Finding photos for your solar panel website | Ultimate Guide

Find the best photos for your solar panel installation business with our guide. Learn all about where to get stock photos and AI-generated images

Updated:
February 6, 2023
Find the best photos for your solar panel installation business with our guide. Learn all about where to get stock photos and AI-generated images
Lucian Wu
Lucian Wu

Finding the right images to showcase your solar panel installation business is challenging.

High-quality photos are essential for attracting potential customers and building trust. However, finding suitable images is time-consuming and expensive. 

The good news is that there are tons of options for finding photos of solar panels on houses. This article will talk about your options, both free and paid. 

Benefits of using real-life photos of solar panels

Using real-life photos of solar panels on houses has several benefits. Firstly, it shows potential customers exactly what they can expect from your installation services. Real-life photos provide context and help to give a realistic representation of the size, placement, and overall look of the panels on a home. 

Secondly, using real-life photos helps to build trust with potential customers as it demonstrates your professionalism and attention to detail. Finally, real-life photos are more likely to be unique, making it easier for you to stand out from your competitors.

By showcasing real-life examples of your work, you can give potential customers a better idea of what your solar panel installation services can do for them. This can help to build confidence and trust, making it easier to close more sales and grow your business.

Free photos of solar panels:

Free stock image websites can be a real lifesaver for solar installation companies on a budget. The best part? They're totally free! Who doesn't love free stuff, right? But before you start downloading all the images you can get your hands on, let's talk about the pros and cons of using these websites.

The main advantage of using free stock images is, of course, the cost. You don't have to spend a single penny to access a large collection of images. If you just started your solar company, and you’re in need of just a few images, then these websites would be a great place to start.

Free stock photo websites may seem like a great deal at first, but there are some serious disadvantages to consider before you start downloading all the images you can find. Let's take a closer look at what you need to know.

First of all, there's the issue of uniqueness. Lots of other companies may have already used the same images you're about to download, which means your website might end up looking like every other website out there. Yawn! Nobody wants to be a copycat.

Let's be honest, we've all seen this image on other websites. It's everywhere.

Next up, the quality of the images can be hit or miss. You might get lucky and find some truly stunning images, but you might also end up with a blurry mess that looks like it was taken with a potato. The key is to keep your expectations low and your fingers crossed.

And let's not forget about the selection of images. Free stock photo websites have a lot of images, but they might not have exactly what you're looking for. It's like going to a restaurant and being told they're out of your favourite dish. Disappointing, right?

Finally, there's the issue of licensing. Some free stock photo websites have strict licensing agreements, which means you might not be able to use the images for commercial purposes. That's a real bummer if you're planning on using the images for your website.

Paid photos of solar panels:

Paid stock photo websites like the options above can be a great option for solar installation companies looking for high-quality, unique images for their website. But before you start throwing your money at the screen, let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of using a paid stock photo site.

Advantages:

Quality

Paid stock photo websites have a higher standard for the images they offer, which means you'll get a better selection of high-quality, professional images that will make your website stand out.

Uniqueness

You're less likely to run into the problem of using the same images as everyone else because paid stock photo sites have a larger selection of unique images.

Licensing

No more licensing headaches! Paid stock photo sites offer clear licensing agreements that allow you to use the images for commercial purposes without worrying about getting into trouble.

Disadvantages:

Cost

That's right, you'll have to actually pay for the images. No more free stuff! But hey, quality doesn't come cheap.

Limited selection. 

While paid stock photo sites have a larger selection of images than free sites, you still might not find exactly what you're looking for. It's like going to a fancy restaurant and finding out they're all out of lobster.

Resolution

You’re forced to choose your resolution at the point of purchase. This means you need to know exactly what size your implementation is going to be. 

Is it a wide background, or just a simple small-frame photo. You don’t want to be buying a higher-resolution photo than you need.

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Photos in Action vs static

Who wants a boring, static photo on their website when they can have an action-packed, dynamic masterpiece instead? That's right, adding action to a photo can give it life and context, making it more engaging for your website visitors.

Think about it: a photo of a solar panel installation might look great, but it's not exactly a nail-biting thriller. But if you add action, like a worker installing a panel or a family flipping the switch to turn on their newly installed solar system, then that’s something different.

Static Photo:

Photo in Action:

Action photos also help your website visitors better understand what your company does and what you offer. Instead of just seeing a photo of a solar panel, they can see the installation process in action and get a sense of what it's like to work with your company. And who doesn't like a good behind-the-scenes look, right?

But wait, there's more! Action photos also break up the monotony of a website filled with only static images. They add a little bit of excitement and energy, and keep your website visitors interested and engaged. It's like having a surprise party for your website visitors.

So, how do you add action to a photo? You can either stage a shot to capture the action you want or use video to really bring the action to life. Either way, make sure the action is relevant and adds value to your website. You don't want to add action just for the sake of it. That's like adding a mosh pit to a book club meeting.

Artificial Intelligence generated images

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come a long way in recent years and one of its most exciting applications is in the generation of images. With AI, you can create unique and visually appealing photos without needing to rely on a human photographer or artist. But, as with all things AI, there are pros and cons to consider.

One of the advantages of AI-generated images is that you can create something truly unique that's different from what you can find on stock photo websites. You can also generate images of things that might not even exist in the real world, like fantastical creatures or futuristic landscapes. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities for your website's visual content.

However, with AI-generated images, you have less control over the final result. You provide the AI with some inputs and guidelines, but the final image is generated by the algorithm, not by a human. This means that you might end up with something you didn't expect, or that doesn't quite fit with the look and feel of your website.

Here are a few options you can consider:

Dall-E 

Dall-E is an AI system created by OpenAI that can generate highly detailed and imaginative images from textual descriptions. It's like having a visual poet at your fingertips! 

I’ve found that the created images look more realistic and resemble photography, but there’s less room for creativity. 

Here’s the output we got from Dall-E:

Midjourney

Midjourney, on the other hand, creates much more visually stunning with great shadows and lighting. The images are better styled and appear stunning. 

The problem as of Feb 2023, is that some of the panels will never be in the locations you would expect on a roof. The lines showing panels are inconsistent and very rarely straight. Watch this space though, because it is changing really quickly. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, finding the right photos to showcase your solar panel installation business is key to attracting new customers and building trust. 

From free stock photo websites to artificial intelligence, there are plenty of options available to suit your needs and budget. 

By using real-life photos, you can give potential customers a clear and realistic representation of your services, helping to build confidence and credibility. 

Ultimately, the right photos can make all the difference in attracting new business and helping your solar panel installation company succeed.

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