diff --git a/frontend/index.html b/frontend/index.html
index 831f366..6642ade 100644
--- a/frontend/index.html
+++ b/frontend/index.html
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@
       content="Kirche Einfach — KI-gestützte Verwaltungsplattform für Kirche"
     />
     <title>Kirche Einfach</title>
+    <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.svg" type="image/svg+xml" />
+    <link rel="icon" href="/favicon-32x32.png" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" />
+    <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png" />
+    <link rel="manifest" href="/site.webmanifest" />
     <script>
       try {
         var s = localStorage.getItem("kirche-color-scheme");
diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index 5781b8b..a28983a 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@
     "dev": "vite",
     "build": "tsc -b && vite build",
     "preview": "vite preview",
-    "screenshots": "node scripts/capture.mjs"
+    "screenshots": "node scripts/capture.mjs",
+    "icons": "node scripts/icons.mjs"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@mantine/core": "^9.6.1",
diff --git a/frontend/public/apple-touch-icon.png b/frontend/public/apple-touch-icon.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3969b9
Binary files /dev/null and b/frontend/public/apple-touch-icon.png differ
diff --git a/frontend/public/favicon-32x32.png b/frontend/public/favicon-32x32.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2a8f550
Binary files /dev/null and b/frontend/public/favicon-32x32.png differ
diff --git a/frontend/public/favicon.svg b/frontend/public/favicon.svg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ac95567
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/public/favicon.svg
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64">
+  <style>
+    .bg { fill: #1d4a79; }
+    .fg { fill: #ffffff; }
+    @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
+      .bg { fill: #356fae; }
+    }
+  </style>
+  <rect class="bg" x="4" y="4" width="56" height="56" rx="14"/>
+  <!-- tower -->
+  <rect class="fg" x="26" y="22" width="12" height="28"/>
+  <!-- spire -->
+  <path class="fg" d="M32 8 L40 22 H24 Z"/>
+  <!-- cross -->
+  <rect class="fg" x="31.2" y="2.5" width="1.6" height="6"/>
+  <rect class="fg" x="29.4" y="4" width="5.2" height="1.6"/>
+  <!-- nave -->
+  <rect class="fg" x="14" y="36" width="12" height="14"/>
+  <path class="fg" d="M12 36 L20 28 L28 36 Z"/>
+  <!-- door knockout -->
+  <path class="bg" d="M29 50 v-5 a3 3 0 0 1 6 0 v5 Z"/>
+</svg>
diff --git a/frontend/public/icon-192.png b/frontend/public/icon-192.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8eb9c15
Binary files /dev/null and b/frontend/public/icon-192.png differ
diff --git a/frontend/public/icon-512.png b/frontend/public/icon-512.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..02d8724
Binary files /dev/null and b/frontend/public/icon-512.png differ
diff --git a/frontend/public/photos/SOURCES.md b/frontend/public/photos/SOURCES.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..06855d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/public/photos/SOURCES.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Landing-page photo sources
+
+All files in this directory are self-hosted (no hotlinking, no tracking).
+Licensed for free use including commercial purposes, no attribution
+required (Pexels License). Re-fetch any time:
+
+    docker compose exec api /opt/venv/bin/python \
+        /srv/kirche-einfach/frontend/scripts/fetch-photos.py
+
+Rejected during visual review (do NOT re-add without checking):
+US-megachurch conference screens, dark baroque interior, pandemic masks,
+Dutch-language documents.
