You were probably never taught how to choose images for your website, yet it’s one of the easiest ways to make your website look polished and high-end. When people tell me their website looks “homemade” or “cheesy”, they often don’t know why it looks that way. And, the more they mess with it, the worse it gets. Most of the time, the answer isn’t the theme or the layout; it’s their images.
I realized this was something I was an expert at, but hadn’t even noticed until a recent workshop participant asked me why her images looked so bad. When I explained the problems with each of the images, she couldn’t believe how much it made sense and how simple the answers were. Once you understand how to choose images for your website, you’ll make better-looking pages your perceived value will instantly improve.
So, I taught it as a mini-lesson at my next tech tea party. And now, I’ll share a recap with you here.
Why Some Photos Look “Cheap” (and make your readers cringe)
Most “cheesy” or outdated-looking images have a few things in common:
- They’re overstaged
- They use brightly lit, artificial light
- They’re full of unnatural props
- They’re crowded with too many elements
- They’re shot in generic studio settings
- They’re full of fake smiles, exaggerated expressions, or silly poses
If this describes your images, take a breath and know you’re not alone. I’ve even used these awful images on some of my past websites. It takes a while to get the knack of finding high-end images.
The Three Rules for How to Choose Images for Your Website
These are the same rules we talked about in the workshop and in the tea party that cover how to choose images for your website. They make an instant difference in how your website feels and how people perceive your value.
Rule #1: Choose Images with Natural Poses
Nobody in the office ever cheers in front of the computer screen with their fists pumped and exaggerated smiles.
Find images of people in natural poses that seem like something you’d actually see in real life.
Rule #2: Choose Images with Natural Lighting
Natural light automatically looks softer, warmer, and more inviting. Taking it a step further in learning how to choose images for your website, think of where you’d feel the most trust for someone. Would it be in a brightly lit office building or a dimly lit restaurant, where you can feel personally connected? Dimly lit images automatically add trust and personal connection subliminally.
Rule #3: Choose Muted, Natural Color Palettes
High-end photos tend to use soft, subtle colors. Bright colors, white backgrounds, and blue tones make things feel “stock-photo-ish.”
As you can see, the right images can really make a big difference in how professional your site looks. And knowing how to choose images for your website can change the perception of your business right away.
Where to Find High-Quality Images (For every budget)
A question I always get is, “Where do I actually find good images?”
The good news is you don’t need to spend a lot on images if you understand how to spot good ones. Even on a budget, there are some great resources. Here are some of my favorites.
A great choice for web developers on a budget. This has become my go-to for just about every project. It’s a very affordable monthly subscription that gives you access to tons of graphics, vector files, photos, videos, icons, and AI. It’s unbelievable what’s included in a subscription.
A little more expensive, but the photos are nicer. I used to use them a lot.
Even better images for a bigger budget. (Pass the cost on to your client if possible)
High-end photos for the higher budget. (If I use these, the customer buys the photos separately)
How to Tell if an Image Fits Your Brand
If your brand is warm, down-to-earth, nurturing, or creative (like yours probably is if you’re reading this), then choose images for your website that feel:
- calm
- soft
- friendly
- inviting
- real
If your business is more bold, energetic, or modern, choose images that feel:
- clean
- spacious
- bright
- confident
Your visuals should support the mood you want people to feel the moment they land on your page.
When you learn how to choose images for your website that match the heart of your work, your whole website instantly feels more cohesive and more like you – even if you don’t change anything else.
A Tiny Action Step for Today
You don’t have to overhaul your whole website.
Just choose one photo that feels a little “off” and replace it with something soft, natural, and uncluttered.
One tiny change can shift the whole feeling of your website.
Want More Gentle Tech Help?
Every week, I offer a free Tech Tea Party where we learn one small, simple thing at a time – nothing overwhelming, nothing fast-paced.
Just a warm, friendly smile and someone to help you grow your tech skills each week as you gain confidence at building your own website.
Bring your tea.
Come as you are.
If you’d like to join us, you can sign up here.