Photography & Media
What images to look for, what to avoid, and the types you'll need for the new MOWP site
What to look for
The strongest images show real human connection, not just food or logistics:
- People together. A volunteer handing a meal to a neighbor. Diners laughing at a community table. A staff member on a porch visit. These tell the story better than any copy.
- Candid over posed. Group photos and staged shots feel corporate. Moments caught naturally feel warm and real.
- Show the "why," not just the "what." A photo of a meal is fine. A photo of someone's face lighting up when that meal arrives is better.
What to avoid
- Generic stock photography.
- Low-resolution photos, especially for hero sections.
Types of images you'll need
Start gathering these now. Photography always takes longer than expected.
| Image type | What you need |
|---|---|
| Hero images | Large, high-quality, horizontal. At least 4-6 strong options to rotate across key pages (Home, Donate, Volunteer, Get Meals). |
| Card/thumbnail images | You'll need at least 20-30 for posts, cards, giving options, volunteer roles, etc. Try to make them contextual, but it's useful to have a handful that you can use with various content that might not have an obvious thumbnail choice. |
| Team headshots | Consistent style (background, lighting, framing) for the leadership page. |
| Location photos | Each dining center should have at least one representative image. |
| Testimonial portraits | If using real quotes, a photo of the person adds credibility and warmth. |
Image size reference
These are the ideal dimensions and file sizes for each image type. Photos straight from a camera or phone will typically need resizing and compression before upload (see Recommended Tools).
| Type | Dimensions | Ratio | Max size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero images | 1920 × 800px min | 16:9 or wider | 500KB | |
| Card thumbnails | ~800 × 600px | 4:3 | 200KB | |
| Location photos | ~1200 × 800px | 3:2 | 300KB | |
| Team headshots | ~600 × 600px | 1:1 (square) | 150KB | |
| Testimonial portraits | ~400 × 400px | 1:1 (square) | 100KB |
Video
If video is available for hero sections (especially the homepage), keep it short and ambient. No audio.