I love taking photos and I love Flickr.

Bee In Flight By Jeff Turner, respres on FlickrWhat I love almost as much as taking photos is finding that someone has used one of my photos in their blog posts. All of my public photos on Flickr give you permission for use, so long as you give attribution. I do this via the Creative Commons license. If you take lots of local photos, it's a great way to get exposure beyond your blog.

Some of what I consider my favorite photos, like the one to the right, have never been used via the Creative Commons. And, I think you'll see from the uses below, the photos that were chosen by others to illustrate their posts are not "award winning" photography.

I've written before about using the flickr creative commons as a way to connect with local photographers. It's a way to put YEO in action. Anyone who sets their photos to this level of sharing is happy to see their photos used. Me included. I monitor the use of the my online nickname, "respres", via my Google feed reader so I can find as much of it as possible. Lately I've been getting a nice little surpise about once a day. I thought I'd show you how the creative commons process works when it is used correctly and give a few of these writers some AR link love in the process. :)

Here are a few places my photos have shown up in the past few weeks. It's interesting to see the different contexts in which the photos have been used.

A Photo Of A Foreclosure Sign

The Zoo: Sign Of The Times

Redfin: All Aboard The Foreclosure Bus

Get Home Denver Team: Demystifying Real Estate Investing

Consumerist: More Than 1 Million Homes Are Now In Foreclosure

The AM Law Daily: This Week In Law

FrugalDad: 75 Tips To Survive In A Down Economy

A Photo Of Hiking In Los Angeles

10 Things To Do With Your Kids This Summer

A Photo Of LA Traffic

Metblogs LA: Putting The Tiger In Your Tank On A Diet

The Good Human: Have You Started Turning Your Car Off At Red Lights To Save Gas?

A Photo Of My Shattered iPhone Screen

Consumerist: The New iPhone Is $160 More Expensive Than The $399 iPhone It Replaced. What?

Loquor: Shattered iPhone Screen

A Photo From An Internet Meetup

Douglas E. Welch: Join Us For Morning Tech Talk At The Doctor's Note Get-Together

A Photo Of Six Flags Magic Mountain Cybercafe

Andy.KBC.MY: I'm AT A Stupid Cybercafe

--------

UPDATE Friday, June 20: Here is one I was alerted to this morning. I'm posting it here because it's a topic close to my heart. :) This "photo" was actually a screen capture of my email restoring.

Could You Go Emai-Free Once A Week?

 
Post is included in group: The Art Of Marketing You
Post is included in group: Online Marketing - Tips, Advice, Wisdom
Post is included in group: Out Of The Box!
Post is included in group: Great Shots!
Post is included in group: WEB 2.0 Marketing on Steroids for Real Estate

66 Comments on For The Love Of Creative Commons

great photos's jeff!   and.... we just love using your 'realestateshows.com'   thank you - thank you - thank you :)

06/19/2008 01:56 PM by Kara Casamassina, "Boomers and beyond..." (The Carolina Real Estate Company)


Kara... no, thank you - thank you - thank you!! :)

06/19/2008 02:01 PM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)


Another thank you Jeff. Your blogs are at the top of my list. I think that most of my bookmarks are from you!

06/19/2008 02:41 PM by Sharon Young REALTOR® Bonita Springs, Fl (Keller Williams Elite Realty, Bonita Springs Florida)


{SVW} Hubba...

Geesh. I keep forgetting you've given us consent to use your images on Flickr. I will keep that in mind. Perhaps I just need to thump my own head once and awhile :) I love Flickr. It's one of the few places I can go and actually find the twisted kind of images I need for my Blog :)

TLW...ROAR!

06/19/2008 02:41 PM by "The Lovely Wife"...Broker Bryant's Wife... (Co-Owner Tutas Towne Realty, Inc.)


Jeff,

Good idea...I'll have to try this out...I'm laying low with photos for only my local posts so it might be a good idea to experiment with this.

06/19/2008 02:51 PM by Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL (RE/MAX Premier Associates)


Jeff, can flicker resize images to proper ratios.  I have a logo on my RES account and it gets cut off on teh right and left side no matter how I try to resize the photo or canvas.  I don't want it to appear distorted, but I can't use it like that either!  Suggestions?

