Pinteresting times
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
One of the trickiest things about blogging, I find, is hunting down pretty and appropriate pictures to go with posts. Much as I would like to, I can't just keep filling every single post with various pictures of my wedding. Yes, Lillian and Leonard are super talented, and yes, I fully intend to wring every. last. drop. out of those photos, but eventually I will run out (I only have like 500 left).
Sometimes, I write a post and then spend hours trawling the internet trying to find the perfect picture, one that illustrates and illuminates the point I'm trying to make (do you know how long it took to find a picture of a South American military dictator wearing an outfit that made him look like Prince Harry? DO YOU?). Other times, I'll fall in love with an image (like this Hello sign) and spend weeks waiting for just the right moment to use it.
And, of course, you can't just merrily stick images up on your blog willy-nilly - there's the whole question of attribution and copyright and all that stuff which, as a lawyer, I feel I ought to at least pretend to take seriously. Then, on top of all that, I like my pictures to fit with the look, feel and, yes, colour scheme of the blog as a whole (these things matter you know. If you're reading this in a blog reader, you really should click through to behold the magnificence of the full blog effect. I spent
So, after hearing a few people waffling away on Twitter about "pinning" and "pins", once I worked out they weren't discussing acupuncture, I realised they were talking about Pinterest. I thought it sounded... (wait for it...) pinteresting. Oh I'm so hilarious. Anyway, I thought I'd give it a whirl, so I signed up. Except, I now realise, you can't just sign up to Pinterest. Oh no. You have to be invited. Which, of course, only serves to make membership instantly all the more desirable.
Fortunately, if you hang around long enough - kind of like that person at your work who nobody really likes but who it would be too cringingly awkward not to include in the after-work drinks (come on, we all know that person, secretly we all worry we might *be* that person, or is it just me...?) - you will eventually get an invitation. And lo, as of this weekend, I am IN!
I'm not entirely sure how it works yet, but I like what I see so far. So many gorgeous images to pinch, and you can click through to the source so you can credit it properly - if not the original source, then hopefully at least a path to the original, although sometimes that path can take aaaaaages and result in a lot of "via here via there" nonsense (as you can see above). Pinterest's real strength is probably more as a way to gather all your bits and pieces together in one place than as a source for new material, although if you are just looking for inspiration then the possibilities are endless.
Basically, if you see something you like, be it on a blog, a shopping site, the BBC, whatever, you just click the little "Pin It" icon on your taskbar and the picture gets automatically saved into one of your pinboards (you can have as many pinboards as you like: Fashion, Hair, Chihuahuas, Military Dictators, and so on). It's so much quicker, if you come across a lovely image that you want to bookmark, than saving it to your favourites or onto your computer, plus you can share it with others (and see what they're pinning too). Best of all, I can access it from home and, ahem, work, which is seriously handy.
If you're already on Pinterest, you can click here to follow my pins. Be warned - I've only just started, so it's all a bit random at present (latest pins include a baby dolphin, Sienna Miller's hair and a load of clothes that look like they belong to the ginger teacher from Glee. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll find some better stuff soon...).
If you're NOT currently on Pinterest, well, today's your lucky day - I have six invitations to pass on to recipients of my choosing (ooh, the power! I feel like I'm one of those evil, make-me-depressed-about-the-state-of-humanity brats on My Super Sweet Sixteen!). So, dear readers, I choose you. If you fancy giving it a go, just leave me a comment or drop me an email and I'll ping one over to you.
Happy pinning peeps!
All images found via Pinterest (duh). 1. Otto Schulze Photographers via Style Me Pretty via Pen McKinley-Rodgers 2. Maison Scotch Photography via Siddhartha via east side bride 3. Speaking of desirable... Jake Rosenberg via The Coveteur via Apartment Therapy via Katie Evans 4. Habitat via Kimvallee via Emma
10 boats moored
Oh my, I hear you here... TOTALLY addicted to Pinterest myself! Now I just need to find you and follow your fabulous visual inspirations too :)
ReplyDeleteI love Pinterest. Mine are all a bit random as well :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a cunning way to stop me blurking! ;)
ReplyDeleteMe please, me please! Do I still get an invite if I admit that I am neither on twitter nor had ever heard of Pinterest!? I have, however, just looked at the link and am addicted already just from scanning down the front page!
Came to your blog from RMW by the way :)
Bex
x
P.S. will comment more, promise!
Hi Bex! Oh I do love converting a blurker into a commenter :) Of course you can have an invite! Couldn't see an email address on your blog so ping me one at asafemooring {at} hotmail.co.uk and I'll send one your way. Yay, new reader!
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant idea for a website......having a 'wish I'd thought of that' moment! Liking your images so far.....you thinking of going for a crop hair do!?
ReplyDeletexxx
oh and if you have any invites left......xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks Kirsty! Invite received :) Already having fun pinning away!
ReplyDeleteIf ou have any invites left i will love one!
ReplyDeleteif you have any left over I would absolutely love one! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteAnna and trisarahtops (awesome name btw) - of course you can have invites! I need your email addresses so ping me an email at asafemooring{at}hotmail.co.uk and I'll send them right over x
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