+
+| File                   | Motif                          | Source |
+| ---------------------- | ------------------------------ | ------ |
+| hero-church.webp       | Stone church tower, blue sky   | https://www.pexels.com/photo/historic-church-with-bell-tower-in-germany-31630127/ |
+| church-pews.webp       | Bright empty pews, checkerboard| https://www.pexels.com/photo/church-pews-7566207/ |
+| paperwork-desk.webp    | Desk with stamps and forms     | https://www.pexels.com/photo/desk-with-documents-and-stamps-18687845/ |
+| team-laptop.webp       | Team collaborating at laptop   | https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-team-looking-at-a-laptop-7793702/ |
diff --git a/frontend/public/photos/church-pews.webp b/frontend/public/photos/church-pews.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ec96c5
Binary files /dev/null and b/frontend/public/photos/church-pews.webp differ
diff --git a/frontend/public/photos/hero-church.webp b/frontend/public/photos/hero-church.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..34bd964
Binary files /dev/null and b/frontend/public/photos/hero-church.webp differ
diff --git a/frontend/public/photos/paperwork-desk.webp b/frontend/public/photos/paperwork-desk.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4650cce
Binary files /dev/null and b/frontend/public/photos/paperwork-desk.webp differ
diff --git a/frontend/public/photos/team-laptop.webp b/frontend/public/photos/team-laptop.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8811110
Binary files /dev/null and b/frontend/public/photos/team-laptop.webp differ
diff --git a/frontend/public/screenshots/hero-light.png b/frontend/public/screenshots/hero-light.png
index b3b8418..2924425 100644
Binary files a/frontend/public/screenshots/hero-light.png and b/frontend/public/screenshots/hero-light.png differ
diff --git a/frontend/public/site.webmanifest b/frontend/public/site.webmanifest
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b69a1c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/public/site.webmanifest
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+{
+  "name": "Kirche Einfach",
+  "short_name": "Kirche",
+  "description": "KI-gestützte Verwaltungsplattform für Kirche",
+  "start_url": "/",
+  "display": "standalone",
+  "background_color": "#ffffff",
+  "theme_color": "#1d4a79",
+  "icons": [
+    {
+      "src": "/icon-192.png",
+      "sizes": "192x192",
+      "type": "image/png"
+    },
+    {
+      "src": "/icon-512.png",
+      "sizes": "512x512",
+      "type": "image/png",
+      "purpose": "any maskable"
+    }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/frontend/scripts/fetch-photos.py b/frontend/scripts/fetch-photos.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4156100
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/scripts/fetch-photos.py
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+"""Fetch landing-page photos (one-time + re-runnable).
+
+Downloads royalty-free originals (see SOURCES.md next to the photos),
+resizes to max 1600px wide and stores them as WebP q80 in
+frontend/public/photos/ (self-hosted: no hotlinking, no tracking).
+
+Run in the api container (has network + Pillow):
+    docker compose exec api /opt/venv/bin/python \\
+        /srv/kirche-einfach/frontend/scripts/fetch-photos.py
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import sys
+import urllib.request
+from io import BytesIO
+from pathlib import Path
+
+try:
+    from PIL import Image
+except ImportError:
+    sys.exit("Pillow required (present in the api image)")
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent.parent
+OUT = ROOT / "frontend" / "public" / "photos"
+
+
+def pexels(photo_id: int) -> str:
+    return (
+        f"https://images.pexels.com/photos/{photo_id}/"
+        f"pexels-photo-{photo_id}.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1600"
+    )
+
+
+PHOTOS = {
+    # target file -> (direct file URL, source page for SOURCES.md)
+    "hero-church.webp": (
+        pexels(31630127),
+        "https://www.pexels.com/photo/historic-church-with-bell-tower-in-germany-31630127/",
+    ),
+    "church-pews.webp": (
+        pexels(7566207),
+        "https://www.pexels.com/photo/church-pews-7566207/",
+    ),
+    "paperwork-desk.webp": (
+        pexels(18687845),
+        "https://www.pexels.com/photo/desk-with-documents-and-stamps-18687845/",
+    ),
+    "team-laptop.webp": (
+        pexels(7793702),
+        "https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-team-looking-at-a-laptop-7793702/",
+    ),
+}
+
+
+def fetch(url: str) -> bytes:
+    req = urllib.request.Request(url, headers={"User-Agent": "kirche-einfach/1.0"})
+    with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=120) as response:
+        return response.read()
+
+
+def main() -> None:
+    OUT.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    for filename, (url, _page) in PHOTOS.items():
+        raw = fetch(url)
+        with Image.open(BytesIO(raw)) as img:
+            img = img.convert("RGB")
+            if img.width > 1600:
+                img = img.resize(
+                    (1600, round(img.height * 1600 / img.width)), Image.LANCZOS
+                )
+            target = OUT / Path(filename).with_suffix(".webp").name
+            img.save(target, "WEBP", quality=80, method=6)
+            print(f"wrote {target} ({target.stat().st_size // 1024} KB)")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/frontend/scripts/icons.mjs b/frontend/scripts/icons.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7377455
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/scripts/icons.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+/* Generate favicon PNGs + manifest icons from favicon.svg (re-runnable).
+ *
+ * Usage (frontend container, Chromium already installed for screenshots):
+ *   npm run icons
+ *
+ * Renders the SVG at each target size (crisp native rasterization) into
+ * public/. apple-touch-icon keeps the solid kirchenblau background (iOS
+ * fills transparency black). The 512 icon doubles as maskable: the glyph
+ * stays inside the inner 80% safe zone.
