Thank you to Chuck Jackson, who blogs at ‘The Many Pieces of Chuck Jackson’, for asking me a question about blogging after reading my blog post ‘Do You Have A Question About Blogging?‘
Here’s Chuck’s question in full.
When it comes to adding images and photos to comments, we have to be careful with what we add. We should always ensure the photo or image has a connection to the subject of the post we’re leaving the comment on.
I’ve added images and photos to my comments on my blog posts and the comments I have left on the blogs of other bloggers. However, not everyone likes photos or images left in comments, so I’d recommend you first ask the blogger concerned if they’re happy for you to add a photo or image to the comment.
Many bloggers will be happy for you to leave images and photos, but it’s always polite to ask. Of course, if the blogger has invited readers to leave a photo or picture, there is no need to ask.
For the question Chuck asked me, I will show you how I inserted an image into a comment when I responded to a comment left on one of my blog posts.
Adding images to your comments
Author and blogger John W. Howell left me a question on a recent post. He asked me how he could switch to the block editor. I thought adding a screenshot to my response would help John (and other readers) find the answer.
Here’s John’s question.
And here’s my response.
The image shown had to be split into two to capture all of it.
However, how did I get the image inserted into my comment?
- First of all, I took a screenshot of the image I wanted to capture. On my iMac, I do this by pressing Shift-Command-4.
- The screenshot was automatically saved to the desktop of my computer.
- Next, I opened my WordPress media library and dragged the image to it. You’ll find the button to your media library on the dashboard of your WordPress blog.
- Once the image had been added, I clicked on it and then clicked the edit button to open it.
- On the righthand side of the screen, you’ll see a window where you can add a caption or description for your image. We’ll ignore these for now as we need to find the URL box.
- Click the ‘copy’ button on the righthand side of the URL box, and paste the URL address into your comment.
- Do not, at this stage, submit your comment as you need to edit one part of the text within the link.
- Carefully delete the ‘s’ from the ‘https’ at the beginning of the link address, so it reads ‘http’. (If you do not delete the ‘s’ the image will not show in the comment).
- Ensure you link ends with ‘.png’ or ‘.jpg’. If it doesn’t, delete any text after ‘.png’ or ‘.jpg’.
- You can now submit your comment.
The image will now show within the comment. However, remember that if you are leaving an image in a comment on another blogger’s blog, they may have to approve it (and may even remove the link to the image) before it shows up.
I’ve only found this to work on WordPress.Com blogs. On self-hosted blogs, only the link to the image is visible rather than the image appearing. However, those clicking on the link will see the image.
I want to thank Chuck for asking his question and hope my answer has helped.
Meet Chuck
Connect with Chuck.
Chuck is a retired accountant living in South East Florida in the U.S.A. He graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a B.B.A. in Accounting.
Chuck spent the last 25 years working as the Budget Manager for a Special District in Palm Beach County. He was a member of the Government Finance Officer’s Association (GFOA) and Florida’s GFOA.
Since his retirement, Chuck has spent his years studying and enhancing his writing. He currently has three published books available.
When not busy writing, Chuck loves to play golf and is a member of a local country club.
Want to give inserting an image or photo into a comment a go?
Leave me a comment with the link to your image. Perhaps it can be a photo of your latest book cover or of a family pet. I’ll leave it up to you, but family-friendly images only, please.
If you have any further questions about inserting images or photos into the comments, leave them in the comments section.
Don’t forget that if you have any questions about blogging, leave them in the comments section. I’ll feature you in the post I publish that answers your question.
Update – since publishing this post, I’ve discovered that not all images and photos will show if the security settings on your web browser are set high. However, this does not affect the images or photos you leave in your comments on your own blog posts. I recommend that you not change the security settings on your web browser.
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Hugh's Views & News 
I’ve just come back here as I couldn’t work out how to leave a photo as a comment on Terri’s Sunday Stills post, then I remembered you had done a post about it! So useful and it worked too 🙂 Thanks so much!
