Web 2012 at Penn State

Images are crucial to a great website but often web managers have no training in selecting or editing photos. What is the difference in a good photo and one that wows? Are your photos truly telling the story of your organization? How do we best use professional photographers, stock photography, staff photos and user-generated content? Taught by a content strategist trained in photojournalism, this session will help you answer the above questions and discover what is most attractive to users based on eye-tracking research. We will discuss how to avoid the pitfalls that lead to problematic photos on websites. Photos on mobile devices will also be addressed. You will be sure to walk away with practical suggestions to cultivate better photography on your website. Resources for further learning will be provided. Note: This session will not cover details of the use of photo editing software. Instead it will focus on the decision making process and cultivating better content.

Experience Level:
Beginner - Assumes no prior knowledge of topic.

Prerequisite Knowledge:
None required.

Skills/Knowledge Gained:

• Understand the difference between a good and a great photo
• Improve use of stock photography, photography professionals, staff photos and user content (when to use, problems to avoid)
• Make sure your photos tell the message of your organization 
• What is most attractive to website viewers based on eye-tracking research
• Avoid common pitfalls that lead a website to look less professional
• Understand photo issues on mobile devices
• Resources for further learning.