06/19/2008 03:57 PM by Ron Tarvin's Katy Agent Team-- Katy Texas Real Estate (Re/Max GRAND)


Well that's pretty coolJ eff. I guess all of these photos link back to you. That's a good thing.

06/19/2008 04:31 PM by Bryant Tutas-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc


I have been so paranoid about using photos that seem to be free, but then you find they are not in the form of a lawsuit.  This is great!  I will have to check out Flickr.  Thank you, Jeff!

06/19/2008 04:43 PM by Elaine Hanson, REALTOR® ~ Topanga, CA Real Estate Specialist (Pritchett-Rapf & Assoc. Realtors, Topanga)


Ron... you must be trying to upload a logo into the personal photo slot. We'll resize and place yoru custom logo for you. Just send it to info@realestateshows.com and our CS team will take care of it

06/19/2008 04:53 PM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)


Elaine, just make sure your searching on flickr using their advanced search and search for only photos that are creative commons licensed for commercial use. As mine are.

06/19/2008 04:54 PM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)


Hi Jeff... Creative Commons licensing is definitely a win-win proposition. Excellent exposure for the creatives and a great source of fresh material for those who need/want pics. It definitely looks like it's working well for you!

06/19/2008 05:09 PM by The Blog Artist - marti garaughty (The Art Of Marketing You)


Marti... the interesting thing for me is that some of my least "creative" photos are some of the ones that get picked up and used. So, people shouldn't think they need to be an "artist" to have this work for them.

06/19/2008 05:21 PM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)


Hi Jeff...It must feel great when someone uses your photos, especially that first time.

I went to Flickr and began looking at your pictures until I finally realized that's for another time when I have lots of it.

I especially liked the one sliding on the stairs.  My children used twin mattresses and called it Mattress Mountain.  Thanks for reminding me.

Kathleen

06/19/2008 06:29 PM by Kathleen "Kate" Elim, LAKE ANNA, VA Real Estate (RE/MAX Lake & Country)


Hi Jeff, you take some awesome creative photos. I think I have to join flickr and put up some of my photos that I took recently. 

06/19/2008 07:06 PM by Petra Norris, Broker - Lakeland Realtor® Lakeland Florida Real Estate, (CDV TransAtlantic, Inc.)


Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the info on this, it's new to me. You've always been so giving and willing to share with us all. BTW, I just ordered the Panasonic you suggested.

06/19/2008 08:16 PM by Orange Co. Real Estate~Lynda Eisenmann, Broker-Owner, CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES, Brea, CA (Preferred Home Brokers)


neat pics and the places they are showing up are interesting, I tend to forget about flicker

06/19/2008 09:17 PM by Crystal Ledbetter (Avalar Real Estate)


I really need to check what I have mine set at. I remember when I signed up for Flickr I didn't go into the detail to know what I was doing...

Thanks, once again, Sir Turner. You amaze me.

06/19/2008 09:39 PM by Kim Wood REALTOR(R), PA (RE/MAX Main Line)


I love photos also and enjoy seeing other areas thanks for sharing. I agree use my photos as long as you give credit.

06/19/2008 09:47 PM by Terry Westbrook ~ Realtor(R) Grand Rapids Mi Ada/Cascade Real Estate (Five Star Real Estate, LLC Grand Rapids , MI)


Jeff, you've done some absolutely awesome photography!

06/20/2008 02:02 AM by Matt Heaton (ActiveRain Corp.)


Jeff- Your photos are all really good, as much as it sucks (that it actually happened) I think I like the shattered iphone the most :-\ sorry. The Bee and the flowers is a really really really close #2 lol (I just hate bees I get stung atleast 5-10 times a year lol) Thanks for the info as well.

06/20/2008 02:49 AM by Chris Horton (Horton's Lawn Care L.L.C.)


Jeff, I love Flickr too,  I have a question, when I use a photo there from creative commons, I put in the alt tag the name of the photographer, is this Ok?

Does the credit belong elsewhere in the post? I noticed your iphone didn't give you credit. How did you get a Google Alert on that one?