+ */
+
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { join, dirname } from "node:path";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+import { chromium } from "playwright";
+
+const root = join(dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)), "..");
+const svg = readFileSync(join(root, "public", "favicon.svg"), "utf-8");
+const dataUrl = `data:image/svg+xml,${encodeURIComponent(svg)}`;
+
+const targets = [
+  ["favicon-32x32.png", 32],
+  ["apple-touch-icon.png", 180],
+  ["icon-192.png", 192],
+  ["icon-512.png", 512],
+];
+
+const browser = await chromium.launch();
+try {
+  const page = await browser.newPage();
+  for (const [file, size] of targets) {
+    await page.setViewportSize({ width: size, height: size });
+    await page.setContent(
+      `<body style="margin:0"><img src="${dataUrl}" width="${size}" height="${size}"/></body>`,
+    );
+    await page.locator("img").screenshot({
+      path: join(root, "public", file),
+      omitBackground: true,
+    });
+    console.log(`wrote public/${file}`);
+  }
+} finally {
+  await browser.close();
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/main.tsx b/frontend/src/main.tsx
index 41f6e8b..7256615 100644
--- a/frontend/src/main.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/main.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { createRoot } from "react-dom/client";
 import { BrowserRouter } from "react-router-dom";
 import { MantineProvider } from "@mantine/core";
 import "@mantine/core/styles.css";
+import "./photos.css";
 import App from "./App";
 import { colorSchemeManager, theme } from "./theme";
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/StartPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/StartPage.tsx
index 42b55f0..5bbe912 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/StartPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/StartPage.tsx
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@ import {
   Accordion,
   Anchor,
   Badge,
+  Box,
   Button,
   Card,
-  Grid,
+  Flex,
   Group,
   Image,
   List,
@@ -40,17 +41,23 @@ const benefits = [
   {
     icon: <IconFileText size={28} />,
     title: "In eigenen Worten",
-    text: "Mitarbeitende beschreiben Anliegen wie gewohnt — das System führt in verständlichen Schritten durch den Vorgang.",
+    text: "Mitarbeitende beschreiben Anliegen wie gewohnt — das System führt in verständlichen Schritten durch den Vorgang. Schluss mit Stempeln und Durchschlägen.",
+    photo: "/photos/paperwork-desk.webp",
+    alt: "Schreibtisch mit Stempeln und Formularen — so sieht es heute oft aus",
   },
   {
     icon: <IconSparkles size={28} />,
     title: "Regeln automatisch geprüft",
     text: "Schwellen, Zuständigkeiten und Abläufe prüft die Software selbst. Routine läuft durch, ohne dass jemand klicken muss.",
+    photo: "/photos/team-laptop.webp",
+    alt: "Team arbeitet gemeinsam am Laptop",
   },
   {
     icon: <IconUserCheck size={28} />,
     title: "Mensch nur wo nötig",
-    text: "Echte Entscheidungen landen mit allen Fakten bei der zuständigen Person — Freigabe oder Ablehnung inklusive Notiz.",
+    text: "Echte Entscheidungen landen mit allen Fakten bei der zuständigen Person — Freigabe oder Ablehnung inklusive Notiz. Für alles andere bleibt Zeit.",
+    photo: "/photos/church-pews.webp",
+    alt: "Ruhiger Kirchenraum mit leeren Bänken",
   },
 ];
 
@@ -96,30 +103,48 @@ export default function StartPage() {
   const { me } = useAuth();
   return (
     <Stack gap="xl">
-      {/* Hero */}
+      {/* Hero: text left, parish photo right */}
       <Card withBorder padding="xl" radius="lg">
-        <Badge mb="sm">Für Pfarrbüros und Kirchengemeinden</Badge>
-        <Title order={1} mb="sm">
-          Weniger Verwaltung. Mehr Zeit für Menschen.
-        </Title>
-        <Text size="lg" c="dimmed" mb="lg" maw={640}>
-          Kirche Einfach führt Mitarbeitende in eigenen Worten durch Vorgänge,
-          prüft Regeln automatisch und fragt Menschen nur, wo Urteil nötig
-          ist — lückenlos protokolliert.
