I have several tables with picture content controls that I've made a specific width and height. When I insert a picture the sizing of the picture and cell changes. how do I keep the picture at the size I want without having to manually format it afterwards?

You can do that by giving the cells concerned a fixed height and width and sizing the picture content control to fit the cell. Any picture inserted into such a cell via the picture content control will have its dimensions constrained to fit the space available, at the correct aspect ratio for the picture.

To set the fixed:
• row height, use Table Tools>Layout>Properties>Row>Specify Height>Exactly.
• column width, first uncheck the 'automatically resize to fit contents' option under Table Tools>Layout>Properties>Table>Options. Then set the preferred column width under Table Tools>Layout>Properties>Columns.
You might also want to set the cell margins to 0 all round. It's also a good idea to format the cell paragraph with 0 before/after spacing.

Note, too, that you can also use a Rich Text content control for picture insertion.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]