Photos shape the first impression of your website before anyone reads a word. The question I get asked most is whether stock photos are good enough.
Short answer: real photos almost always work better for a local business. Stock still has its place, though.
Why real photos win
When visitors see your actual team, your actual work and your actual space, they start to trust you. They can picture working with you. Stock photos of smiling models in a generic office don’t do that, and people recognize them quickly.
Where real photos matter most
- Your About page: show the people behind the business.
- Project or portfolio pages: show real results.
- Service pages: show the work being done.
- Your homepage hero: the first image sets the tone.
When stock photos are fine
- Background textures and abstract images.
- Blog headers about general topics.
- Filling a gap while you collect your own photos.
If you use stock, pick images that look natural, avoid the obvious clichés, and make sure you have the right licence.
How to get good photos without a big shoot
Use your phone well
Modern phones take great photos. Shoot in natural daylight, keep the camera steady, clean the lens and take more photos than you think you need.
Make a shot list
Write down what you need: a team photo, a few action shots, finished projects, your workspace. It turns a vague task into a quick one.
Capture work as it happens
Take before and after photos on every job. In a few months, you’ll have a real portfolio.
Book a short professional session
Even a short session with a local photographer can give you enough images for your whole website.
Prepare photos for the web
Large photo files slow your website down. Resize them before uploading and use modern formats where you can. I go through this in why your website is slow.
Also add short, descriptive alt text to each image. It helps people using screen readers and helps search engines understand your images. More on that in website accessibility basics.
Not sure which of your photos will work? Send them over and I’ll help you pick the strongest ones for your site.