That’s great to hear, Debbie. I’m glad the advice in this post is still working, as WordPress often changes things.
This is really helpful, thanks Hugh 🙂 I’ve bookmarked for future reference!
You’re welcome. I’m glad it’s helped.
Hi Hugh, I’ll be sharing this post on Sunday Stills this week as I attempt to give bloggers options for sharing their photos. Great tutorial!
Thanks, Terri. I’ll update the post before Sunday, as one of the images is now out of date (due to the new dashboard I now have on my blog). Thanks so much for the upcoming link.
Hi, Hugh! Thanks for this “How to” post. I’ve been curious about how to do this for a while now. I’m going to try it. Thanks again! 😀 xo
Hi Vashti, you’re welcome. I don’t attach images to comments very much, although they do come in very handy when I’m answering a question in a comment.
xx
Hugh, you really make the most marvelous “how to” posts. Speaking as someone who wrote and edited various manuals and other technical documents for a couple of decades — I give you an A+. I haven’t tried Gutenberg yet, but I’ve bookmarked this post. Hugs.
Thanks for the A+, Teagan. I try and write these ‘How To’s’ in plain simple English. From the feedback I get, it seems to work very well.
Thanks for the tutorial, Hugh! Looks a tad complicated. But so incredible to see some of the results in your comment section already. 🙂 How nice people are posting photos and images now. You’re the best! I’ve never added photos in comments, but once I put a photo on a separate (hidden) page of my blog and then posted a link to it. My blog is self-hosted, so I’ll have to try your explanation one day to see what happens.
I don’t include images or photos in comments very much, Liesbet, but it’s good to know it can be done. I’m more likely to include them in my comments on my own blog rather than the blog of somebody else. It’s a nice feature, but one I don’t think will get used very much.
Understood. I guess it would be to explain – or refer to – something you write in a comment to someone’s blog. I might have thought once or twice before “I wish I could add a photo to my comment” on someone’s blog. But, you’re right. Not often.
I wish I fully understood… still re-reading. Thank you!
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you, Hugh. I guess I’m expecting to find a button that will take me to my media library. No such thing when you’re in the middle of typing a comment, because then I’m not even on my own blog, I’m on theirs. I know… block of wood here. 🙂
You can either copy the link to your image/photo from your media library before starting a comment (and then paste it into your comment), Jennie, or open up a new window or tab on your screen where you can open up your media library. It will depend on what device you use to leave comments. I always use a desktop computer, so open my media library in a new window.
I hope that helps?
It does! Thank you, Hugh!
I had never thought about this skill until now, Hugh, pretty useful. This could be used/tweaked for photo challenges! I will have to give this more thought. Thanks for the step by step…I would try this now but I’m heading out for morning yoga and commenting from my tablet. I know that it is easy to embed YouTube and Instagram images into comments, from doing so with your music prompts, wondering if images could be embedded the same way? The SS prompt this Sunday is dogs for pet parent day so I hope you can participate and share your sweet pups!
I can’t see any reasons why embedding images would not work the same way, Terri. After all, the link address is pretty much the same (excluding the ‘WordPress’ reference), although it’d be interesting to see if the ‘s’ has to be removed from ‘https’. I’m guessing you mean embedding a photo from somewhere like Flickr?
The WordPress media library already has a link to Google Photos (I need to add some photos to my account), and I wonder how long it will be before other image/photo storage sites also have a direct link. It would certainly help on saving storage in the WordPress media library of images did not have to be downloaded first.
Next Sunday’s SS prompt sounds fantastic. I’ll certainly have a look at it and see if I can get Toby and Austin to pose for a few photos. They’re usually camera shy when they know I am taking their photo.
Thanks, Hugh. Your helpful advice is always appreciated.
You’re welcome, Norah.
