Cafe Image Credits and Alt Text: An Editing Workflow for First-Time Owners

Photos on a cafe website can convey the menu and the atmosphere of the space, but choosing an appealing image is only part of the editing process. Record where each photo came from, check the terms for using it, and write concise alt text that reflects the information it conveys. The steps below are designed to help a first-time site editor review images one at a time.

1. Decide what each photo needs to do

Start by choosing the page and location for the photo, then decide what visitors should learn from it. A hero image might show the atmosphere of the cafe; a menu image might show a drink or dessert that is actually served; and an information-page image might show the seating or customer area relevant to that page. Distinguishing an informative image from a decorative one makes it easier to decide what its alt text should do.

• Note the page and location where you plan to place the photo.
• Write one sentence describing what visitors need to learn from it.
• Check whether nearby text can convey the same information if the photo is unavailable.

**Hypothetical example:** A latte photo on a menu page may be an informative image that shows a drink. A small coffee-bean ornament beside a page heading may be decorative if it adds no information beyond the surrounding content.

2. Record the source and usage terms

After choosing a photo, record its source and the usage terms you checked rather than saving only the filename. Keep separate records for photos you took yourself, photos for which you have confirmed permission to use them, and images found through TalkTalkMySite’s licensed stock image search. Even when using stock search, check the terms that apply to the specific image and retain any records you need. Do not assume that appearing in search results automatically means an image can be used without restrictions in every medium or for every purpose.

• Record the image filename, source or provider, date checked, usage terms, and where it is published.
• Before publishing a photo taken or supplied by someone else, verify that you have permission and understand its terms.
• Read whether attribution is required and whether editing or commercial use is restricted.
• If the terms are unclear, hold the photo back and choose an alternative you took yourself or whose usage terms you have confirmed.

3. Check the image and its presentation in the editor

TalkTalkMySite supports visual editing of page image elements and licensed stock image and video search. After adding a photo in the editor, check that it appears on the intended page and in the intended location. Before saving, make sure cropping or resizing does not conceal the important content. If the photo’s meaning changes across screen sizes, or if cropping hides what it is meant to show, use another image or change its placement.

• Confirm the page and image element, then place the photo you selected.
• Use desktop and mobile previews to check that important details are not cropped out.
• Replace a photo before publishing if it is blurry or does not fit the content.
• Keep the source and usage-term record associated with the image file or a note about the page.

4. Write alt text that matches the information

Alt text conveys an image’s essential information when the image is unavailable or when someone uses assistive technology to navigate the page. Keep it concise and specific to the image’s purpose. Avoid phrases such as “photo” or “image,” keyword lists, and details that are not actually visible. Do not repeat information that nearby text already explains adequately.

• For an informative photo, describe the visible subject and any necessary context.
• If an image communicates a function, describe the function it serves.
• Handle decorative images so they do not repeat nearby text. If the editor has no decorative-image setting, avoid adding unnecessary descriptions and check which settings are supported.
• Do not treat alt text as a substitute for a visible caption or an image-credit notice.

**Hypothetical example:** For a photo on a cafe menu, “Iced latte” may be sufficient. If the foam or glass is important to help a customer choose, you could be more specific: “Iced latte with milk foam in a clear glass.” Do not add ingredients or features that are not visible in the actual photo.

5. Review both credits and accessibility before publishing

Preview the saved page and check each photo’s context, alt text, and source record again. If an image has been copied to multiple pages, check whether it serves the same purpose in each location. The same photo might explain a menu item in one place and be decorative in another, which can change what is appropriate for its alt text.

• Confirm that you can find the source and usage-term record for every image.
• Check that alt text matches both the actual photo and the purpose of the page.
• If you can review the page with a keyboard or assistive technology, check that images are not unnecessarily repeated and that important information is not missing.
• If you find an issue, edit the image element and preview the page again.

Limitations and a useful next step

Alt text does not grant permission to use an image, and adding a credit does not by itself prove that the terms of use have been met. Check the rights and attribution requirements for each stock image individually. The location of specific alt-text settings may vary with the editor’s layout, so confirm which options are available in the editor itself.

Next, choose one photo on your homepage and write down its source, usage terms, page location, and alt text. Once you have checked all four items, repeat the same review for the rest of your photos.