The Importance of Quality Photography for Your Website

• Photography is a great way to connect with your target audience; people who come to your site want to see your product or service. Yes, they want to read about what you do or offer, but first they want to see an example. Why should we think that giving them a second rate example is acceptable? There are three common methods to acquire photography for your website.

• ● Take the photos yourself (which most of the time is done with a point and shoot camera)
• ● Stock photography (these are images taken by professional photographers and sold to websites that then resell rights to those who purchase a copy of the image)
• ● Have a professional photographer shoot the product, location, and/or people

• Stock photography has improved their quality and prices over the years. You can find about anything you need and get great quality images for minimal cost. However, there are several issues that make stock photography not the ideal option when selecting photography for your website. Below I have listed a few disadvantages of using stock photography.

• ● Your competitor could use the same images that you use.
• ● You own the rights to use the image but these rights are limited. For example, you are not allowed to use certain stock photography on Facebook
• ● Although there are millions of images to choose from on stock photography websites, if you want a specific image of a person or product it may become very difficult and time-consuming to find that image. For example, it may be hard to find a photograph that connects your clients to a local town wher


• In summary, taking photos with a point-and-shoot camera is rarely ever recommended if you want quality photography on your website. Stock photography can work in certain circumstances but can give a cookie-cutter effect. Hiring a professional photographer and having the best quality photography you are willing to buy will have a powerful influence on the design of your website. Let me leave you with an example of how the quality of your photography effects how the end user can view your product or service.