Let’s talk about the importance of using good quality photos and some specific photos every church website should have.
Photo Quality Matters
What’s your first thought when you go to a website that has blurry, dark, over-exposed, or tiny pictures on it?
Eek!
It’s like wearing a stained t-shirt to a job interview. Poor images give visitors the impression that the people who are a part of the organization are either clueless or don’t care.
But what do you think when you see good, compelling photos on a website?
It shows a vibrant community of people who are full of life, care about people, and are inviting you to be a part of what they’re doing.
To put it bluntly:
Photos make or break a website.
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If you are the administrator of your website and you’re not sure whether the photos on your website are good quality or not, ask someone in your church who has an eye for photography or request a free website review.
Because there are specific things most church website visitors want to know about, there are specific photos every church website should include.
5 Photos Every Church Website Should Have
1) Outside of the church building with people.
People who are considering a first-time visit to worship with your church want to know what the outside of your church building looks like so they know what to look for when they visit.
Throughout our 30 years of doing church website design, the most common photo we see on church website homepages is a photo of the church building.
But, the outside of a church building by itself is boring and lifeless.
Remember… the church is the people!
So make sure there are people in the photo – people who are friendly, kind and engaging.
2) Worship service.
Potential visitors also want to see what the inside of your church building looks like DURING a weekend gathering.
They have questions on their mind like:
- How big is it?
- How formal is it?
- What are people wearing?
- What are they doing?
Whether they realize it or not, most people are looking to see if your church includes people like them – their ethnicity, their gender, their age, their style, etc.
3) Senior Pastor.
People are interested to know who the senior pastor is and what they look like.
Some pastors like to show photos of themselves that convey spiritual authority by showing them dressed formally or preaching, but most people want a pastor that understands them, is friendly and cares about people.
Consider this when taking or selecting a photo.
If you are church that is trying to reach families, consider showing a photo of the pastor with his family. If you are a church that wants to welcome new people, consider showing a photo of the pastor welcoming people at the front door. If you are a church that values engagement with the local community, consider showing a photo of the pastor serving or participating in an event at a community center.
4) Safe, Engaging Children’s ministry.
In 2022, Barna research found that 62% of churched parents said children’s ministry was very important when choosing their church. In fact, when asked which programs churches should prioritize, children’s ministry ranked first among parents and first among churchgoers overall.
What specifically are people looking for in a children’s ministry?
First and foremost, parents want their children to be safe.
Second, parents understand that their children aren’t going to learn about God and grow in their love for him if they are bored.
Therefore, it’s important to show that children in your church are safe and engaged.
Don’t cop out and show stock photos of happy kids. Parents want to see real children in your real church engaged with real adult teachers. (Make sure you get those photo release forms signed when you do this.)
5) Authentic Community.
Church is not supposed to be just a bunch of religious people who show up on Sunday morning out of religious obligation to perform their religious duty. A local church is supposed to be a community of people who love Jesus and love each other.
People who love each other spend time together, laugh together, help each other, and encourage one another.
It’s important to show the heart of your community through photos.
Take Action:
If some of the photos on your website are poor quality or your website doesn’t have some of the photos described above, commit to taking some good, new photos this week and get them on the website.
Website Design with a Trusted Guide
While reviewing your website, you may realize it needs more than just adding or replacing photos. If you’re thinking about a new website, consider our church website builder or our church website design service. We’d love to talk more and see what’s the best fit for your situation.
Complete the form below (mobile) or to the right (desktop) to schedule a discovery call.
Post a comment…
- Which of the 5 photos described above do you already have on your website? Which are you going to add?
Read more articles about Church Website Photography
Co-founder & CEO, OurChurch.Com
Paul has been the CEO of OurChurch.Com since its founding in 1996, combining his passion for faith and technology to lead the organization.
An accomplished writer, Paul has authored over 2,000 articles on faith and technology, featured on platforms like ChurchLeaders.com, The JoyFM, and his personal blog, LiveIntentionally.org.
Beyond his professional achievements, Paul serves as an elder at Journey Community Church and is deeply engaged in his community through his involvement with the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch and the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce. He is a contributing author of the book Outspoken! Conversations on Church Communication.