Hi Hugh,
I just found your post and will try it out tomorrow. It’s 2 am and I’m reading this with my iPad. Thank you for featuring my question and also the promotion. HUGS
Hi Chuck, you’re welcome. I’ve had a few problems with some images being blocked, so it seems it does not always work. The problem has been the security settings on my web-browser. I’ve had to alter them to allow some of the images to show. I’ll be updating the post with these details.
Hugh – My contribution. Thanks for the instructions
Thanks, Chuck. It’s worked. I moderate all comments before they appear, so that is why you probably thought it had not worked.
Have a lovely weekend.
Thanks, Hugh – This is something that I have often wondered about. Your explanation is very clear and helpful!
You’re welcome, Donna. I’ve been having some issues with the security settings on my web-browser blocking some of the images. I’ll be updating the post.
Another fabulous helpful post Hugh that I’ll be sure to add for my next round of writer’s tips! Ok, let’s see how this works, lol. http://dgkayewriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/bitmo-many-thanks.png 🙂 ❤
Hi Debby, I think the reason why it hasn’t worked for your link is that the link is not coming from a WordPress media library. I think this only works when both blogs are WordPress.Com blogs. I’ve left images in the comments of self-hosted blogs, but only the link would show. However, click on the link, and you should see the image.
No, I stand corrected. It was my security settings again! I’ve managed to get the image to show. 😀
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HI Hugh. Yes, I realized that because I’m self hosted only the link would show (thanks for opening), but the URL did come from the image in my WP media? ❤
That explains why it’s worked then, Debby. I’m not familiar with how self-hosting works, although I’ve heard about many different providers. Anyway, I’m glad I managed to figure out how to get your image to open. 😀
xx
Thanks bunches Hugh. You now have 2 of your blogging tips posts being featured in my next Friday’s edition of writer’s tips. ❤
I’m honoured, Debby. Thank you so much.
I’ve always wanted to know an easy way to do a screenshot on a Mac. Thanks so much, you dear sweet man! Here goes my attempt to insert a pic. My fav Japanese maple/
Thank you, Jan. Such a lovely tree. I bet the colours are spectacular all year round?
Here are details of another way for taking screenshots on an iMac.
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201361
In all the years of blogging I’ve never known how yo do this Hugh, so many thanks for enlightening me and others. I’m hoping I have your permission to practise this by leaving this image which says it all! http://debz2653.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/img_1443.jpg
I’m trying to figure out why your link did not work, Debbie. Can you confirm it came from your WordPress media library?
It may have something to do with the security settings on my web-browser, but I’ll look into it.
Yes it’s from my media library but I didn’t do the whole screen shot thing because it was already in my library and I just went to the URL and copied it as per your instructions. Could that be a reason?
No, you’ve done everything correctly, Debbie. It was the security settings on my web browser that was blocking the image. It’s showing now (and thank you for such a lovely image). I’m going to update the post about why some images and photos may not work because of the security settings on the web browser being used.
I’m so glad it worked Hugh. It’s good to know about security systems and their impact.
Yes, I’m certainly glad the security is there and working, Debbie. I never have any problems with leaving screenshots in the comments on my own blog posts, and it’s very rare I leave a photo or an image in the comments on another blog.
Very useful
You’re welcome.
I tried and tried and tried until I finally got it 4 years ago. It is only this stupid “s” 😅
I know. The smallest of things can sometimes cause all the problems.
Yep, indeed!
Hugh, thanks so much! I always wondered about this. This is a ‘web small’ version from MS Picture Manager. It’s a shot by my hubby Rich Hill of our strawberry blonde tabby, Goofus snuggling up with my novel The Heart of Applebutter Hill. His paw covers my name. Hope it’s not too big. BTW, there wasn’t any ‘s’ in the URL. I’m not sure when WP started that. This was 2014. All of our new WP jpg’s have the ‘s.’ Thanks again!
Hi Donna, it’s worked. Thanks so much for giving it a try.
