diff --git a/exampleSite/content/docs/configuration/index.md b/exampleSite/content/docs/configuration/index.md
index 26116149..55ffc084 100644
--- a/exampleSite/content/docs/configuration/index.md
+++ b/exampleSite/content/docs/configuration/index.md
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ The default file can be used as a template to create additional languages, or re
 | Name              | Default   | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
 | ----------------- | --------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
 | `author.name`     | _Not set_ | The author's name. This will be displayed in article footers, and on the homepage when the profile layout is used.                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
-| `author.image`    | _Not set_ | Path to the image file of the author. The image should be a 1:1 aspect ratio and placed in the site's `assets/` folder.                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
+| `author.image`    | _Not set_ | Path to the image file of the author. The image should be a 1:1 aspect ratio. The image can be placed in the site's `assets/` folder or can be external url.                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
 | `author.headline` | _Not set_ | A Markdown string containing the author's headline. It will be displayed on the profile homepage under the author's name.                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
 | `author.bio`      | _Not set_ | A Markdown string containing the author's bio. It will be displayed in article footers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
 | `author.links`    | _Not set_ | The links to display alongside the author's details. The config file contains example links which can simply be uncommented to enable. The order that the links are displayed is determined by the order they appear in the array. Custom links can be added by providing corresponding SVG icon assets in `assets/icons/`. |
diff --git a/layouts/partials/article-link/simple.html b/layouts/partials/article-link/simple.html
index b0c423b0..bb1768ea 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/article-link/simple.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/article-link/simple.html
@@ -40,8 +40,10 @@
     {{- $images := $.Resources.ByType "image" -}}
     {{- $featured := $images.GetMatch "*feature*" -}}
     {{- if not $featured }}{{ $featured = $images.GetMatch "{*cover*,*thumbnail*}" }}{{ end -}}
+    {{ if .Params.featureimage }}
     {{- $url:= .Params.featureimage -}}
     {{- if not $featured }}{{ $featured = resources.GetRemote $url }}{{ end -}}
+    {{ end }}
     {{- if not $featured }}{{ with .Site.Params.defaultFeaturedImage }}{{ $featured = resources.Get . }}{{ end }}{{ end -}}
     {{ if .Params.hideFeatureImage }}{{ $featured = false }}{{ end }}
     {{- with $featured -}}
diff --git a/layouts/partials/author-extra.html b/layouts/partials/author-extra.html
index 4e81d07e..a15a63c1 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/author-extra.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/author-extra.html
@@ -1,14 +1,21 @@
 {{ $disableImageOptimization := .Site.Params.disableImageOptimization | default false }}
 <div class="flex author author-extra mt-4">
   {{ with .data.image }}
-  {{ $authorImage := resources.Get . }}
-  {{ if $authorImage }}
-  {{ if not $disableImageOptimization }}
-  {{ $authorImage = $authorImage.Fill "192x192" }}
-  {{ end }}
-  <img class="!mt-0 !mb-0 h-24 w-24 rounded-full ltr:mr-4 rtl:ml-4" width="96" height="96"
-    src="{{ $authorImage.RelPermalink }}" />
-  {{ end }}
+      {{ $authorImage := resources.Get . }}
+      {{ if $authorImage }}
+        {{ if not $disableImageOptimization }}
+          {{ $authorImage = $authorImage.Fill "192x192" }}
+        {{ end }}
+        <img class="!mt-0 !mb-0 h-24 w-24 rounded-full ltr:mr-4 rtl:ml-4" width="96" height="96"
+          src="{{ $authorImage.RelPermalink }}" />
+      {{ else }}
+        {{ $authorImage := resources.GetRmeote . }}
+        {{ if not $disableImageOptimization }}
+          {{ $authorImage = $authorImage.Fill "192x192" }}
