I've come across a few people who don't know how to do this.

Instructions:

Find an image hosting site. These websites are usually free. The idea behind them is to take the picture from your computer, and host it on the internet where it is always accessable (with your permission). There is generally a file size limit, and the site will will reduce the quality or size of your picture untill it meets their critera. (usually ~1MB) If you do not tell the website to change the size ("keep original size") then it will automatically reduce the quality. Don't worry about this too much, unless you have a 10MP camera.

Imageshack.us
Photobucket.com
picoodle.com
imagehosting.com

For this tutorial I will use photobucket, because imageshack is being a pain today. That and Photobucket is easier to use.

1) Register. Its like any other website. Find your "album"

Mine looks like this atm


2) The instructions to upload are quite simple, it says right there. These pictures are 640x480, maybe one step bigger would work okay too.

When you're done uploading, click into the box that contains the "direct link"


Paste it between the brackets generated by this button


And it should all work for ya
Once the pictures are on the website, you don't need the originals anymore, and you can delete them from your PC.


It is important to know how to use a direct link and place it between the image code brackets, but if you upload your picture to Photobucket, you can use the IMG code button, and it will supply the code for you

The reason I showed the long was was if you want to take a picture directly off the internet, you may right click on it, go to "properties" and copy the "Address(URL)." This URL can be placed between the IMG code brackets. This saves you from saving it to your PC and uploading it. Why would you do that if it is already hosted?

You can also use the IMG code supplied by photobucket.

Yeah. I just upload to Photobucket, and click the bottom option, and it automatically cpies the image code, so I just paste it in the message.

lol I give you an A+ for effort but definately using the bottom "img code" is much easier

I have since adopted that practice myself. But since 3 of you have suggested it, so an intelligent reader can make that personal decision

I'll also edit the post, if you like.

Hey any chance anyone can help me out with this? Ive got my pics onto photobucket yet everytime I go to link them in and preview they take up half the page. Is there any way I can reduce their size so Im not taking up a whole spread with one picture?

Yeah, hit 'options' in photobucket before you upload. you may be able to resize when its already uploaded.

thanks Ill have to give it a try later tonight