A practical guide to optimizing your website’s appeal with stock photos

June 21, 2024 by

Brandon Duncan

A picture is worth a thousand words—so make sure yours speaks volumes! 

Stock photos are a fantastic resource for adding visual appeal to your website without the need for scheduling expensive and time-consuming photo shoots. They’re professionally shot, available for free (in most cases), and can be incredibly versatile. However, using them effectively requires a bit of know-how.

Here are five essential tips when choosing stock photos for your eCatholic website.
 

1

Prioritize high-quality images

High-quality images are important to making a good first impression. Blurry or pixelated images can make your website look unprofessional and detract from your message. Here’s how to ensure the stock photos you choose help leave a lasting impression.

Practical tips on image quality:

• Check pixel dimensions: When selecting stock photos, aim for high-resolution images. Ideally, 1920x1080 pixels is a preferred size for larger images, ensuring they’ll look sharp and clear on all devices, helping to reflect the beauty and clarity of your parish’s mission. As a guide, we include the recommended pixel dimensions for images under each image upload button in your specific eCatholic theme.
• Zoom In: Before downloading, zoom in on the image to check for clarity. If it looks blurry or pixelated when zoomed in, it's best to find a higher-quality option. Just as clarity in our mission is important, so is clarity in your visuals.
• Opt for more professional-looking photos: Choose well-lit and composed images. Think of these images as an extension of your parish's hospitality. Be sure to give an appropriate amount of time and thought into every image choice as you do the content on your page. What message do you want your images to convey to your visitors?

2

Showcase authentic community moments

Your images should resonate with your parish community and complement your content. Authentic photos help build trust and connection with your visitors, much like welcoming faces do at Sunday Mass.

Practical tips for more authentic images: 

• Match your content: Ensure images directly relate to the text or theme of your page. For example, use images of your parish gatherings for your event calendar or shots of your recent first Communion class under your religious education page. This will help your online visitors feel the genuine warmth and activity of parish life.
• Go for the natural look: Go for photos that look genuine and relatable. Think “real life moments,” not just stock photo actors pretending to be happy.
• Recruit volunteer photographers: Identify parishioners with an artistic eye and a knack for photography. Having someone or a ministry dedicated to capturing your parish’s most treasured moments will help you create a library of images for years to come.

3

Perfect your image sizes for every space

Images come in all shapes and sizes, but not all are suitable for your website. Using images with the right size and placing them correctly can significantly enhance your website's visual appeal and functionality, much like the sacred art that adorns your church sanctuary.

Practical image sizing tips: 

• Horizontal vs. Vertical: Use wide (horizontal) images for feature regions, headline sections and page headers, while reserving tall (vertical) images for blog posts and sidebars.
• Pay attention to file size: High resolution doesn’t always have to mean large file sizes. Compressing any images over 2000x2000 pixels will allow you to balance quality and loading speed. Tools like TinyPNG or Compress JPEG can help reduce file size without compromising quality while improving your website’s load time.

4

Maximize impact with strategic placement

With an eCatholic website, you have many options for where to place your photos. Choosing the correct placement can easily enhance visitors’ experience and visual appeal. It’s similar to the way sacristans arrange flowers on the altar – consider yourself the “digital sacristan,” ensuring the proper placement of images to make everything more beautiful and meaningful.

Practical placement tips: 

• Feature region: These are the large banners at the top of your homepage. Choose images that are wide and not too busy. The focus should be on a central subject that can accommodate text overlays.
• Be cautious with text on images:  Adding text directly to images can be tricky. It might get cut off between desktop and mobile views and isn't ADA-compliant. To make sure everyone can read your important messages, we recommend using the built-in image captions or the text overlay features provided in the feature region or headline sections of your eCatholic theme.
• Headline Section: The Headline Section on your eCatholic website allows you to add a background image with a text overlay. This section is perfect for highlighting important messages from the pastor (or bishop) or events from your parish. Use wider images here to ensure the background looks and fits perfectly behind your text.
• HTML/Text module: Break up long text blocks with images that add visual interest and support your message. This is a great way to keep your content engaging and visually appealing.
• Event calendar: Add more visual interest to your parish event calendar by including a relevant image to one or more events. This will help draw attention and more clicks!

5

Ensure legal use of all photos

Navigating the world of stock photos can be tricky these days, especially if you’re not a tech wizard or know quite what you should be looking for. It’s critical to make sure you have the proper license for your images. Most stock photo websites offer various licensing options—make sure you’re covered for commercial use if necessary.
 

Choosing the right stock photos doesn’t have to be overwhelming, but by following the tips we’ve provided, you can easily elevate your eCatholic website from good to great. Even with stock photos, you can create a visually appealing and welcoming online presence in no time, and let your parish’s personality shine through!

Did these tips help you? Let us know in the comments below and share any other tips that have helped you secure picture-perfect stock photos for your website.