Image Sources and Alt Text for Architecture and Interiors: A First Editing Workflow

On an architecture or interior design site, images communicate important information about a space, including its scale, materials, and layout. If you handle image selection and alt text as separate tasks, it is easy to lose track of a source or paste a photo description without considering its purpose. For a first edit, follow one workflow from image selection through the published-page check.

1. Decide what each image is for

Before choosing a photo, note what visitors should learn from it. A lead image for a completed project might show the overall character of the space, while a close-up of a finish might show its texture or installation. A decorative background, by contrast, may not convey information about the page content.

• Record the page and section, such as “Residential renovation project” or “Kitchen finishes.”
• Classify each image as informational or decorative.
• Keep essential information in the page text so that it remains understandable without the image.

This distinction helps you decide whether alt text is needed and what it should say. If a project image represents an important case study, do not rely on a single alt-text sentence to carry all the information about it; explain key details in the page text as well.

2. Check the source and permitted use

Having a copy of a photo does not, by itself, confirm that you may use it on a website. First record whether it was taken by you, supplied by a photographer or client, or obtained as a licensed stock image. For supplied images, check that website publication and any intended editing are within the permitted scope. If that is unclear, hold the image back until you can confirm the terms.

TalkTalkMySite supports searching licensed stock images and videos. Even when you select a search result, check the usage conditions for that individual asset. Do not assume that every result has identical terms simply because the service provides a stock-search feature.

• Record a filename and source type, for example, `kitchen-project-01`, photographed by us.
• Check the provider’s information or the asset’s details for usage conditions.
• Check whether attribution is required and, if so, place it near the image.
• Do not publish an image on a public page if its use has not been confirmed.

3. Choose photos and check them in the actual layout

Choose an image that suits its purpose. For a project-page lead image, check whether the composition makes the space identifiable. For a material detail, make sure the relevant material features are visible. A photo that looks appealing can still be misleading if visitors could mistake it for an actual project. If you use a stock image as an example, place it apart from project photography or label it clearly.

Select the image in TalkTalkMySite’s visual editor and check its crop on desktop and mobile. If you use the opening-page hero slider, it can contain up to five images; review their order and the message each one conveys. Make sure the headline and description remain accurate as the images change.

4. Write alt text to match the image’s purpose

For an informational image, write a short, specific description that contributes to the surrounding context. Focus on visible features and the image’s role. Avoid repeating the title or body text unnecessarily, and do not add phrases such as “image” or “photo,” or a list of search terms.

• Hypothetical example—informational image: “U-shaped kitchen with oak cabinets and a white countertop.”
• Hypothetical example—finish detail: “Light gray terrazzo tiles on the floor beside a window.”
• Decorative image: If the image adds no information, check whether the editor lets you mark it as decorative. If you cannot find such a setting, do not assume that an empty alt value is supported; check the accessibility options that are actually available.

Alt text is not a field for listing every element in a photo. It should help a visitor who cannot see the image understand the purpose of the section. If a space name or project detail matters, include it in the body text or caption too.

5. Review before and after publishing

After saving, check the public page for the image, its crop, and whether its alt text was entered. If you can use a screen reader, listen to how the image description flows with the surrounding text. After replacing an image or duplicating a page, check again that the new image has not inherited old alt text.

• Is the source and permitted scope recorded?
• Is it clear whether the photo shows a real project or an illustrative example?
• Does the alt text explain the image’s role without duplicating the body text?
• Do the image and its description still make sense on mobile?
• If the image changed, did you update its source record and alt text too?

These checks do not provide legal assurance about image permissions or accessibility compliance, and they do not guarantee search rankings or increased visits. For your next step, choose one page to publish, make a table of each image’s source and alt text, and add only the images whose details you have confirmed to the editor.