Your website might have all the bells and whistles, but still fail to make a lasting impression. While it looks aesthetically pleasing, the wrong visual choices can make a brand feel distant or forgettable.

One major factor to consider is your website images. Abstract visuals can still have that attention-grabbing quality, but there’s nothing better at establishing trust with potential customers quite like images of real people.

Find out why people images work so well to build trust and connection, and learn about ways to incorporate them effectively.

What Makes People Images Feel Trustworthy

We’re naturally drawn to what’s familiar, so seeing a fellow human face makes a website feel more personal in a sea of text and graphics.

Data backs this up, too. Stanford’s Web Credibility Project created its guidelines based on three years of research involving more than 4,500 people. Among its top recommendations for a credible website is to showcase the people working behind the scenes.

Here are a few reasons why people images make for a more trustworthy website:

● Create a human connection: People form impressions from faces, including whether someone feels relatable, which affects how they perceive your site’s trustworthiness.
● Put your claims into context: Showing how your team actually works in the workplace supports what your website says about your business.
● Supplement your message: Relevant people images can reinforce what visitors are reading on your site, rather than leaving them with walls of text and graphic filler.
● Build familiarity: Featuring the same team members in multiple places shows consistency and reinforces familiarity as visitors go through your website.

Simply adding images of people won’t equate to trust, however. Nielsen’s eye-tracking research showed that visitors tend to overlook decorative or generic images of people but pay more attention to real people who actually work at the company.

Stock images can still be useful when you need ready-to-use images or when you’re on a limited budget, but using actual photos of your team, workplace, and customers offers undeniable value for strengthening trust.

People Images vs. Abstract Visuals: When to Use Them

Abstract visuals can be shapes, illustrations, graphics, icons, effects, stylized charts, and even digital artworks, which all have their place on a website. People images provide more concrete, human relatability to show customers who they’re doing business with.

Each serves a different purpose in web design. Here’s when to use them.

People images:

● Introducing your team
● Showing your workplace and operations
● Highlighting customer experiences (like reviewer profiles)
● Showcasing your products and services in action
● Putting a face to your brand

Abstract visuals:

● Supporting your brand identity
● Representing broad concepts
● Adding visual interest to pages
● Breaking up text-heavy sections
● Illustrating ideas that are hard to photograph

There’s nothing wrong with either approach. What matters is knowing which visual to use to properly support or give context to the message you’re trying to convey.

Tips to Use People Images Effectively

People images add credibility and a pop of personality to your website, but the photos still need to make sense within the page for them to work.

Here are ways to use people images the right way:

● Use real team members when possible
● Choose relevant settings that reflect your work
● Show people using your products and services
● Feature real customers with their permission
● Match the image style to your overall brand identity

Again, context matters. While casual and naturally expressive photos can look more authentic, a polished environment may be more appropriate for professional businesses like law and accounting firms.

Want a More Trustworthy Website? Begin With B

People images have the power to make your website more trustworthy. But choosing which photos to use on a page and using them effectively alongside other visual elements takes a lot of thought. Every web design element should support your message and give visitors a reason to trust your business.

As a Calgary web design and development agency, Begin With B creates professional websites that bring design, content, and your brand together. Whether you need a new website or want to improve your current one to make it more relatable, our team can help you create a site that represents your business.

Reach out today, and let’s create a website that makes a genuine connection.