-        </Text>
-        <Group>
-          <Button component={Link} to="/access" size="lg">
-            {CTA_LABEL}
-          </Button>
-          <Button component={Link} to="/login" size="lg" variant="light">
-            Zum Login
-          </Button>
-        </Group>
-        {me && (
-          <Text mt="md">
-            Angemeldet als <strong>{me.email}</strong> ({me.tenant_id}).
-          </Text>
-        )}
+        <Flex
+          direction={{ base: "column", md: "row" }}
+          gap="xl"
+          align="center"
+        >
+          <Box style={{ flex: 7 }}>
+            <Badge mb="sm">Für Pfarrbüros und Kirchengemeinden</Badge>
+            <Title order={1} mb="sm">
+              Weniger Verwaltung. Mehr Zeit für Menschen.
+            </Title>
+            <Text size="lg" c="dimmed" mb="lg">
+              Kirche Einfach führt Mitarbeitende in eigenen Worten durch
+              Vorgänge, prüft Regeln automatisch und fragt Menschen nur, wo
+              Urteil nötig ist — lückenlos protokolliert.
+            </Text>
+            <Group>
+              <Button component={Link} to="/access" size="lg">
+                {CTA_LABEL}
+              </Button>
+              <Button component={Link} to="/login" size="lg" variant="light">
+                Zum Login
+              </Button>
+            </Group>
+            {me && (
+              <Text mt="md">
+                Angemeldet als <strong>{me.email}</strong> ({me.tenant_id}).
+              </Text>
+            )}
+          </Box>
+          <Box style={{ flex: 5 }} w={{ base: "100%", md: "auto" }}>
+            <Image
+              src="/photos/hero-church.webp"
+              alt="Steinerner Kirchturm unter blauem Himmel"
+              radius="lg"
+              className="photo"
+              h={380}
+              fit="cover"
+            />
+          </Box>
+        </Flex>
       </Card>
 
       {/* Facts */}
@@ -136,24 +161,53 @@ export default function StartPage() {
         ))}
       </Group>
 
-      {/* Benefits */}
-      <Grid>
-        {benefits.map((b) => (
-          <Grid.Col key={b.title} span={{ base: 12, sm: 4 }}>
-            <Card withBorder padding="lg" h="100%">
-              <ThemeIcon size={48} radius="md" variant="light" mb="sm">
-                {b.icon}
-              </ThemeIcon>
-              <Title order={4} mb="xs">
-                {b.title}
-              </Title>
-              <Text size="sm" c="dimmed">
-                {b.text}
-              </Text>
-            </Card>
-          </Grid.Col>
-        ))}
-      </Grid>
+      {/* Benefits: alternating photo/text rows */}
+      {benefits.map((b, i) => {
+        const photo = (
+          <Box style={{ flex: 5 }} w={{ base: "100%", md: "auto" }}>
+            <Image
+              src={b.photo}
+              alt={b.alt}
+              radius="lg"
+              className="photo"
+              loading="lazy"
+              h={300}
+              fit="cover"
+            />
+          </Box>
+        );
+        const text = (
+          <Box style={{ flex: 7 }}>
+            <ThemeIcon size={48} radius="md" variant="light" mb="sm">
+              {b.icon}
+            </ThemeIcon>
+            <Title order={3} mb="xs">
+              {b.title}
+            </Title>
+            <Text c="dimmed">{b.text}</Text>
+          </Box>
+        );
+        return (
+          <Flex
+            key={b.title}
+            direction={{ base: "column", md: "row" }}
+            gap="xl"
+            align="center"
+          >
+            {i % 2 === 0 ? (
+              <>
+                {photo}
+                {text}
+              </>
+            ) : (
+              <>
+                {text}
+                {photo}
+              </>
+            )}
+          </Flex>
+        );
+      })}
 
       {/* Product visual */}
       <Card withBorder padding="lg" radius="lg">
@@ -168,6 +222,8 @@ export default function StartPage() {
           src="/screenshots/workflows-light.png"
           alt="Workflow-Formular in Kirche Einfach"
           radius="md"
+          className="photo"
+          loading="lazy"
           bd="1px solid var(--mantine-color-default-border)"
         />
       </Card>
diff --git a/frontend/src/photos.css b/frontend/src/photos.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6dbfdb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/photos.css
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+/* Photo treatment: gentle dimming in dark mode so bright photos do not
+ * glare against the slate surfaces. Applied via className="photo". */
+[data-mantine-color-scheme="dark"] .photo {
+  filter: brightness(0.9) saturate(0.95);
+}