For most personal sites, you can use a program like Adobe PhotoDeluxe for editing your images. PhotoDeluxe usually comes packaged for free with many scanners. PhotoDeluxe is also easy to learn. If you plan on using your own images, you will need a way to get your images into your computer. For this you will either need a digital camera or a combination of a traditional camera and either a flatbed scanner.
Digital cameras are very convenient and the prices are coming down.
If you prefer to use a traditional camera, or already have pictures you want to use on your website, a flatbed scanner may be the way to go. With a flatbed scanner, you scan your photos or snapshots directly into your computer. If you don't have any photographs of your own, don't worry, you can purchase royalty free photographs on CD from your nearest computer store. A word about copyright. All images and photographs on the web are protected by copyright and you can not legally use them unless you are explicitly given permission to use them by the copyright owner.