+        {{ end }}
+        <img class="!mt-0 !mb-0 h-24 w-24 rounded-full ltr:mr-4 rtl:ml-4" width="96" height="96"
+          src="{{ $authorImage.RelPermalink }}" />
+      {{ end }}
   {{ end }}
   <div class="place-self-center">
     {{ $link := .link}}
diff --git a/layouts/partials/author.html b/layouts/partials/author.html
index 466d279e..50bc2cc3 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/author.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/author.html
@@ -1,14 +1,21 @@
 {{ $disableImageOptimization := .Site.Params.disableImageOptimization | default false }}
 <div class="flex author">
   {{ with .Site.Author.image }}
-  {{ $authorImage := resources.Get . }}
-  {{ if $authorImage }}
-  {{ if not $disableImageOptimization }}
-  {{ $authorImage = $authorImage.Fill "192x192" }}
-  {{ end }}
-  <img class="!mt-0 !mb-0 h-24 w-24 rounded-full ltr:mr-4 rtl:ml-4" width="96" height="96"
-    alt="{{ $.Site.Author.name | default " Author" }}" src="{{ $authorImage.RelPermalink }}" />
-  {{ end }}
+    {{ $authorImage := resources.Get . }}
+    {{ if $authorImage }}
+      {{ if not $disableImageOptimization }}
+        {{ $authorImage = $authorImage.Fill "192x192" }}
+      {{ end }}
+      <img class="!mt-0 !mb-0 h-24 w-24 rounded-full ltr:mr-4 rtl:ml-4" width="96" height="96"
+      alt="{{ $.Site.Author.name | default " Author" }}" src="{{ $authorImage.RelPermalink }}" />
+    {{ else }}
+      {{ $authorImage := resources.GetRemote . }}
+      {{ if not $disableImageOptimization }}
+        {{ $authorImage = $authorImage.Fill "192x192" }}
+      {{ end }}
+      <img class="!mt-0 !mb-0 h-24 w-24 rounded-full ltr:mr-4 rtl:ml-4" width="96" height="96"
+      alt="{{ $.Site.Author.name | default " Author" }}" src="{{ $authorImage.RelPermalink }}" />
+    {{ end }}
   {{ end }}
   <div class="place-self-center">
     {{ with .Site.Author.name | markdownify | emojify }}
diff --git a/layouts/partials/hero/background.html b/layouts/partials/hero/background.html
index 0ce96d59..f72015fe 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/hero/background.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/hero/background.html
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@
 {{- $featured := $images.GetMatch "*background*" -}}
 {{- if not $featured }}{{ $featured = $images.GetMatch "*feature*" }}{{ end -}}
 {{- if not $featured }}{{ $featured = $images.GetMatch "{*cover*,*thumbnail*}" }}{{ end -}}
+{{ if .Params.featureimage }}
 {{- $url:= .Params.featureimage -}}
 {{if or $.Site.Params.list.showHero $.Site.Params.term.showHero $.Site.Params.taxonomy.showHero}} {{ $url = default $.Site.Params.homepage.homepageImage $.Site.Params.defaultBackgroundImage }} {{end}}
 {{- if not $featured }}{{ $featured = resources.GetRemote $url }}{{ end -}}
+{{ end }}
 {{- if not $featured }}{{ with .Site.Params.defaultBackgroundImage }}{{ $featured = resources.Get . }}{{ end }}{{ end -}}
 {{ $isParentList := eq (.Scratch.Get "scope") "list"  }}
 {{ $shouldBlur := $.Params.layoutBackgroundBlur | default (or 
diff --git a/layouts/partials/hero/basic.html b/layouts/partials/hero/basic.html
index 11377928..00cc1b3c 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/hero/basic.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/hero/basic.html
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 {{- $images := .Resources.ByType "image" -}}
 {{- $featured := $images.GetMatch "*feature*" -}}
 {{- if not $featured }}{{ $featured = $images.GetMatch "{*cover*,*thumbnail*}" }}{{ end -}}
+{{ if .Params.featureimage }}
+{{- $url:= .Params.featureimage -}}
+{{- if not $featured }}{{ $featured = resources.GetRemote $url }}{{ end -}}
+{{ end }}
 {{- with $featured -}}
     {{ if $disableImageOptimization }}
         {{ with . }}
diff --git a/layouts/partials/hero/big.html b/layouts/partials/hero/big.html
index 89bb1759..294c37e5 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/hero/big.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/hero/big.html
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@
 {{- $images := .Resources.ByType "image" -}}
 {{- $featured := $images.GetMatch "*feature*" -}}
