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Website Image Guidelines and Recommendations

  • Updated

Modern websites use images and photography to engage and attract visitors. The guidelines in this article will help you curate high-quality images to be used on your website

Image Technical Specifications

  • 2400 pixels wide or larger (larger, even upwards of 4000 px wide is great too)
    • Up to 4000px wide for large entrance or banner images 
    • Smaller images can still be used on interior page content or landing page content with smaller image requirements
  • Original images, do not crop or resize images
  • Wide shots with space around the subject will be the most flexible images
    • Images tightly zoomed in on the subject can be more difficult to use later
      image-guideline-wide-vs-zoom.jpg
  • Horizontal images preferred
    • Some vertical images can be used in interior page content of the site
      image-guideline-horizontal-vs-vertical.jpg
  • A quality image is more than the megapixels/size specifications.
  • A quality image has good, natural lighting
    image-guideline-lighting.jpg
  • A quality image has a strong subject focus
    image-guideline-focus.jpg
  • A quality image represents your school culture, mission or message.

Image Sets for Schools

A well-rounded image set would include:

  • A range of activities that involve
    • Student with student interaction
    • Student with faculty and staff interaction
      • Especially with classroom activities
    • Student with facility or technology interaction
  • A representation of all the grade levels or ages of your school 
  • A representation of the racial diversity of your school
  • A representation of the variety of extracurriculars or programs offered
    • Athletics, arts, clubs, and societies
  • Indoor and outdoor environments
  • Images focused on the emotion of the subjects
  • Images focused around an event or happening

Example Shot List:

  • Elementary and Early Education Level
    • Student(s) smiling, facing the camera
    • Student(s) engaged in an activity or learning, not facing the camera
    • Student(s) or Student(s) and Faculty engaged in music, art, P.E. and other key classes or subjects
    • Student(s) interacting with age-level facilities like playgrounds or learning spaces
  • Middle School Level
    • Student(s) engaged in an activity or learning, facing the camera
    • Student(s) engaged in an activity or learning, not facing the camera
    • Student(s) engaged in conversation or emotional connection with faculty or staff
    • Student(s) or Student(s) and Faculty engaged in other key classes or subjects for their level
    • Student(s) interacting with age-level facilities likely using technology
    • Student(s) engaging in extracurricular or social activities
  • High School Level
    • Student(s) engaged in an activity or learning, facing the camera
    • Student(s) engaged in an activity or learning, not facing the camera
    • Student(s) engaged in conversation or emotional connection with faculty or staff
    • Student(s) or Student(s) and Faculty engaged in other key classes or subjects for their level
    • Student(s) interacting with age-level facilities likely using technology
    • Student(s) engaging in the full range extracurricular activities 
      • Athletics
        • All seasons should be represented: Fall, Spring, Winter, Summer
        • Most sports should be represented, but not all levels of each sport
        • Highlight major athletic events like Championships or Homecoming
        • Highlight highly engaged student crowds or student encouragement of others
      • Arts
        • Vocal
        • Instrumental
        • Drama
        • Fine Arts (painting, ceramics, etc)
      • Clubs
        • Highlight clubs unique to your district 
        • Show a variety of clubs including competitive, curricular, societies, service, and social
        • Highlight major accomplishments, awards, or events
        • Highlight student and sponsor interaction
  • District Level
    • Showcase buildings or learning spaces that are unique or new 
    • Staff and faculty members interacting with each other
    • Events that engage the school or local community
    • Showcase administration working with other staff and students
    • Showcase any programs unique to your school
    • If you have an outdoor education program, highlight the variety of activities

Image Sets for Education Agencies or Organizations

A well-rounded image set would include:

  • A range of activities that involve
    • Co-worker interaction
    • Employee and customer interaction
    • Leadership and employee interaction
  • A representation of the racial and age diversity of your organization
  • A representation of the variety of programs offered
  • A representation of the services offered
  • Images focused on the emotion of the subjects
  • Images focused around an event or happening

Example Shot List:

  • Life and Culture
    • Employee(s) smiling, facing the camera
    • Employee(s) engaged in an activity, not facing the camera
    • Employee(s) engaged with each other in an activity
    • Showcase the work environment if it is new or updated
      • Shared workspace
      • Building exterior
      • Conference rooms
  • Programs
    • Employee(s) engaging with the customer directly
    • Employee(s) working outside of the office and in a learning environment
      • If possible, try to get student interaction but get permission before using images of the student.
    • Customer(s) engaged in a program or event
  • Services
    • Customer(s) using a service
    • Employee(s) engaged in a service
  • Events
    • Employee(s) or Leadership engaged in a presentation
    • Employee(s) or Leadership speaking at a conference
    • Employee(s) attending a conference
    • Employee(s) or Leadership hosting a conference
    • Employee(s) engaged in in-service activities
    • Employee(s) engaged in office activities
      • Wellness Activities
      • Office Lunches
      • Conference preparation activities

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