Good images make you look good!

They will enhance your content, make it more engaging and give people a real feel for who you are and what you do. Most importantly, photos give people a quick way to judge whether you are the right person for them. So choose wisely!

Navigating the world of digital images can be a bit tricky. From finding the right photos to understanding file formats and optimizing for web use, there’s a lot of things to keep in mind. SO let’s look at some practical tips for sourcing images, the different formats you might encounter, and how to optimize your visuals for better performance on your website. Let’s get started!

The Great Image Hunt

You’re writing a blog post, and suddenly you need the perfect image. Cue the stock photo safari:

Write an amazing blog post (go you!)
Realise it needs a snazzy image
Dive into the rabbit hole of stock photo websites
Spend way too long debating between slightly different photos of people pointing at computers
Find the perfect image… that costs more than your monthly coffee budget
Settle for a less-than-ideal but cheaper option
Upload and pretend you’re totally happy with your choice

Sound familiar? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there!

First rule: You can not use random photos off the internet!

You can not use Google to find images that are owned by somebody else. Super no, no! Other people’s images are protected by copyright, and there are legal consequences for using them without proper licensing or attribution. It undermines the integrity of your website. And you could be fined thousands of dollars.

Use reputable stock image websites

There are free ones available. I love Death to Stock, MorgueFile and Unsplash. If you have a budget, then IStock or Deposit Photos are a goldmine.

Create your own

Stock photos may seem like an easy solution for filling visual gaps on your website, but investing in custom images pays off in the long run. They will enhance your credibility, create a relatable and unique brand identity and help you just stand out. So grab that camera or hire a professional photographer—your website will thank you!

Image Formats: A Quick and Dirty Guide

Let’s break down the most common image formats you’ll encounter online:

JPG (or JPEG)

The all-rounder of the internet
Great for photographs
Loses some quality each time you save (so don’t overdo it!)

PNG

The superhero of transparency
Perfect for logos and graphics with clear edges
Larger file size than JPG, but better quality

GIF

The king of memes and simple animations
Limited colours, but small file size
Great for quick, looping animations

WebP

The new kid on the block
Smaller file sizes with good quality
Not supported by all browsers (yet), but gaining ground

Making Your Images Web-Friendly

Size Matters: Keep large, high-quality images between 60K and 100K. Smaller images should be 30K or less.
Alt Text is Your Friend: Always use alt text to describe your images. It’s good for accessibility and SEO!
Optimize, Optimize, Optimize: Use tools like Photoshop, GIMP, or online options like PicMonkey or Pixlr to shrink your file sizes without losing too much quality.

Speed is Key

Remember, most people will wait about 3 seconds for a website to load on desktop, and 5 seconds on mobile. Don’t let chunky images slow you down!

Pro Tip: Thumbnails

Make your thumbnail file sizes as small as possible. They’re just appetizers – save the main course for when people click through!

The Bottom Line

Choosing and optimizing images for your website doesn’t have to be a headache. With a little know-how and the right tools, you can have a visually stunning site that loads faster than you can say “cheese!”

Remember, the perfect image is out there – and now you know how to make it shine online. Happy image hunting, folks!

P.S. Want to dive deeper into product photography? Check out this great article on how bad product photos might be costing you sales. It’s eye-opening stuff!

What You Need to Know About Website Images