Faces, logos or neither
Should Testimonials Have Customer Photos
A real face next to a quote makes it feel like a person said it. A stock face does the opposite, and a blurry crop from someone’s LinkedIn profile, used without asking, can cost you the customer. Whether to show a photo depends on who your customers are, what they agreed to and what you can honestly get. Answer five questions to choose the image treatment for your testimonials.
- Headshot, logo, video or no image
- Weighs consent, audience and what you hold
- Never a stock photo standing in for a customer
Decision helper
Which image should sit beside your testimonials?
Answer for one group of testimonials on one page.
The helper scores your answers in the browser. Nothing is stored or sent.
The problem, solved
Photo problems, and what StoryProof gives you instead
- Problem 1
Most customers never send a photo
The template has a circle for a face, and two out of ten quotes can fill it.
How StoryProof solves it
One collection link lets customers record a short video in the browser, which shows a real face with more context than a headshot.
- Problem 2
They will talk but not be seen
Some customers are happy to be quoted, but not to have their face on your site.
How StoryProof solves it
Audio notes play in widgets and on the Wall of Love, giving a real voice without a face.
- Problem 3
Half the cards have faces, half have blanks
A mixed grid makes the image-free quotes look second class, or invented.
How StoryProof solves it
You choose which approved testimonials go into each widget, so a face-led widget and a text-only widget can sit on different pages.
- Problem 4
We are not sure who agreed to a photo
Six months on, nobody remembers whether the photo was sent for the website or for an event badge.
How StoryProof solves it
Tags are on every plan, so tag each testimonial with the image permission you hold, and approve nothing until you know.
- Problem 5
We want faces up front, not a gallery
A full grid of headshots is heavy. The hero only needs a quick signal that real people use you.
How StoryProof solves it
StoryProof has layouts from walls and carousels to compact badges and avatar strips, so faces can be a small row rather than a whole section.
The four treatments compared
In StoryProof
Set up honest images with StoryProof
- 1
Ask for video when you want a face
The collection link offers video, audio and writing, so customers willing to be seen can record.
- 2
Record image permission as a tag
Tag each testimonial “photo ok”, “logo ok” or “name only” when you approve it.
- 3
Group by treatment in each widget
Build face-led and text-only widgets separately, so no grid has gaps.
- 4
Pick a layout that suits the image
A compact avatar row for a hero, a video layout for depth, a text grid where there are no faces.
What happens next: When a customer withdraws photo permission, swap their testimonial into a text-only widget rather than removing it altogether, if they are still happy to be quoted.
Before you start
Things to settle outside the helper
What this does not cover, and what to check on your side. Better to know now than after launch.
- 01
Ask for the photo, do not take it
Use a picture the customer sent for this purpose. A photo from their LinkedIn or company site was published for something else.
- 02
Never a stock face
A stock photo beside a real quote makes the quote look invented. No image is always better than a borrowed one.
- 03
Logos need permission too
Some companies forbid suppliers from using their logo. Check before showing one.
- 04
Sensitive sectors change the answer
In health, finance or anything personal, a face can reveal more than the customer intended. Default to no image there.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Short answers to what usually comes up next.
Do testimonials with photos convert better?
Many marketers believe a real face adds trust, but we have no figures to offer you. Test it on your own page if the decision matters.
Can we use a customer’s LinkedIn profile photo?
Ask first. The photo was shared for their profile, not for your marketing, and a customer who finds it on your site unannounced may withdraw the testimonial.
Is it fine to show initials in a coloured circle instead?
It is better than a stock face, but it adds little. A clean card with full name and role usually does the same job with less clutter.
Should the photo be professional?
It should be clear and well lit. A friendly phone photo is fine; a dark or tiny crop looks worse than no photo.
Still have a question? Ask the StoryProof team or book a demo.
Show real faces, or none at all
Collect video from customers happy to be seen, tag what each person agreed to, and keep every widget consistent.
Last updated 2026-11-06.