How we choose Editor's Picks

We know how much getting an Editor Pick badge means to Weather Watchers, so we asked a few of our presenters and producers what they look for when choosing photos for our output.

Weather Watchers have become integral to all our broadcasts and it's always a delight to see such beautiful pictures taken from across Scotland.

For a photo to be chosen for our TV broadcasts there are a few key things we look out for. Most importantly the photo should be taken in landscape format, be in focus, and framed well. Please avoid filters and edits and make sure the image is clean of any time/date stamps from your camera. It's always useful adding descriptions, especially if they include more details about the location or any points of interest that we can mention on air.

I'm always on the lookout for some good photos early in the morning to use in my breakfast broadcasts or during the evening for the late broadcasts. These tend to be quieter periods with fewer photos being posted, so if you're keen to get an Editor's Pick, I'd definitely recommend taking and ing your pictures at these times.

I don't think our Weather Watchers appreciate just how important they are in helping us do our job. One of the first things I do when arriving for a shift is to check out the latest pictures and reports; it really helps me set the scene.

I like to vary the locations around the region so if you're a regular Weather Watcher but find your photos aren't getting used all that often, try branching out and visiting different places. It's important photos are not edited and more often than not show the sky to get a good indication of what the weather is doing.

Being an animal lover, I adore a picture with wildlife or a dog enjoying a lovely walk - these work really well on social media too as I like to caption the picture with what I imagine the animal is thinking (sad, I know!)

We tend not to get many photos when the weather is unsettled so if you're a frustrated Weather Watcher and really want a picture on air, dig out the wellies and raincoat and capture a great shot of the rain or a windy day - there's definitely more chance of it getting used than a picture of a beautiful sunset or clear blue sky.

Weather Watchers pictures help us illustrate and tell the weather story but what makes a good picture to use on screen? I'm no expert but when I did a photography course a few years ago I learnt about 'thirds' so I often look for a picture with two thirds sky. Interesting landscape certainly helps put the shot into context and adds contrast.

I also look for original ways of showing rainy days, perhaps the effects of rain - such as flooding or wet roads. Some of your pictures are perfect to show hazardous weather and can be used as background for warnings.

So many photos, so little time! No two days are the same when looking through your Weather Watchers photos. In social media and online we have the freedom to choose from a wider variety of photos that might not be suitable for TV but work well - or even better - on these digital platforms.

Rare, unusual or dramatic weather events will often feature in online galleries and in our Twitter feed, as does breathtaking scenery, and we always love a good sunrise or sunset, but sometimes a photo will catch our eye simply because of its composition or lighting. In general we try to reflect the weather conditions of the day, but we also like to have a bit of fun so a quirky photo that may not strictly be weather related will sometimes appear in our feed.

Photos that show weather patterns, whether local or national - for example, similar cloud formations - are great for compiling into a gallery. It's also important for us to show how the weather looks across the whole of the UK, so the more varied the locations we get the better!