You might have heard the phrase, “A picture is worth a thousand words”. While this isn’t a new phrase, it most definitely is an important one. Especially when it comes to your website! There are a lot of important elements that go into your website design, photos included.

Lately, as I browse through the internet, I have really started to notice how many companies are using photos on their website that do absolutely nothing for their business. That’s why I want to share why your website photos are just as important as your design, your copy, and every other element on your website.

Why you should use photos on your website

Increasing your website visitor’s user time and improving your SEO are definitely great reasons to optimize your photos on your webpage and should be considered. However, there are two other reasons that I want to highlight for you here in regards to using your photos as visuals and design elements on your website.

We are visual beings

Photos can be a powerful tool in communicating a message – especially given that our brains can process images in 13 milliseconds, according to MIT. That means our brains naturally gravitate towards our website’s photos when we land on the page. So let’s make sure they are on point!

You can think of your website photos as the glue that holds your design together. Here, let me explain.

Millennials and Generation Y’s are proven to respond better to visuals or ‘picture-based methods of communicating’ rather than textual communication. Our brains are visual and 90% of the information we take in is through visual images…Um what?! That means having a website strategically filled with relevant photos will drastically outperform a website that contains blocks of text.

Think about how much fun you have on Pinterest. There you can visualize the new recipe that you want to try, or the shirt that you pinned which will be perfect for your date, or the wedding you are planning. Pinterest helps you visualize everything – all the way down to the type of cutlery you want to use in your home.

We are living in a word where seeing is believing.

Am I convincing you on website photos yet?

Your website visitor will have a better user experience

Not only do photos easily capture a visitor’s attention, but they also show your potential clients what you are selling, whether that is a product, service, or even a coaching course. You want your website to have curated and branded images to match and enhance your design so your visitors land on your website and get a positive brand experience.

Remember, your photos are one of the fundamental elements in your website’s content strategy and should relate directly to the text on the page. I recommend using original pictures wherever you can on your webpage (without taking away from your branding, of course). This means using images from your photoshoots or even premium, high-quality stock photos.

Now, I’m not saying stock photos aren’t wonderful, because they definitely are! I’m such a fan that I even wrote up a list of my top 10 places to find stock photos. When you are able to provide an original high-quality photo you are showing Google that you have fresh content. Always opt for original photo content instead of a stock image that 1 million other people have used on their websites.

Now, don’t get me wrong, your website copy is important, but at the end of the day, your clientele isn’t going to read every word on your site. This is why website photos and headlines are your best friend.

Now, let’s talk about what your website photos should consist of!

What types of photos your website should have

Professional photos

Yes, professional photos are definitely an investment, but it’s something that you shouldn’t skimp on in your business. A professional photoshoot can span from your website to your social media, to your portfolio, and beyond! You will be able to use these shots for years, assuming your brand doesn’t change. If you need to find a professional brand photographer, check out this blog post I wrote about finding the perfect one for you.

Which brings me to my next point!

Branded photos

Think ahead before going into your photoshoot. Consider your brand colors, your brand aesthetic, and the vision you have for your website, the bottom line is don’t go in unprepared. If your website colors are muted and blue (aka mine) then rock a similar blue in your photoshoot!

Tip: I created a free prep guide for your branding photoshoot so you can have the perfect brand photos for your website. If you want to check it out click here.

Remember, YOU are your brand and that is never truer than in a photoshoot. If you are leaning towards a beach vibe, take it to the beach! If you are a city gal, ask some local shops if you can take some photos there. Think outside of the box.  You may want them taken inside your home with you in your natural environment, whatever speaks to you and your brand, that’s the right call.

So what does this all mean?

Long story short, the photos on your site are going to represent your business way before your actual website design and copy does. At least in our 13 milliseconds visual image processing time! That’s not to say that your copy and design aren’t important – because they definitely are. But people will instinctively scan your website for your images and make a connection to your company before they even get a chance to start reading your verbiage.

Take note from this blog experience, what did you do first? Did you jump right into reading or did you scroll and do a visual overview of my images first?

Have any questions about branding photos, web design or anything else? Feel free to reach out to me here and we can chat about it! I always love to hear from you.