Websites: what images to use?

What images should be used on a website? Even though those who use them often don’t pay much attention to photographs, in reality, together with the logo, accompanying image and graphics, they make up fundamental elements of the site. By underestimating the aspect of photographs, you will certainly risk compromising the potential of the entire website, thereby making yourself less competitive online.

If the budget allocated to images is not so great, you can choose from the so-called stock photographs, which consist of digital photographs created for commercial and/or creative use. These are available on specialised platforms, where images of all kinds can be purchased.

In order to select these photographs, it is sufficient to enter the name of the desired subject (for example, hilly landscape, telephone, etc.) and choose the result which best fits your means. Of course, in order to carry out a search properly, you need give vent to your imagination and use suitable key words, so as not to get lost in the sea of available options.

The main differences between photographs taken by a professional photographer and stock photographs lies in the fact that the former, as well as costing a good deal more, are also taken in accordance with the client’s requirements. The latter however, which cost between 30 and 50 euros on average, represent a sort of compromise between what you would like and what you can find online.

To make the right choice it is essential to focus on the style of the photo first of all, but also on its message (combined with the issue of copyright). Among the main points to be considered before purchasing stock photographs for your website should include:

• Image orientation (horizontal or vertical layout);
• Compatibility with colour range;
• Stylistic affinity between photos;
• Balance of text and photographs;
• Graphic suitability with responsive visualisation;
• Possible need to modify some images.

When choosing photographs to use on a website, it is essential to keep in mind the fact that those featuring people as their subject are usually more emotive. Their strong point is that they catch people’s attention better and transmit emotions of greater intensity. The choice of photographs depicting real people is often the right one.

Some sites offering stock images are:

• http://www.istockphoto.com/it
• https://it.fotolia.com/
• http://www.gettyimages.it/
• http://www.shutterstock.com/it/

Translated by Joanne Beckwith