Not a very nice image is it? Very blurry, you can’t really see what’s going on and it’s not nice to look at. Wouldn’t be a very nice picture to see the first time you come on to a website, would it? That’s where we come in.

Having the best photos for your website is a priority for you or anyone who works on your site. Photos that show the best aspects of what you offer are key to keeping a potential customer’s attention. So how do you know if your photos are good enough? There are three simple steps to finding out.

1. Are they relevant?

The biggest mistake that anyone can make is putting photos on their website that are not relevant. A lot of people, if designing the website themselves, will put a photo in just because it “looks pretty” It might look pretty but it won’t help catch people’s attention and sell your product/service if it is not relevant.

2. Are They Professional?

The second mistake people make is using photos that are taken by little Jimmy on the front counter with his new smartphone. This works okay for gallery images of the day-to-day running of the business where it’s not possible to set up and take photos of what’s happening, as this can take hours. But if it’s the main images of the website, like a banner or profile photo, then it needs to be done professionally. Professionals are able to come in and set up the environment so that they get the best photo possible, using the lighting, the conditions of the room, and even the weather. It might cost a little bit to get the photographer in but it’s worth it in the long run if the images convince a few customers to go with you.

3. Are They Eye-Catching?

So you’ve got the relevant photos for your site, done by the best professional that you could find. But there is still one more hurdle to get over. Are they eye-catching? You may think the photos that you have received are the best in the world, but they are not worth a cent if they don’t catch someone’s eye. Think of the best picture that you have seen lately. What caught your eye about it? Now, look at the photo you were planning on using as your banner image. Does it have the same effect? If not, then it’s back to the drawing board. Eye-catching images are what catch a customer’s attention first and keep them on the site.

So if you have those three ticked off, you’re ready to go with the photography on your website.

Need a bit of help with them? No problem. We here at Ireland Website Design employ an in-house photographer. If you require photography for your website or are simply looking for advice, feel free to contact our photographer Andy at his email address andy@irelandwebsitedesign and he will be happy to help you out.