The Latest Photography Trends in Web Design

Photography is a key element of almost any website design. It often provides unique visual effects that cannot be achieved in any other way. Photography also has the power to convey a message, or a visual representation of a person or product.

As such, the way in which photography is implemented in website design is extremely important and can have a significant effect on its impact and effectiveness.

Overlapping Elements

A result of the brutalist design trend, overlapping photography elements have become popular for their unique feel and organised chaos.

While not strictly a great practice in user experience design, the trend can produce some stunning visual effects such as below, where the typography and photography play off of each other perfectly. This is especially effective in photo blogs or sites with primarily photographic content.

Cinematic Hero Sections

Cinematic hero sections are becoming more and more popular in web design. The trend is one whereby the hero section fills 100% of the width and height of the browser, immersing the user in a dramatic photographical experience which can have some excellent results in creating a visual impact.

The below example does so extremely effectively while combining effective typographical and navigation elements.

Blur effects

Blurred photography has once again found itself at the forefront of web design. This time, the use of such an effect is being executed with much more subtlety.

The effect is particularly useful in its ability to have legible text applied on top, without sacrificing a great deal of readability, as is so often the case when text is placed upon standard photography with no effects.

Monochrome Overlays

First made popular by Spotify, monochrome overlay effects add a unique dynamic to photography. It produces a very cohesive feel to the photo content and can have great results in carrying through brand elements and colors.

Another benefit of this trend is the ability to overlay text with a greater measure of readability; similar to the blurred photography trend. The example below implements this perfectly, combining descriptive photography with brand colors and unique typographical elements.

Minimal Photography

Minimal photography is becoming particularly popular in landing page design. It allows the focus to be cast solely on the product or work itself, reducing any visual noise or distraction that can occur in standard photographs.

It produces some particularly special effects when combined with muted background colors and minimal typography, such as in the example above.