Hero photos to take first
The most important launch image is a wide, horizontal river photo that can work behind the homepage hero. Take it in landscape orientation with extra space around the edges so the text overlay does not fight with the image. A clean river scene, forest frame, or rock-and-water detail will work better than a crowded swimming photo.
Content photos that build trust
For a visitor-guide site, real context photos are better than dramatic postcard photos. The best images show what people need to understand: ground surface, riverbank, shade, water clarity, rough areas, nearby trees, and the general feeling of the place.
- Take at least one wide horizontal photo for every major page.
- Take a few vertical shots for social sharing, but keep the website images mostly horizontal.
- Avoid photos that encourage jumping, climbing into risky spots, trespassing, or crowding.
- Do not use photos of children or identifiable visitors without permission.
Nearby photos for internal linking
Nearby photos help the site feel broader than one swimming hole. A few real images from Miracle Beach, Saratoga Beach, Bear Creek Nature Park, Campbell River, and Comox Valley stops can support the day-trip and backup-plan pages.
These images also make the site easier to expand later into a stronger Vancouver Island outdoor guide cluster.
File names and alt text
Use descriptive image names instead of camera names. Good examples include oyster-river-potholes-clear-water.jpg, oyster-river-potholes-rock-pools.jpg, and bear-creek-nature-park-oyster-river.jpg.
Keep alt text simple and factual. Describe the image, not the keyword. For example: Clear water and smooth rock pools along the Oyster River on Vancouver Island.
Photos should help visitors plan
The best images for this site are not only pretty. They should show what the place feels like for a real visitor: water clarity, natural rock, shaded areas, general terrain, nearby forest, and the kind of footwear or caution that makes sense.
Avoid photos that make risky behaviour look like the main attraction. Strong destination photos can still be calm, beautiful, and responsible.