In today’s tech savvy world, it’s no surprise that every organization needs to have a presence online. An engaging and visually appealing website will generate better customer traffic and create new business opportunities. As humans, our brains recognize images long before we start to read text. When it comes to designing successful websites it’s important to embed high quality images that will resonate with your viewers and showcase your brand. If the images on your site are of lower quality, people visiting your page many times consider your content as less credible and will leave your page if they are not engaged with your imagery and content.
In Saffire’s many years of designing websites, we have found that the best sites are the ones that utilize the power of simplicity, usually through photos. Don’t let visual clutter disrupt the flow of your page. Select only the best photos to be displayed. Photos on a website are much like the saying, “It’s better to have four quarters than one hundred pennies”; keep your pages simple, engaging and beautiful.
There are four main elements to consider when it comes to good photography: Image Quality, Effectiveness, Message, User Response.
Image Quality
A good photograph is a large photograph and will have colors that set the tone of the image, have lots of lighting, and a unique style to set the image’s mood.
Effectiveness
The nature of good photography is shown through its composition. It can often be very subjective, but good composition turns ordinary scenes into eye-catching images.
Message
The message behind good photography is the story you want to tell. When a photo’s intention or meaning is clearly presented, the image becomes much more appealing.
User Response
Imagery helps you communicate thousands of words in seconds. A good photo can potentially communicate all you want to say about your brand and encourage purchases. A recent survey by NewsCred states, “93% of people say that visual imagery is the #1 factor impacting purchasing decisions”.
The tricky part about good photography is accessing it. Sometimes you do not have the budget to pay for outrageously priced professional photos, but still want the impact of good photography. Don’t fret, there are MANY FREE, high-quality images you can start using on your site today.
Examples of where to source your free and unlicensed images:
In short, when intriguing copy, dynamic design and great photography work together; your event, venue or destination instantly becomes more credible. The visual sense dominates when it comes to purchasing. You cannot afford to have poor quality photos on your website.