrant lifestyle shots or sleek business images, you can count on finding visuals that match your stories. After all, your content deserves the best.

4. Diversity Is Key

Every author has their own vibe, and you want your visuals to reflect that in your storybooks and cover art. Dreamstime has an incredible variety of styles and themes, so whether you’re into minimalism, bold colors, or something quirky, you’ll find images that resonate with your unique aesthetic. Imagery helps you connect with your audience on a deeper level.

5. Licensing Made Simple

Image rights can be super confusing, but Dreamstime keeps it straightforward. Take advantage of flexible licensing options that cater to your needs. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re covered legally, which is a huge plus when you’re building your brand.

6. Always Fresh Content

Staying relevant is crucial in today’s fast-paced world. The great thing about Dreamstime is that they have over 200 million images and fresh images that reflect current trends and seasonal themes are added regularly. So, you can keep your content fresh and engaging, helping you stand out in the crowded digital landscape.

7. Support Creative Talent

When you choose stock photos from Dreamstime, you’re not just getting great visuals; you’re also supporting a community of photographers and artists. This platform is full of creative talent, and by using their work, you’re showcasing unique perspectives that can set your content apart. Plus, you get to be part of that creative community!

Conclusion

In a nutshell, stock photos from Dreamstime are a game changer for young entrepreneurs looking to elevate their content without breaking the bank. With a huge library of high-quality, diverse images, you can find the perfect visuals to connect with your audience and showcase your brand’s personality. So why not give it a shot?

Special Offer! 15 Free images from Dreamstime

Head over to Dreamstime, and start exploring the endless possibilities that stock photos can bring to your entrepreneurial journey! Happy creating!

Follow @HTBphotos on Musero

Attention ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Finally, a social media app designed for artists and photographers.

MUSERO: a social network run by people who are dedicated to artists, who are dedicated to beauty, and who worship creation.

How to Join Musero

It’s easy to join. Just download the Musero app from your mobile phone, create your login and start posting your art and photography.

About HTBphotos

Tall Palms – La Jolla @HTBphotos

Katharina and her husband John Notarianni enjoy photographing wildflowers, wildlife and stunning landscapes while traveling. HTBphotos represents their collaborative efforts.

HTBphotos are available exclusively on Dreamstime.

Tribute to Dr. Eleanor ‘Reenah’ McGill (1939-2021)

It was with great sadness we learned that our dear friend Dr. E. Reenah McGill passed away at the end of last year. She will always hold a very special place in our hearts.

Eleanor “Reenah” McGill was born in 1939 to James and Maude McGill in Onalaska, Wisconsin. She had a passion for knowledge earning a Master of Arts, Master of Chinese Medicine, and a PhD of Philosophy in Oriental Medicine. She was still practicing acupuncture.

Throughout her years, she also lived in Germany, Georgia, Minneapolis, and LA before settling down in the Weston area of Wisconsin to be able to enjoy her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved to travel to China, Peru, Mexico, taking an Amazon Cruise and travelling to so many other countries.

She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Maude and, her siblings: Frank McGill and Deb Kropelin. Reenah’s memory will live on in the hearts of her family and friends.

We first met Dr. Reenah McGill at her clinic in Los Angeles. She was impressive in the scope of her knowledge in her medical practice. She used her skills as a doctor of Chinese medicine, neurobiofeedback, and a new type of acupuncture called Esoteric Acupuncture, developed by Mikio Sankey, to make a remarkable difference in her patients. Reenah was a highly accomplished scholar and practitioner, always looking for new topics to explore and learn about in detail and overcoming any challenge with determination and resolve.

Books by Dr. E. Reenah McGill

Due to her type 1 diabetes condition which developed suddenly late in life, she became very interested in nutrition and other healing modalities. Dr. McGill and hypnotherapist Dr. Zaugg collaborated and published ‘Eat Right Lose Weight, Introducing the 5 Element Nutrition & Hypnosis System’ which is available on Amazon.com.

