Posting a link to a photo online allows you to share images with friends, family, or the public through social media, blogs, forums, and more. There are a few quick steps required to successfully post a photo link. In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about posting photo links across various platforms.
What is a Photo Link?
A photo link is a URL that leads directly to a specific image file hosted online. Rather than embedding the photo itself into a post or page, a link will redirect the viewer to the raw image file. When someone clicks the link, the photo will open in a new tab or window at its full size and resolution.
Posting direct links to photos can be advantageous compared to embedding the images directly. Links generally load faster and use less data. They also allow the viewer easy access to download or view the full high-resolution image if desired. As long as the photo remains hosted at its URL, the link should continue to work. Links also give photo owners more control since the image itself isn’t copied or redistributed across the web.
Where to Host Photos to Get Links
Before you can post a photo link, you need to first upload the photo somewhere online to get its URL. There are many free and paid photo hosting sites designed for this purpose. Some top options include:
- Imgur – Popular free image host ideal for sharing to sites like Reddit
- Flickr – Longstanding photo community with a free tier
- Photobucket – Free hosting with premium upgrades available
- Dropbox – Useful for those already using Dropbox cloud storage
- Google Photos – Seamless integration for Android phone photos
- Amazon Photos – Cloud storage for Prime members’ photos
- WordPress Media Library – Uploads for WordPress.org users
When choosing a host, check the upload limits, privacy options, sharing capabilities, and image quality preservation. Avoid heavily compressing images if possible. Also ensure the site provides direct links to photos that will be consistent over time.
How to Get a Direct Photo Link
The process for getting a shareable link will vary depending on the site used. Here are the general steps for popular platforms:
Imgur
- Go to https://imgur.com/upload and select your photo to upload.
- Once uploaded, right-click the image and choose “Copy Image Address” (or similar option).
- The URL copied is the direct link to share.
Flickr
- Upload a photo and go to its page.
- Click “Share” below the photo.
- Enable “Public” or “Anyone with the link” access.
- Click the “Grab the link” icon.
- Copy the URL for the sized link (e.g. 1024 or Original).
WordPress
- Go to Media > Add New in the dashboard and upload a photo.
- Click the thumbnail to open the media attachment page.
- Right-click the file URL beneath the image and choose “Copy Link Address.”
- Use this URL when inserting the image into posts/pages.
Posting Photo Links on Social Media
Most social media platforms make it easy to include direct image links in your posts and profiles. The general process is:
- Copy the direct URL to the photo from the host site.
- Paste the URL into your update or bio field.
- The network will automatically display a preview of the image.
For example, on Twitter you can paste a photo’s URL directly into a new tweet. Facebook allows links in posts and the photo field in profiles. Instagram and TikTok use a similar copy/paste method for photo URLs in bios. Specific steps for popular platforms are below.
- Host and get the link to your photo.
- Paste the URL into a new tweet.
- The photo will display as a preview under the text.
- Get the direct link to your uploaded photo.
- Create a new post and paste in the URL.
- The photo will show as a preview.
- You can also add it as your cover photo this way.
- Get the link to the Instagram-sized photo.
- Go to your profile and paste it into the website field.
- The photo will display in your bio.
YouTube
- Enable monetization and access Brand Accounts in Creator Studio.
- Under Branding, add the photo link as your channel or account avatar.
Inserting Photo Links into Website Content
In addition to social media, photo links can be used to display images across your website or blog content. The process varies by platform.
WordPress
When inserting a photo into a post or page in the WordPress editor, you have the option to link to the file URL rather than upload it. Simply copy the hosted photo’s URL and use the “Insert from URL” tab when adding media.
You can also manually create linked text or an image to the URL using HTML:
<a href="PHOTO URL" target="_blank"> <img src="PHOTO URL" alt="description" width="500" /> </a>
Blogger
- Create a new post and switch to the HTML editor.
- Add the tag with the photo URL in the src attribute.
- Customize width, alt text, etc. as desired.
- Publish the post to display the linked photo.
Wix
- Create a new page or post.
- Add desired text and click the image icon to insert.
- Choose “External URL” and enter your photo’s URL.
- Set alignment, size, alt text, etc. and publish.
SquareSpace
- Create a new page and add a text block.
- Click the image icon then “External Image URL”.
- Enter the photo’s URL and desired settings.
- Publish to display the external image.
Posting Photo Links in Forums
Most community forums allow users to include links to photos in their posts. The coding varies but generally involves adding the image URL wrapped in HTML image tags.
For example, on a vBulletin forum you could include a linked photo using the following post markup:
[IMG]PHOTO URL HERE[/IMG]
Xenforo forums use a similar bbcode structure:
[img]PHOTO_URL[/img]
Make sure to check the forum’s formatting guide for the exact bbcode or HTML to use when posting an external photo link. Some may also allow uploading images directly to the forum rather than linking an outside URL.
Troubleshooting Issues Posting Links
In some cases, you may run into issues getting your shared photo links to display properly. Here are some common problems and solutions:
Issue | Solution |
---|---|
Broken link – shows a broken image icon. | Double check the URL is correct and still active on the host site. Relink to a working photo address. |
Over sized images – only part of the photo shows. | Link to a smaller file size or use HTML width attributes to resize large images. |
Can’t click link – URL isn’t hyperlinked. | Make sure the URL has HTML anchor tags around it turning it into a clickable link. |
Photos blocked – site prevents image links. | Some forums restrict linking to prevent spam. Upload the photo directly instead or request whitelisting. |
Conclusion
Posting direct links to hosted photos is a simple yet powerful way to embed images across social media, websites, and communities. By uploading photos to image hosts and linking to them, you can easily share photos without heavy uploads. Just be sure to check the formatting requirements for including external image URLs on each platform.
With the right preparation, photo links allow you to display beautiful imagery anywhere your links are supported. They give you control over where the original files live without quality loss from embedding images directly. So next time you want to spice up a post with photos, grab the image URLs and link away!