Article · 8 min read

Photos as Web Content

Jakob Nielsen · Nielsen Norman Group Free Intermediate

Eye, tracking research showing that users scrutinize real, informative photos and completely ignore decorative stock imagery. This is the evidence behind our advice to use real photos or none. It will stop you from padding your screens with the same smiling, handshake stock shots that scream template.

  • Users study real product and people photos, and skip filler imagery
  • Stock, feel, good images add clutter without adding trust
  • If a photo carries no information, the screen is often better without it
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The question it answers

  1. How do I make a no-code app feel polished and trustworthy instead of looking like an obvious template?

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