Side-By-Side Photos - Website Backgrounds Should be Consistent
January 11, 2011
When showing a group of photos, be sure the backgrounds are consistent. Practically speaking, if the backgrounds and/or photographic style changes from photo to photo on your website or portfolio (or even in a juried application), it does NOT look good.
For this post, I studied a variety of websites for example photos.
For this post, let's look at the Anthropologie "Cabinet of Curiosities page (shown to the left) since they have a wide range of small-scale 3-dimensional items. In the first example, the photographic images have an eclectic, stylized appearance, but notice that every photo has the same background of bleached, faded wood. The website works to pull the photos together as a group with identical backgrounds.
While the landing page for each category may be eclectic or have a stylized background, move to any other page of inventory on their website and you will see that every item is photographed on the same background. While not a solid color, it has a very muted, soft pattern. The background does not distract from the work. Each item is isolated. None of the photos confuse the customer with earrings hanging off of teacups, necklaces draped over plates, or pendants pinned on wrinkled fabric.
Each and every photo conforms to the general style of the website and clearly portrays the work. The photo portfolio creates a clear identity for the business with a consistent style.
Artists and craftspeople can learn a lot from major retailer websites and their professional merchandising schemes. Keep backgrounds and the style of photography consistent. Applications for shows, submissions to juried opportunities, or even the appearance of a website or online marketing should look like one cohesive identity with a clear emphasis on the work.
Go to any retail website, from Tiffany to Crate and Barrel. While they may have initial landing pages with multiple items offering mood, "warmth" or connection with their customer, when it comes to showing the merchandise, they don't confuse the customer.
Each item is shown without additional mood or clutter. Clarity about what they are "selling" is a top priority.
The same principle should apply to artists and makers. Mood, "warmth" and connection with your customer should be separated from the representation of the item.
I am not saying that you must adopt the retailers' style completely. What I am asking is ....... Have you separated your merchandising from the photographic representation of your work? Do your backgrounds present a cohesive body of work?
Stay tuned to see more backgrounds issues! Are there ways to break the rules of the graduated background with style and perfection?
Previous posts in the series Side-By-Side Comparisons of Different Photos:
Side-By-Side Photos - Clean or Complex Backgrounds?
Side-By-Side Photo Comparisons - Backgrounds with Texture or Pattern?
Side-By-Side Photo Comparisons: Colorful or Discordant?
Side-By-Side Comparisons of Different Photos: Black Hole or Super Sophisticated?
Side-By-Side comparisons of different photos - the graduated background. Stunning or stupefying?
Side-By-Side Comparisons of Different Photos - the white background. Trendy or Technique?
Are You Being Judged by the Style of Your Images?
The photographers are revealed!
This post was updated on February 5, 2022, to provide current links and update content.