Newsletter Archive | May 18, 2011
7 Things to Consider When Using Photography on Your Website
7 Things to Consider When Using Photography on Your Website
Using photography on your website can have a good (or bad) impact, depending on how you use it. Here are 7 things to keep in mind:
1. Be mindful of stock! Stock photography has been a huge ally for website owners on a budget but it can also have drawbacks. Well structured compositions, attractive models and expensive looking scenes combine for a very professional look. Keep in mind however, people are more aware than ever of what 'feels real' and genuine. And overuse of stock can become obvious and impair the trust you are trying to build with your web visitor.
2. Size matters. Two considerations of the word 'size': file size (megabytes) and image dimensions. Too many megabytes can potentially slow down your site, causing frustration on the part of your web visitor. Photos for the web don’t require the pixel size you would use for say, print. In terms of dimensions, you need to find the right balance between images and text on your page. A Home page is valuable real estate. You need to make the visitor feel excited about being on the page (through imagery) but you also want them to find the information they came looking for.
3. Don't sacrifice quality. Stock photography or not, you shouldn't compromise on the quality of the image if you're going to place it on your website. Stretching a really small image to fit in a larger box or cutting out part of a photo to make it fit, unless managed really well, is a bad idea.
4. Ask for permission. A bit of a no-brainer here but simply put, make sure you have a record of approval when using photography on your site (this might be an email consent from the photographer, or a receipt/invoice from the place you purchased the stock image).
5. Cycle your images. If the images used on your site (as part of the design or layout) are not replaced/renewed regularly, they become stagnant and dated. Fresh images are critical for websites that expect return visitors.
6. Use captions when appropriate. This is especially true if you are using the image for context (and not just design or layout), for example to support a blog or article. Captions create a connection between what the user is reading and what they are seeing.
7. Use 'Alt' and 'Title' tags. Tags improve both accessibility and searchability for your website. Although 'Alt' and 'Title' tags have been around almost as long as the internet itself, they were historically difficult to manage for non-technical site administrators. With the advent of user-friendly Content Management Systems this is no longer an issue.
Read our full blog on this topic at www.webbuildersgroup.com/blog/
