It takes a person only 0.05 seconds to form an opinion about a website. If a user doesn’t like what they see, they will leave. So your website needs to make an excellent first impression if you want users to stick around.
The best way to make a good first impression is to have eye-catching photos. Photos for business websites should grab users’ attention and create an attractive design. A quick photo edit can turn even boring stock photos into engaging images for your audience, keeping them on your website longer.
You don’t have to be an expert in design to edit photos to make them eye-catching since image editing tools make it easy. But, you’ll want to make sure you are following design best practices, or you could turn away users. Here are six common image editing mistakes to avoid when updating your website photos.
Editing Your Original Image File
Your first step when editing an image is to make a copy of your image file and save the original in a safe location. Then, make sure you open and work on the copy and not the original. These two steps will prevent you from destroying pixels and making irreversible changes to the original that you can’t undo.
Poor Cropping
Cropping your photos wrong can leave out the context that will make your photos more engaging. Poor cropping can also cause an image and its subject to look unattractive, turning away website visitors.
You can avoid cropping mistakes by cutting out only what is necessary. A good rule of thumb is to follow the rule of thirds to compose your image. Also, be aware of the different ways platforms display photos so you can crop your image to a size that looks great online.
Forgetting the Background
When editing, it can be easy to focus on making the subject of your photo look good and forget about the background. A poorly edited background can make your image look unfinished, confusing, and unprofessional. So be sure the changes you make to the subject are reflected in the background.
There are also times when you will want to remove things in the background to eliminate distractions. You can make an image transparent and add your own designs to get the exact look you want.
Not Calibrating Your Computer Before Editing
Settings on your computer or smartphone can make an image look different on your screen while editing than how it will look on a user’s device. So, to ensure your photo will look the same on other devices, configure your screen and monitors to standard settings.
Over-Editing Your Subject
It’s common for photo editors to whiten a model’s teeth and eyes and smooth skin to make the subject look better. But going overboard with these tools can cause the photo to look fake and unnatural. One trick to avoid this is to keep the original file open to help you find a balance when editing.
Unbalanced Colors and Contrast
Adding contrast to your photos can make them stand out, but too much contrast can cause your image to lose detail. Filters and color sliders can help you sharpen a picture and its colors so it pops but could also cause oversaturation. Make sure the colors and tone of your image still look natural and try to avoid extremes.
Avoid These Common Image Editing Mistakes and Improve Your Website
Understanding design best practices can help you avoid common image editing mistakes that could ruin your design. When formatting website photos, you need to take your time and pay close attention to detail. Pay particular attention that image colors and sizes, making them look good to your user.
Are you interested in more ways to improve your business’s website? Check out the digital marketing section of our website for more tips and guides.
