Warning: use images with care

We are all mindful of using copyright fee images, or ones that we have permission to use. But what happens when you make an error with cropping an image, or that a platform you post an image on, does the cropping for you. This is exactly what happened to me earlier this week.

 

I had created an image with some text, to promote my latest Superstar Communicator Podcast. I posted it on a number of platforms, including my Google+ account. However, it automatically cropped part of the image, removing the head. This caused a great deal of amusement within my ‘Circles’ with some great comments. The ‘naughty’ posters contributed to the discussion by adding meeting advice of “Sticking your chest out” or “This is how you get attention in meetings”. Of course it was very light humoured and not intended to be offensive. Actually some of the comments were hilarious! Here’s the cropped image.

 

Of course my post attracted a lot of interest, and I SHOULD have double checked the post, and I have learnt my lesson! But this really made me consider images that we project of ourselves, either in blogs, the media or our websites. I have included a photograph at the top of this blog. This is from a Parliamentary broadcast from the House of Lords. Surely someone noticed? Or perhaps they DID notice (and sniggered).

We live in a visual world and MPs standing in front of ‘Exit’ signs when they are interviewed, create a memorable image and are media gold dust. As are photos of David Cameron, with a hoody “V” signing behind him.

Perhaps some people feel that wearing revealing clothes and tripping out of nightclubs at 3am is part of their brand: it might be and certainly it gives them press coverage. But I do get puzzled with actresses that don’t wear underwear and are surprised that photographers scramble to get au natural photos of them climbing into cars.

Remember that the images you use on your website and blog reflect you and your brand. I have now been warned to use images with care, including the cropping of them! What do you think? Have you seen some hilarious images?