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
- Images tightly zoomed in on the subject can be more difficult to use later
- Horizontal images preferred
- Some vertical images can be used in interior page content of the site
- Some vertical images can be used in interior page content of the site
- A quality image is more than the megapixels/size specifications.
- A quality image has good, natural lighting
- A quality image has a strong subject focus
- 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
- Athletics
- 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