Eat Right Lose Weight book by Dr. E. Reenah McGill and Dr. Marianne Zaugg

Poetry by Dr. E. Reenah McGill

Dr. Reenah McGill was well known for her brilliance and delightful sense of humor and her poetry reflects her personality. Poetry MS Volume 1 and Poetry Volume 2 by Dr. E. Reenah McGill include her poems written over a span of more than forty years. They represent and reflect many changes in her life situations, thoughts and desires.

Poetry M S Volume 1 by E. Reenah McGill
Poetry M S Volume 2

Source of family memoriam information: Published by La Crosse Tribune on Dec. 22, 2021.

Get 15 images free

Discover HTBphotos by John and Katharina Notarianni on Dreamstime! For your website, digital and print marketing efforts.

Get 15 images free on your first order!

Copyright 2022 Healing Time Books and HTB | Website Design by Katharina Notarianni. All Rights Reserved.

Black Friday Sale!

50% off stock photography on Dreamstime! Featuring HTBphotos stock photography for your print and website projects.

Healing Time Books presents HTBphotos on Dreamstime - Black Friday Sale 50% Off!
HTBphotos by John and Katharina Notarianni

Click on the photo, or here is the link: https://www.dreamstime.com/credits#res16409905

Hurry Sale Ends Soon!

Demystifying Stock Photo Sizes for Social Media

Stock photo sizes for any social media post

I love the brilliant colors of autumn!

Add some fall colors to your social media projects with HTBphotos ‘Fall Foliage‘ Series by John and Katharina Notarianni, available on Dreamstime.

HTBphotos fall foliage series available on Dreamstime
HTBphotos ‘Fall Foliage’ by John and Katharina Notarianni has been cropped and resized to 1200×1200 pixels for social media purposes.

Stock photo sizes for any social media post

Graphics, photos, and other visuals are a necessity when posting content on social media!

And with copyright concerns, it is best to either take photos with your cell phone, digital camera or even your iPad, or leverage the many reputable stock photography sources like Dreamstime, or design services like Canva. There are even high quality free stock photo sites like Unsplash.

The question is, now that you have the perfect image for your social media post, what size image displays correctly across multiple platforms? Is that even possible? Yes!

Keep It Simple Strategy

Square images are ideal for Facebook and Instagram posts. Square format also works well for LinkedIn posts – and can work for Twitter.

Easy 1:1 ratio (square)

Instagram and Facebook photos: 1200 x 1200 pixels

Pinterest Pins (repurpose from Instagram)

All profile pictures* (allows cropping to circle format): 500 x 500

YouTube channel icon*: 800 x 800

Best size for link posts

As you can see the featured image at the top of this post also from HTBphotos ‘Fall Foliage’ Series, has been resized to 1200×630 pixels which work perfectly for WordPress blog posts as well as for several popular social media platforms that have a similar size requirement: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

For specifics on all popular social media platforms, I recommend taking time to review Louise Myers’ Social Media Cheat Sheet.

Get noticed with a Video Cover

Facebook: Tell More of Your Story

Instead of a cover photo, now you can use a video. It can be 20-90 seconds and should be at least 820 x 312 pixels.

Louise Myers, Visual Social Media

HTB | Website Design

HTB | Website Design designs, develops and hosts mobile friendly business websites. E-commerce, SEO and Social Media packages available. Please contact info@healingtimebooks.com to request a free 15 minute consultation.

What Makes A Website Great!

Is it time to update your business website?

Does your website inspire action? If the answer is Yes! then your website is doing it’s job.

If not, what can you do to make it better? Ask yourself:

Can anyone find your website?

  • are you on the map, as they say? Can search engines find your website?
  • does your domain name represent your brand?

Is it easy to use?

  • is it pleasure to click around?
  • does it look good on a mobile phone or tablet?

Does it present you and your business in a credible way?

  • are there reviews or testimonials about you?
  • does it list your credentials on the About web page?

