Visual content is a highly important element in making a great website. Even if you’re not an artist or a photographer, you need to carefully consider the images you use. Once you've decided to create a website, the image options for your web design may seem overwhelming.
You might be wondering what types of images generate the biggest impact. Here are a few things to help you learn how to make a website with visuals that will stand out from the crowd!
Pixster Photobooth use funny, eye-catching images on the home page of their Wix website
Inform
Your homepage image is typically the first thing visitors see when they come to your website. What does it say about you or about your business? It’s a good idea to use large, eye-catching images on your homepage, as long as they first and foremost tell your visitors what you are all about.
*Tip: Using Wix, you can add a beautiful animated gallery that tells a whole story without taking too much space. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you with that.
Spotlight 3d set this eye popping picture as the background for their site
Engage
The images you use need to move website visitors in some way, including your website background. Parris Whittingham, founder of Parris Whittingham Studio, describes his favorite pictures as those that “Give”: the ones that invoke a state of emotion. That is the true value of a great image.
*Tip: Think of the action you want website visitors to perform on your site – donate, subscribe, share, register, purchase, bookmark, etc. – and try to envision a picture that motivates to this very act.
Keys Of Change use beautiful and moving images to promote their charity
Energize!
Choose active over passive images – ones that have the power to make your product, message, or individuality crackle with energy and inspire your site visitors. Active photos are typically sharp rather than blurry and have a vital and vibrant color scheme. Using active images throughout your site will grab your visitors’ attention and make them want to see more. You can even find some great free stock photos on sites like Pexels and Pixabay.
*Tip: If you want to add a slideshow to a website, avoid using all the images at your disposal. Filter them for those that are active.
Beach Chic Photography showcase their inspiring work
Faces vs. objects
Humans are social creatures, and you can instantaneously connect with site visitors using an image of the human face. Nevertheless, don’t be afraid to crop or use detail to emphasize what’s important. Objects can send powerful messages and keep your pages visually interesting.
Of course, when you promote products or designs on your website, presenting objects in an appealing way is one of the most important tasks in your website design process. That doesn’t mean you don’t need to use images of humans at all. A facial expression can help you in those places on your site where you wish to convey emotions or values.
*Tip: If you have an eCommerce website and want to display your products nicely, try using more than one image. You can show the product from different angles or add a photo of the product in use.
Jermaine Mcneal in an unforgettable photo for an unforgettable website
Customize
You may have found the perfect photo to add to your website and become disappointed if it doesn’t fit as well as you imagined. No worries! You can use the Image Editor on the Wix website builder to edit and customize all images, whether they are Wix images or your own.
Cropping, enhancing, mirroring, brightening and many other options allow you to optimize your images and match them to the exact look and feel of your website.
Enrique Morales Catering display of mouthwatering Mexican food
Most importantly:
Don’t be afraid to be felt and heard! Resist the urge to choose generic, ‘safe’ images. No matter what type of site you have, let your personality shine through!
For text-heavy pages, use images to break up text. Visitors will appreciate the visual pauses.
Keep your website’s content fresh and lively by adding new images to your website every once in awhile.
(Thanks to Elizabeth Lapp, Curator at Shutterstock, Kate Lord, photo editor at the Wall Street Journal, and Parris Whittingham, founder of Parris Whittingham Studio, for your expert guidance!)