Forum Moderators: not2easy
Most of the crispiness is usually done in image editing software. A lot of image manipulation, retracing, even redrawing some parts of an image.
It is impossible to explain all the techniques in one post though. Just look for photoshop tutorials, you might find something.
Another thing is image optimization. You got to use proper image formats for right things. Know when to use JPEG and when to use GIF. Watch out for compression levels.
There are really too many things to consider. Be more specific, maybe you will get a better answer.
As the post above explains you can do much to improve and enhance poor quality photos, but starting of with good 'uns helps...
But starting of with good 'uns helps
This is very true. Photoediting is secondary. The crisp images you see are probably professionally taken photos by someone who has a good understanding of lighting, depth of field, lenses and composition. There are many factors that contribute to a good photograph, not least a creative 'eye'. You can use software to manipulate and enhance but a bad photo will always be a bad photo, likewise for a good one. If you want to achieve this you could either learn about photography and experiment, purchase the images or hire a professional to take them for you.
I am no expert, but have had to 'crash course' my way through the basics of digital photography over the pash 3/4 months. It has been a steep but really rewarding experience. If you decide to do this you need a camera that will allow manual control of focus, apperture and shutter speed as a minimum. A 'point a shoot' is good for interesting subject matter, but getting the most from the mundane requires one with a little more oomph.
Once you have the image you are happy with there are ways to present it to make it more appealing. Adding borders can enhance the image and lift it off the page. Not ugly clouty frames you might find in an effects palette... but, for example, a simple 1px border can be effective. Many sites may twin this with white padding and a subtle drop shadow (a bit cliched but still looks good imo). knocking back the background using gaussian blur or opacity tools, or indeed removing the background alltogether can be a nice touch.
You could visit some of the stock photography sites and see how they have presented their images for inspiration.
You will need a camera with sync capabilities and a pair of strobes. This is the main difference between 'snap shot' images lit with an onboard flash and well lit images using external strobes.
