I use www.imageshack.us, upload the picture, click on the choice for message boards and then click on 'host it' (I think it is). When the next page opens up I choose 'hotlink for forum' (it's usually the first choice in the second group of links), I just highlight that string, right click, copy, and then paste it in the window to post here. So far it has shown up every time. I hope that makes sense to you.
There are two groups of hosted pictures you can use, the thumbnails are in the first group, if you go halfway down the page there is another group of four. The first one of that group is "hotlink for forums". You did good, you just need to scroll down to the second group and c/p the first of those.
<img src="url"/>
Add a photo site, and use this link to put it on the page.
You can use multiple attributes as well, but to a base image that is all you need.
To link to this photo.
<a href="link here"><img src="link here"/></a>