Often you dont know exactly what photo your looking for till you see it, sometimes that happens by accident.

What techniques do you use to help you find the correct image, or do you just stumble across it?

Do you think having input from other designers and photographers would help speed this process up?

For me it would be the theme of the website, if it's sports, sport images or photographs. Normally I think about this for awhile as to what I would like to use, if I can't find it, I start drawing.

Probably would speed up the process by consulting a designer or photographer. If you have a particular theme in mind wouldn't hurt for you to Google to see what others are doing with their website with your particular theme in mind, will give you some ideas.

Originally Posted by freed1

What techniques do you use to help you find the correct image, or do you just stumble across it?

Do you think having input from other designers and photographers would help speed this process up?

Brainstorming, "clustering" your thoughts on paper, thumbnail sketches, roughs, all help to figure out the entire look of a site before you ever go to the computer, including what kind of graphics and photos to use.

Clustering is one way of organizing your thoughts regarding the intent of the site, your target market, what feel you want it to have, how it's going to be used, and what content in words and images will convey that. Don't get too stuck on just the image part of that.

Certainly talking to other designers can help. Try to have at the very least some idea of intent and target market when you do, so they have something to base an opinion on, and be mindful of their backgrounds when considering their opinions. In the end, it's your site, and should be your ideas, even if inspired by those of others.

tim

Thanks, very helpful!