Shot in the dark since I don't know your photos, sizes, origins, resolutions... or how you captured them.

1) JPG images. For the web I personally don't make anything wider than 1000 pixels, sometimes, 800 or 900.

2) Compression of a jpg. 80 is just fine and will produce an excellent image, but you can do more compression and reduce the file size. Don't save highest quality or 100%

These are for a BB or forum, not for printing. They are for viewing not fine art on a color printer.

This is 640 x 614 probably 80% compression. Hope that helps with some ideas? Downsize a full size image and maybe that will solve your problem?

Also free editing software, open, resize, save as (new name) and there you have it, without losing the original.

http://www.irfanview.com/

Doesn't do circle drop like Photoscape, but does much more and is pretty good for FREE.