 {{- if not $featured }}{{ $featured = $images.GetMatch "{*cover*,*thumbnail*}" }}{{ end -}}
+{{ $caption := "" }}
+{{ if .Params.featureimage }}
 {{- $url:= .Params.featureimage -}}
-{{- $caption:= .Params.featureimagecaption -}}
+{{- $caption = .Params.featureimagecaption -}}
 {{- if not $featured }}{{ $featured = resources.GetRemote $url }}{{ end -}}
+{{ end }}
 {{- $alt := .Page.Title -}}
 {{- with .Page.Params.alt }}{{ $alt = . }}{{ end -}}
 {{- with $featured -}}
@@ -13,14 +16,18 @@
         {{ with . }}
         <figure>
             <img class="w-full rounded-lg single_hero_round nozoom" alt="{{ $alt }}" width="{{ .Width }}" height="{{ .Height }}" src="{{ .RelPermalink }}">
-            <figcaption class="text-sm text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-400 hover:underline" style="text-align: center;"> {{ $caption | markdownify   }} </figcaption>
+            {{ if $caption }}
+                <figcaption class="text-sm text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-400 hover:underline" style="text-align: center;"> {{ $caption | markdownify }} </figcaption>
+            {{end}}
         </figure>
         {{ end }}
     {{ else }}
         {{ with .Resize "1200x" }}
         <figure>
             <img class="w-full rounded-lg single_hero_round nozoom" alt="{{ $alt }}" width="{{ .Width }}" height="{{ .Height }}" src="{{ .RelPermalink }}">
-            <figcaption class="text-sm text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-400 hover:underline" style="text-align: center;"> {{ $caption | markdownify  }} </figcaption>
+            {{ if $caption }}
+                <figcaption class="text-sm text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-400 hover:underline" style="text-align: center;"> {{ $caption | markdownify }} </figcaption>
+            {{end}}
         </figure>
         {{ end }}
     {{ end }}
diff --git a/layouts/partials/hero/thumbAndBackground.html b/layouts/partials/hero/thumbAndBackground.html
index 7704345d..5d9c6071 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/hero/thumbAndBackground.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/hero/thumbAndBackground.html
@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@
 {{- if not $background }}{{ $background = $images.GetMatch "*feature*" }}{{ end -}}
 {{- $featured := $images.GetMatch "*feature*" -}}
 {{- if not $featured }}{{ $featured = $images.GetMatch "{*cover*,*thumbnail*}" }}{{ end -}}
+{{ if .Params.featureimage }}
 {{- $url:= .Params.featureimage -}}
 {{- if not $featured }}{{ $featured = resources.GetRemote $url }}{{ end -}}
+{{ end }}
 {{- if not $featured }}{{ $featured = $images.GetMatch "*background*" }}{{ end -}}
 {{- if not $featured }}{{ with .Site.Params.defaultBackgroundImage }}{{ $featured = resources.Get . }}{{ end }}{{ end -}}
 {{ $isParentList := eq (.Scratch.Get "scope") "list"  }}
diff --git a/layouts/partials/home/background.html b/layouts/partials/home/background.html
index 66af2cb8..3ee48e58 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/home/background.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/home/background.html
@@ -20,14 +20,22 @@
                 </div>
                 <div class="relative px-8 py-16 flex flex-col items-center justify-center text-center">
                     {{ with .Site.Author.image }}
-                    {{ $authorImage := resources.Get . }}
-                    {{ if $authorImage }}
-                    {{ if not $disableImageOptimization }}
-                    {{ $authorImage = $authorImage.Fill "288x288" }}
-                    {{ end }}
-                    <img class="mb-2 rounded-full h-36 w-36" width="144" height="144"
-                        alt="{{ $.Site.Author.name | default " Author" }}" src="{{ $authorImage.RelPermalink }}" />
-                    {{ end }}
+                        {{ $authorImage := resources.Get . }}
+                        {{ if $authorImage }}
+                            {{ if not $disableImageOptimization }}
+                                {{ $authorImage = $authorImage.Fill "288x288" }}
+                            {{ end }}