Can the visitor easily buy or request your product or service?

  • do you have an email opt-in request?
  • do you have a contact form to request your service?
  • do you link to a shop where it is easy to buy your product or service?

Is it current or out-dated?

  • Does your website represent your current business focus?
  • does the platform get updates or upgrades frequently enough to keep up with the changing internet landscape?
  • can your website handle sudden increases in traffic?

If you answered NO! to any of the above questions, it might be time for an overhaul of your website.

Here are some steps you can take:

  1. Define the goal for your website – what do you want the visitor to learn, experience, buy etc.
  2. Streamline it so it is easy to use and content loads quickly
  3. Brand yourself. Evaluate whether you are consistently using your brand across all platforms – website, social media, email communications, etc.
  4. Make it mobile friendly – view it on your phone and tablet as well as on a laptop.

Need help?

If you don’t have time to do this all by yourself, we invite you to request a free consultation to help you achieve your goals.

Just fill out our online Contact Form, or by sending us an email at info@healingtimebooks.com

HTB Website Design by Katharina Notarianni for SEO

HTBphotos presents the ‘Easter Bunny Series’ of stock photos

Find HTBphotos stock photos on Dreamstime.com for your social media, website and print needs.

Exclusively available on Dreamstime.com, explore the new HTBphotos ‘Easter Bunny Series,’ a collection of stock photos featuring rabbits and bunnies. Have a look and see what suits your social media, website and print project design… So adorable!

Stock photographs from HTBphotos ‘Easter Bunny Series’ are exclusively available on Dreamstime

Tips for using stock photography

Here are tips from an article by bossproject.com ‘5 Ways to Successfully Use Stock Photography on Your Website.’

  1. Start with the Design – Define your brand colors and style. Once you have the design in place, it’s much easier to narrow down your search and find the right images for your project
  2. Choose the Right Photos – choose stock photos that fit your brand colors and style
  3. Customize Your Images – add text to create fun graphics
  4. Get some SEO Going – use keywords and keyword phrases as well as captions or alt titles
  5. Add in some of Your Own Images – have a professional, branded head shot made to use on your website and across social media so people know who you are

Get 10 Free Stock Photos

New to stock photos? Get started now with Dreamstime’s offer of 10 free stock photos! And, your purchase helps fight COVID-19! Dreamstime is donating 5% of all purchases to WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund

Want help with updating your website?

Contact HTB Website Design for a free consultation.

Tips for Photographers | Selling Your Images Online

Do you have hundreds if not thousands of images on your computer or iPhone and are thinking of selling them online? One option is to set up your own photography website and sell your photos through your own online store. Another option is to delegate the sales and marketing activity to one of the many stock photo sites who will host your photos. One advantage of using one of the top 10 stock photos sites is visibility. Another advantage is they do the selling, giving you more time to take photos. In exchange they host your photos and pay you a royalty on any sales they make.

HTBphotos offers many stock images for business and personal use. One of our favorite themes is taking shots of the landscape as we travel across the United States. Interestingly, our best-selling landscape photos often feature blue skies with white clouds.

HTBphotos on Dreamstime.com
HTBphotos Best Seller – White Clouds in Blue Sky – available for purchase on Dreamstime.com

We selected Dreamstime after reviewing several of the stock photo sites. It’s appeal is that Dreamstime is one of the world’s largest, hosting over 117 million images, videos and illustrations, and growing every month. They are generous with their commissions and easy to work with. Just upload your images, add keywords and submit. Quality counts, so taking time to process your images pays off. HTBphotos sells our images exclusively through Dreamstime and already has over 4000 quality images available online.

To start selling on Dreamstime you will need to set up an account and submit sample photos. If your samples are approved, your photos will then be made available for sale, and you can receive around 25-50% royalty from each sale.

If instead you decided to feature or sell your photos through your own website and need help getting started, please contact us by filling out our online Contact Form, or by sending an email to us at info@healingtimebooks.com.