The reason I use images more than illustrations in my designs is simple.
In my experience, websites with real human photos convert far better than those with illustrations.
People connect with people. Seeing a face builds trust and relatability, and these are the two things that matter a lot when someone is deciding whether to take action on your site.
itโs not just my two cents, research backs this up.
For example, VWO ran an A/B test for Medalia Art, a platform that sells Brazilian and Caribbean art. They swapped out paintings for photos of the artists, and the results were wild. The conversion rate jumped from 8.8% to 17.2%. Thatโs a 95% increase just by showing real faces.
Another VWO user, Jason Thompson, ran a similar test on his blogโs contact section. He replaced a generic icon with his own photo, and conversions went up by 48%.
Sometimes, all it takes is showing people youโre real.
Other studies say the same thing. Websites with photos or videos of real humans tend to build more trust and feel more credible. Even just adding a face to a low-trust site can make it more trustworthy.
Now Iโm not saying you should ditch illustrations completely. Theyโre amazing for global brands or when youโre trying to communicate across multiple cultures at once. But if your goal is to build trust and connection, donโt underestimate the power of a human face.
Every morning is a blank page. Write something worth reading. Start today with courage. You may not see results yet, but your consistency is building momentum. Keep pushing, it's working.