Image best practices for your HugoFox website
A striking website relies on visually engaging images—but only if those files are light, accessible and search-friendly. Follow these photography guidelines to keep your HugoFox pages fast, inclusive and looking their best.
1 Use high-quality, web-optimised images
Crisp pictures make your site feel professional, but oversized files slow it down. Aim for 1 500–2 500 px width for full-screen banners and compress each image below 500 KB (around 200 KB is ideal). Free tools let you drag-and-drop your pictures to shrink them without visible loss—click this link for TinyPNG, or click this link for Squoosh.
Tip: Avoid uploading RAW files straight from your camera. Resize and compress first, then upload through the Image block (Image upload guide).
2 Pick the right file format
-
JPEG/JPG – best for photographs: rich colour, small size.
-
PNG – ideal for graphics that need transparency, sharp logos or text overlays.
3 Rename files for SEO
Search engines read filenames. Swap “IMG_1234.JPG” for something descriptive like “aldershot-community-fayre-2025.jpg” before you upload. Clear names tell Google what the image shows and boost your ranking in Image Search (SEO checklist).
4 Watermark sensitive images
If you display client proofs, portfolio shots or paid downloads, protect them with a subtle watermark before uploading. Free batch watermark tools such as Watermarkly (click this link) let you do this quickly.
Note: HugoFox resizes images for display, but watermarks remain in place.
5 Keep aspect ratios consistent
Mixing portrait, landscape and square crops in a single gallery can make pages jumpy on mobile. Choose one or two ratios (for example 3 : 2 for landscapes and 4 : 5 for portraits) and stick to them. Consistency keeps your grid neat across every device (Responsive design overview).
6 Organise images logically
Inside the Media Library, create folders for each project or season—e.g. /weddings/summer-2025/ or /portraits/editorial-series-2/. Logical naming makes later edits faster and helps search engines crawl your site structure.
7 Monitor performance
After publishing, track how visitors interact with your galleries. Link Google Analytics to your HugoFox site (Analytics setup) and check:
-
Page-load times—large images may need further compression.
-
Gallery views and exits—are people scrolling or bouncing?
-
Top-performing images—reuse popular styles elsewhere.
8 Add captions for extra context
Captions sit just below an image and can boost engagement by up to 15 %. They’re optional, but a short line—“Craft fair stallholders setting up at dawn”—gives readers context and another SEO opportunity.
Conclusion
Great images tell your story, but optimised images keep your HugoFox website fast, accessible and easy to find—follow these best practices and enjoy the best of both worlds.
Need a hand? Our support team is here 24/7:
-
Email us at team@hugofox.com
-
Use the contact page
-
Silver or Gold customer? Call us on 01635 888 442