Where To Find Images for Your Website

8 Nov 2022 | Ecommerce Web Design, Responsive Website Design, Uncategorised, Web Design & Development

  • Images are one of the most important aspects of your website. They showcase your products, services, team members, and provide your customers with a wealth of knowledge and information about your business. No one wants to buy something if they can’t see what it looks like!

    Fortunately, for websites, there are many options to choose from in regards to finding images. Whether you take the photos yourself, find images online, or hire a professional photographer, getting pictures of your business, products, or services is extremely important for your website. 

    Here is our guide to sourcing images for your website. 

    Taking Your Own Images

    If you have a burgeoning photographer on your team, or perhaps are looking to save some money, then taking your own photos might be for you. Many small businesses look to take their own photos; it’s free and relatively easy to do. 

    But before you start shooting, you might need to gather some equipment. 

    To start, you’ll need a camera. We always recommend taking high-quality photos; they not only show off your business in definition but demonstrate the care you take in your work and the quality of your company. If you don’t have a camera handy, your phone is a handy substitute. 

    Investing in equipment such as a tripod, or a lightbox can definitely increase the quality of your photos. Bright and natural lighting can also make your photos look more professional, and make your products pop.

    Make sure you talk with your website designers and developers before shooting. They might have special requirements for your photos, such as only landscape photos, or a particular quality or size. Our next blog post will go into more detail on sizing and editing photos for your website. 

    Using Online Images

    Online images are a great way to add professional photos to your website, and for those businesses on a budget, there are plenty of free (and paid) options. Online stock images are high quality, and there are a wide range of categories to choose from, so there will be photos that match your niche. 

    When using photos that are not your property, copyright issues will come into play. Many free or paid image websites will allow you to use their images without the need for attribution, although some individual artists may request it.

    Particularly if you sell products via your website, when searching for images to use, you will have to ensure that a commercial license is placed on the images. This license allows you to use the images on your website if your website generates any revenue. To learn more about using images from the internet, you can visit the Creative Commons website and find out more about licensing and copyright.

    Here are our top picks for both free and paid stock image websites:

    Free

    Paid

    Professional Photography

    If you want to take your website’s photos to the next level, then getting them taken professionally is the way to go. Photographers will take amazing high-quality photos that are specifically designed for your products and your website. Customers will associate high-quality standards with your brand if your website looks and feels professional, and it helps your business stand out from your competitors, who might be using lower-quality images. It shows that you take pride in your products and your business, and can show off the personality of your team and company. 

    On the flip side, professional photography can be quite expensive. Larger businesses may be able to accommodate the costs, but smaller businesses may not be able to afford professional photography. However, it is an investment in the future of your business, and one that will encourage customers to engage with your company. 

    Look for our next blog post on sizing and editing photos for your website, and if you would like to chat about images for your website, visit our contact page to get in touch.

     

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