The internet is a visual medium - meaning the more pictures you have on your website, the better. Depending on whether you're using your site to market yourself, your services, a new product, etc., you'll want to hit upon the right "mix" of photographs to accompany the text and also (of course) ensure that those photographs are of the highest possible quality and look good whether they're being viewed on a computer monitor, tablet, or smart phone.
What Types of Pictures Should You Upload to Your Website?
Generally speaking, if the main thrust of your website is promotion and marketing (of yourself, your business, or your products), the photographs you use will fall into one of four categories:
- Headshots. These are important if you want potential customers to get a feel for who's behind your business, so they have a real, live person (or persons) to relate to. A headshot should be attractive, well-composed, and not overly "stodgy" since you want to come off as a likable person.
- Product shots. If you're selling something on your website, customers are going to want to see it from various angles and being used in various ways. You can never take too many shots of your product since you never know what uses (or poses) will resonate the best with customers.
- Event shots. If you are a partner in a law firm or some other small business, it always helps to show pictures of yourself accepting awards, attending charity functions, posing with your family at barbecues, etc. Once again, this establishes your real-life bona-fides and shows that you're a genuine person.
- Incidental shots. If you're a personal injury lawyer, a photograph of the aftermath of a car wreck can have a dramatic effect (but it shouldn't be so lurid that it repels clients). If you insure beachfront property, a panoramic photo of a beach house can also lend necessary weight to your website.
Remember that you shouldn't use any kind of photograph unless it advances the story you're trying to tell. Anything else is just wasted bandwidth!
Need to Post Photos to Your Site? Let Gearshift Help
At Gearshift, we have years of experience taking photos for our customers, including headshots, product shots, and the other varieties described above, and then incorporating them seamlessly into their websites. Call our photography experts today at 877-477-7883 to learn what we can do for you!
