Scan a photo - if you want to use an older photo from the pre-digital days; make sure you scan it at a minimum dpi of 300. (DPI means dots per inch and indicates how many dots of color are in each inch of the photo) Also, if you are only using a small portion of a 4x6 photo, scan it as a 5 x 7 or an 8 x10 so that when you crop into a small portion it is still at a high resolution. Some scanners will allow you to scan just a portion of your photo so you can crop the image you want to see on the magazine cover prior to uploading it. Always remember to scan only the photo, not the entire scanning bed. If you do not have the proper equipment, bring it to your local photo shop, or stores such as FedEx Office, Wal-Mart, Target or Staples that offer scanning services.