+                            <img class="mb-2 rounded-full h-36 w-36" width="144" height="144"
+                            alt="{{ $.Site.Author.name | default " Author" }}" src="{{ $authorImage.RelPermalink }}" />
+                        {{else}}
+                            {{ $authorImage := resources.GetRemote . }}
+                            {{ if not $disableImageOptimization }}
+                                {{ $authorImage = $authorImage.Fill "288x288" }}
+                            {{ end }}
+                            <img class="mb-2 rounded-full h-36 w-36" width="144" height="144"
+                                alt="{{ $.Site.Author.name | default " Author" }}" src="{{ $authorImage.RelPermalink }}" />
+                        {{ end }}
+
                     {{ end }}
                     <h1 class="mb-2 text-4xl font-extrabold text-neutral-800 dark:text-neutral-200">
                         {{ .Site.Author.name | default .Site.Title }}
diff --git a/layouts/partials/home/hero.html b/layouts/partials/home/hero.html
index 8cf60984..91cb89fd 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/home/hero.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/home/hero.html
@@ -17,14 +17,21 @@
                 </div>
                 <div class="relative px-4 py-16 sm:px-6 sm:py-24 lg:py-32 lg:px-8 flex flex-col items-center justify-center text-center">
                     {{ with .Site.Author.image }}
-                    {{ $authorImage := resources.Get . }}
-                    {{ if $authorImage }}
-                    {{ if not $disableImageOptimization }}
-                    {{ $authorImage = $authorImage.Fill "288x288" }}
-                    {{ end }}
-                    <img class="mb-2 rounded-full h-36 w-36" width="144" height="144"
-                        alt="{{ $.Site.Author.name | default " Author" }}" src="{{ $authorImage.RelPermalink }}" />
-                    {{ end }}
+                        {{ $authorImage := resources.Get . }}
+                        {{ if $authorImage }}
+                            {{ if not $disableImageOptimization }}
+                                {{ $authorImage = $authorImage.Fill "288x288" }}
+                            {{ end }}
+                            <img class="mb-2 rounded-full h-36 w-36" width="144" height="144"
+                                alt="{{ $.Site.Author.name | default " Author" }}" src="{{ $authorImage.RelPermalink }}" />
+                        {{ else }}
+                            {{ $authorImage := resources.GetRemote . }}
+                            {{ if not $disableImageOptimization }}
+                                {{ $authorImage = $authorImage.Fill "288x288" }}
+                            {{ end }}
+                            <img class="mb-2 rounded-full h-36 w-36" width="144" height="144"
+                                alt="{{ $.Site.Author.name | default " Author" }}" src="{{ $authorImage.RelPermalink }}" />
+                        {{ end }}
                     {{ end }}
                     <h1 class="mb-2 text-4xl font-extrabold text-neutral-200">
                         {{ .Site.Author.name | default .Site.Title }}
diff --git a/layouts/partials/home/profile.html b/layouts/partials/home/profile.html
index 7ba08a7e..2a8a64bc 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/home/profile.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/home/profile.html
@@ -9,7 +9,19 @@
       {{ $authorImage := resources.Get . }}
       {{ if $authorImage }}
         {{ if not $disableImageOptimization }}
-        {{ $authorImage = $authorImage.Fill "288x288" }}
+          {{ $authorImage = $authorImage.Fill "288x288" }}
+        {{ end }}
+        <img
+          class="mb-2 rounded-full h-36 w-36"
+          width="144"
+          height="144"
+          alt="{{ $.Site.Author.name | default "Author" }}"
+          src="{{ $authorImage.RelPermalink }}"
+        />
+      {{ else }}
+        {{ $authorImage := resources.GetRemote . }}
+        {{ if not $disableImageOptimization }}
+          {{ $authorImage = $authorImage.Fill "288x288" }}
         {{ end }}
         <img
           class="mb-2 rounded-full h-36 w-36"