06/20/2008 05:43 AM by Missy Caulk Ann Arbor Realtor Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams Ann Arbor)


Jeff This is great, now I know where I can go for some pictures! Guess I should take some more and do something like this as well. Thanks for the idea!

06/20/2008 06:30 AM by Jeannette Neerpat, e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate (London Realty Corp)


Jeff...

As an early-online Internet Photographer, my photos show up on thousands of pages, most are properly acredited.

The ones that are not, nine times out of ten, are used by REAL ESTATE AGENTS!

I even saw one of mine, posted on Localism by ANOTHER AGENT with my copyright notice on the photo!

06/20/2008 07:00 AM by Richard Weisser, Associate Broker, E-Pro ERA United Realty, Auctioneer, CE Author (Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc. ERA United Realty)


I'll have to look into this more.  I have been contacted twice though asking if I would give persmission for a specific photo, most likely since I don't have that checked.  At least they asked. 

06/20/2008 07:45 AM by Steve Scheer - Denver Real Estate - Highlands Ranch Real Estate (RE/MAX Masters, Inc.)


Jeff it is good to be loved. You do a great job with your photos..noc surprise there!

06/20/2008 08:10 AM by Bill Gassett Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty)


Great pictures, thanks for your post.  I used to be a professional photographer before my life in real estate...you have sparked something in me because now I want to go out and take some more pictures.  How have you been handling the situations where you are not being given credit for the pictures?

06/20/2008 08:28 AM by STEFAN GEYER: Realtor, Certified Appraiser, ECO Broker (Home Real Estate)


Your photos are terrific, Jeff. An obviously lots of others love them too! A nice way to be honored, as long as they are used appropriately. I never seem to get around to loading photos to Flickr.

Jeff

06/20/2008 08:34 AM by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)


It's great to see you get so much extra exposure.  Do you link it back to your blog or just attributal by name.

06/20/2008 08:54 AM by Ace Mortgage Funding, LLC


Jeff, that is pretty cool. I had not even thought about putting my flickr id as a google alert. Now it kind of makes me wonder if any of mine had been used before. Looks like I have something else to add to my list of alerts. Of course, looking at your photos as I have done in the past, I can see why many of them have been used.

06/20/2008 08:56 AM by Birmingham Alabama Real Estate, Stephen Wolfe (LivingInGreaterBirmingham Team of Powell Properties)


I loved the iPhone image but of course they are all great.  I had no idea we can use some photos on Flickr...thanks for yet another great bit of info!

06/20/2008 09:03 AM by Lake Norman Real Estate ~ Diane Aurit (RE/MAX at the Lake)


Missy... I don't believe that is enough. You may have missed the link in the iPhone posots. Both of the posts that used my iPhone photo linked back to the Flckr photo page. The first link did so at the very end of the article, like this: (Photo: respres).

06/20/2008 09:08 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)


Missy... also, I find them when they don't give credit, but use the image link, as was the case with this one: The Buy And Bail. I use a link search instead of a word search. Most of the time, I will go and comment on the post that I'm happy they liked my photo, but it requires attribution. 

For those who don't know how to do that, here's how this one works. I put link:http://www.flickr.com/photos/respres into a blog search. Then I save that to my feed reader. I also do it for other variations of how they could link to my flickr account.

06/20/2008 09:15 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)


Jeff, fantastic photo of the bee and flowers.  The bee almost seems three-dimensionally closer to us.

06/20/2008 09:26 AM by Brian Schulman - Your Lancaster County, PA Real Estate Professional (Coldwell Banker Select Professionals)


Here is an alert that popped up this morning. A photo was used in LifeHacker. This one is a screen capture. But it's also a topic close to my heart, so it was a double bonus.

Could You Go Email-Free Once a Week?

06/20/2008 09:36 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)


Stefan... as I said to Missy, I will usually find those instances using the link searches I do. When I do, I typically go comment on their posts. They will either fix it and not post my comment, or they'll post my comment which gives me attribution. Unfortunately, there is no way to track those who might save the jpeg images to their hard drive and upload into their blogs that way.

