Using your own photos well

Your own real photos — of your team, your space, your products, your work — almost always outperform stock images on your website. People trust what's real. A genuine photo of you at your desk builds more credibility than any generic "professional in an office" stock photo.

You don't need expensive camera gear. A modern smartphone takes excellent photos for the web. What matters is what you photograph and how.

What photos to take

Start with the most impactful:

• Headshots. A clear, friendly photo of you, and of each team member. These go on your About page and build personal trust.
• Your workspace. Your office, studio, shop, or wherever your work happens. Shows you're real and established.
• You doing your work. "In action" shots — at a desk, in a meeting, using your tools. These feel authentic.
• Your products. If you sell physical goods, clean, well-lit product shots are essential.
• Client work or results. Before/after, completed projects, or outcomes (with permission from the client).

Tips for better smartphone photos

Use natural light

Natural light from a window is the most flattering for headshots and workspace photos. Position your subject facing the window (not with the window behind them — that creates a silhouette).

Avoid harsh direct sunlight and overhead fluorescent lighting, both of which create unflattering shadows.

Keep backgrounds simple

A cluttered background distracts from the subject. Stand in front of a plain wall, a tidy bookshelf, or an intentional workspace background. If your office is messy, tidy the area that will be in shot.

Shoot in landscape (horizontal) mode for most website uses

Websites are wider than they are tall. A landscape image fills a banner or hero area well. Portrait images (vertical) are used for some things — headshots, for example — but landscape is more versatile.

Get close enough

The most common mistake: not being close enough. Your subject (person, product, detail) should fill most of the frame. Leave a little breathing room around the edges, but don't make the subject tiny.

Shoot more than you think you need

Take 20 shots. Keep 3. You'll never regret having more options to choose from.

Clean your lens

Smartphone lenses get smudgy. A quick wipe on a soft cloth before shooting noticeably improves sharpness.

Consistency matters

If your About page has headshots in different styles — some professional studio shots, some casual outdoor shots, some blurry selfies — it looks inconsistent and unprofessional. Try to photograph all team members in the same location, lighting, and framing.

Preparing your photos for upload

Before uploading to your website:

Common questions

Related guides

• Image basics for your website
• Image sizes for the web
• How to compress images
• Alt text explained
• Organizing your brand assets