When a visitor lands on your website, the images tell them a great deal before they read a word. Photos of real people and real work suggest a real, reliable business. A generic image of smiling strangers in an office suggests the opposite, and many people have learned to spot it instantly.

The problem with stock photos

  • They look generic. The same images appear on countless websites, so they make your business look like everyone else.
  • They do not show your work. A stock photo cannot prove you can do the job.
  • They can feel insincere. Visitors notice when the people on a "team" page are not actually your team.
  • Licensing needs care. Using images without the right licence can cause legal trouble, so always check the terms.

What original photos do for you

Real photos show customers exactly who they will work with and what results to expect. They support your claims, make your brand distinctive, and help build the confidence that leads to enquiries. They also tend to work better in search and when shared on social media, because they are unique to you.

Which images matter most

  • A clear photo of you or your team, ideally at work.
  • Finished projects, products, or results, with a short note on each.
  • Your premises, vehicles, or equipment, if customers will see them.
  • Candid, in action moments that show how you work.

Getting good photos on a budget

A professional photographer is worth the investment for key images such as team portraits and a hero photo, but you can capture a lot yourself. Modern phone cameras are capable, and a few habits help: shoot in natural light, keep the background tidy, hold the phone steady, and take more shots than you need. Photograph your work as you go, so you build a library over time instead of scrambling at launch.

Prepare images for the web

Large photos slow a website down, so resize and compress them before uploading. Add descriptive alt text so the images are useful to visitors using screen readers, as we discuss in our post on website accessibility, and so search engines understand them.

When stock still makes sense

For a background texture, an abstract graphic, or an illustration of a concept you cannot photograph, stock can be fine. Just avoid using it to represent your team or your work. Our portfolio is built around real client work for exactly this reason, and if you would like help planning a photo or video shoot as part of a website, book a free consultation.