06/20/2008 09:39 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)


Jeff, thank you for making your photos available on Flickr with the CC licensing.  Your picture worked well in my post about things to do with your kids and I will have to look through the rest of your portfolio for future posts.  It is too bad that a lot of people don't provide the attribution, as it not only gives the credit where it is due but can help point other people to new sources of great work.

Thanks again for the photo and for the link!

06/20/2008 10:06 AM by Derek


Derek.. it's all about building relatiionships. YEO, you engaging others. You do that when you use the CC correctly. Thank you!

06/20/2008 10:20 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)


Jeff, thanks for the instructions on CC - I have loaded a ton of photos of my local area and would love others to use them so off I go to my flickr acct. I also appreciate you showing the examples of how to attribution. Thanks!

06/20/2008 11:11 AM by Jo Soss | Bremerton WA Real Estate (Skyline Properties, Inc.)


Jeff - Great pictures. I enjoy taking great pictures of wildlife and nature, so I understand. Keep up the good work, it's a real education reading your post.

06/20/2008 11:59 AM by Franklin real estate Elizabeth Payne (Keller Williams - Franklin market center)


Jeff -  You know that I love your pics already. I did forget that I could use them though. thanks for the thoughtful reminder. See ya on Twitter along with all the rest of our buddies. Thanks again Jeff BH

06/20/2008 12:53 PM by Pascack Valley Real Estate>> Lisa and Robert Hammerstein (Coldwell Banker)


Jeff- You have got a kick grass blog. I really enjoy it, thank you. See you in cyberspace!!

06/20/2008 01:51 PM by IMNJ - Internet Marketing Specialist (Internet Marketing NJ)


How cool Jeff that you ave more than one creative talent.  Cooler yet is that you are sharing it thru the world putting really putting it "out there" in cyberspace...thanks you sharing !

06/20/2008 03:39 PM by Sally & David Hanson, Southeastern Wisconsin Realtors (First Weber Group)


Jeff, I've been looking for new ways to find photos, thanks for the tips on CC.  Also, Ron may want to download "IrfanView"  it's an excellent free program for resizing photos.

06/20/2008 08:38 PM by Gretchen Faber ~ LifeStyleDenver (The Kentwood Company at Cherry Creek)


The last time  tried to find the photos I wanted on Flickr, I had trouble finding any under the Creative Commons licensing. So I've accumulated a list of about 15 other sites that make it easier to find what I want. Maybe you know womething I don't know.

06/20/2008 11:54 PM by Lisa Hill (Daytona Beach Real Estate) (Adams Cameron and Company)


Jeff, I always enjoy your posts. They are filled with great information. I also love Flickr, and love your photos AND RES..,;-) Your photo of the bee is very nice....

I am so jealous I missed meeting with you and the others on the 6th...I was in Santa Clarita at a high school graduation for one of my grandsons. Next time...I hope....;-)

Pepper

06/21/2008 12:26 AM by Mesa, Arizona Real Estate *** Teri Ellis, Broker, ABR,CRS,GRI,ePRO,MRE (Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC)


Lisa... there's no question that it's harder to find the perfect photo on Flickr than on a stock photography site. We pay $249 a month to Shutterstock to have access to some of the best stock photography available, so I understand that. 

But there are millions and millions of photos available under creative commons for commercial use and if you're doing a local story and can find a photo by another local photographer that allows you to connect with them, it's far superior for you than a random stock photo from an unknown and unreachable pro.

If a local realtor uses one of my photos, they get my attention. You can see above that just mentioning one of the posts my photos appeared in attracted the blog writer to comment. So, is it easier to find a stock photo on a stock photo site. Sure. Is it always better? No.

06/21/2008 12:29 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)


Teri, so I flew from Santa Clarita to Phoenix and you flew from Phoenix to Santa Clarita? What are the odds?

06/21/2008 12:30 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)


Jeff... Amazing photo and thank you for sharing this information... I LOVE FREE STUFF!  I'm adding something else to my list!