Great instructions, Hugh. Hope it works. http://johnwhowell.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/screen-shot-2019-04-25-at-10.45.25-am.png
That link looks good to me, John.
But it hasn’t worked. Let me try and see if I can work out why.
OK, I was getting a message on my computer saying that the image was unsafe. However, when I said that I was confident it was coming from a safe source, it worked. Now, what could be unsafe about that smile, John?
It may have had something to do with my internet browsers settings being set too high on security. Happy for you to give it another go with another image John, but I’ll leave it up to you.
Thanks, Hugh. I’m in a doctor’s office but think it will be okay. Thank you, again.😀
Thanks again
Well, did this work? If so, well done maestro, another genius explanation
The link looks good to me, so let’s have a try and see.
Yey! It worked, Geoff. Nice photo.
Great work Hugh! This will be very useful for all, i think! Best wishes, Michael
Thank you, Michael. I find it very useful when responding to a comment left on one of my blog posts.
:-)) Always a great pleasure to me, Hugh! Have a nice afternoon. Michael
I’ve always wondered how people do this thing! Well, now I know. It’s even easier than I thought. Thanks, Hugh, for this insightful article.
You’re very welcome, Obinna.
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
Another useful tip from Hugh – don’t forget – Carefully delete the ‘s’ from the ‘https’ at the beginning of the image link address, so it reads ‘http’. (If you do not delete the ‘s’ the image will not show in the comment). 😃
Great answer, Hugh and perhaps a piece of the puzzle that I’m trying to solve (the mysterious missing “Like” button). One of the possible problems the techs are looking into is whether the problem is related to pages which have secure (https) and insecure (http) elements. You can tell if you’re on such a page by the presence of a yellow triangle next to the green lock hear the URL in your browser (I’ve tried several blogs but can’t get an image to share). In any case, I’m not sure that’s the answer, but people add their own insecure elements in sidebar widgets and images, so I wouldn’t feel bad about adding an image to a comment – within the guidelines you suggest.
Thanks, Dan. I hope they sort out the problems you’ve been experiencing. I’m fortunate to not have experienced any issues with the ‘like’ button on any blogs yet (I’m keeping my fingers crossed), but I’ve read many posts about bloggers who have had problems.
To be honest, I hardly ever leave images or photos on the blog posts of other bloggers, but they do sometimes come in useful when I’m responding to questions left on my own blog posts.
They do, and I welcome them and links from people when they are relevant.
Thanks, Chuck for asking this question as it is one I have wondered about for some time now. And thanks, Hugh for once again waling us through the process. So, if you don´t mind, I´m going to try it here. Of course, it has to be of my dog, Dot. http://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/2018/12/09/anis-advent-calendar-2018-letters-darlene-foster-and-dot/attachment/7841/
Thanks for leaving a link, Darlene. However, it seems to be a link directly to your blog, rather than an individual image from your media library. Did you get the image from your WordPress media library? The images I have used do not show my blog’s name (like yours does).
The link address should end .png or.jpg
If you like, have another go.
I wonder if this will work. http://darlenefoster.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/33027136_10155553958807828_2896603163639414784_n-2.jpg?resize=160%2C160
No, it hasn’t worked, Darlene. I’m going to try something with your link address and remove the text after ‘jpg’ to see if it works. If it doesn’t, I’ll do some more screenshots and add them to this comment. Hopefully, they will help.
Yes, what I did to your link address has worked, and we can now see Dot. So, ensure your link ends with ‘jpg or ‘png
🙂
Clear and concise as always!
I learned this a couple of years ago and posted about it then, but it took a lot of digging to learn!!
But isn’t the learning fun, Ritu? Sometimes, I have to stop myself from trying too many things out on WordPress. It all eats into my writing time.
Oh I know.
When I first started, I did nothing else, as you know!
But we have to share our time a Littlemore!!! ❤️
This is really useful Hugh – thanks 🙂
You’re welcome, Simon.