06/21/2008 08:20 AM by Debbie Summers (RE/MAX Central - Lake Mary, FL)


Jeff - as you know I am all for free and while I do not have time at the moment I will be checking out your flickr portfolio

06/23/2008 07:29 PM by Kathy Clulow ASP® SRES® (RE/MAX Scugog Realty Ltd Brokerage)


Jeff, thanks for your contribution of photos, but also providing a post that helps my creative juices into action.

I get so busy sometimes I forget to smell the roses.  That could have terminal results if I were a bee.

06/23/2008 07:43 PM by Rick Frissell (Diamond Dwellings Realty)


Jeff,

Once again another blog with great information.  GREAT picture also.

 

06/23/2008 08:50 PM by Berta Smith (RealtyUSA)


Hey Jeff,  I too have been taking many Bee pictures and have been trying to save enough to make a calendar to sell... care to see mine?

08/02/2008 02:22 AM by James Gill


James, I'd love to see them.

08/02/2008 09:21 AM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)


Hi Jeff...Thanks for the Great post and sharing this with us. I created my Flickr account now; where I added my Best Friend my American Cocker Spaniel "Winston" my handle is Victoria Realtor.

Cheers, hope you're having a great Summer!

08/13/2008 11:09 AM by Fred Carver,Victoria BC Realtor (Re/Max Camosun Victoria Real Estate)


Jeff... What Kind of camera did you use to capture this image?

08/14/2008 09:44 PM by Debbie Summers (RE/MAX Central - Lake Mary, FL)


Debbie... that bee photo was captured using a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5.

08/14/2008 10:13 PM by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)


Sold...  I'm going to buy one tomorrow.  Wow!

08/15/2008 10:47 PM by Debbie Summers (RE/MAX Central - Lake Mary, FL)


Jeff...  I picked up my camera today.

It's AWESOME!

08/17/2008 03:51 PM by Debbie Summers (RE/MAX Central - Lake Mary, FL)


Great Photos..thanks for sharing them and for the opportunity to share them with others. 

08/17/2008 05:41 PM by Team Honeycutt (Allen Tate)


That is really cool of you to post your photos as Creative Commons. It's so hard to find images sometimes. Usually as I'm typing a blog post, I have an idea of what kind of photos I want in certain spots. And I have bookmarked several copyrigh-free sites. I don't usually even try to find anything on Flickr. I'll have to check out your stuuf =)

08/18/2008 05:42 AM by Lisa Hill (Daytona Beach Real Estate) (Adams Cameron and Company)


Thanks for clarifying this Jeff. I'm a Flickr user but was confused by all the attribution options. I'll definitely take your advice. Thanks a bunch!

08/21/2008 12:10 AM by Debra Drummond, The MichiganMoves.com Team at RE/MAX on the trail (RE/MAX on the trail)


I check out Flickr pictures from time to time but did not know we could use some of them.  I am always looking for a good source and your pictures are a great.  This explained it very well and very useful.

08/21/2008 08:16 AM by Cathy Tishhouse Royal Oak Real Estate (RE/MAX Showcase Homes)


Jeff ... I will check out Flickr, I usually use Snapfish.  Great photos, thanks for sharing them!

09/05/2008 11:33 AM by Pippa MAC The Woodlands Real Estate & Relocation Realtor (Remax Realtor, The Woodlands and Spring)


Hi Jeff, I've taken your advice and marked my photos with a Creative Commons license. But I'm not really sure which one I should be using. Which one do you use? Thanks for sharing!

09/06/2008 12:17 AM by


Leave a response…

Name:
Notify me of new comments:
Comment:
What does the graphic say?
 
Real Estate Media: Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)
Jeff Turner
Santa Clarita, CA
More about me…
Real Estate Shows

Office Phone: (661) 244-5812
Email Me
Helping real estate agents grow their relationships, their network and their businesses by effectively using evocative Internet-based services. I am the President and Founder of RealEstateShows.com.

The Real Estate Shows Blog

Active Rain Member Discount














    View Jeff Turner's profile on LinkedIn

    Share on Facebook




    Links

    Tags (Tag Cloud)

    Archives

    RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog
    ATOM 1.0 Feed for this blog

    Find CA real estate agents and Santa Clarita real estate here on ActiveRain.
    Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
    © 2007 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved