diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index be45696..889228f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@
 # production
 /build
 
-# sample images
+# Local Unsplash samples — never import these in app code.
+# Production deploy does a hard git reset, so gitignored files disappear
+# and `next build` fails with Module not found. Use public/images/placeholders/.
 /src/assets/images/samples/
 
 # misc
diff --git a/lib/samples.ts b/lib/samples.ts
index e5e3307..bb20f9a 100644
--- a/lib/samples.ts
+++ b/lib/samples.ts
@@ -1,30 +1,24 @@
-import type { StaticImageData } from "next/image";
-import bradenCollum from "@/src/assets/images/samples/braden-collum-9HI8UJMSdZA-unsplash.jpg";
-import fabioComparelli from "@/src/assets/images/samples/fabio-comparelli-uq2E2V4LhCY-unsplash.jpg";
-import glenJackson from "@/src/assets/images/samples/glen-jackson-mzZVGFfMOkA-unsplash.jpg";
-import henryXu from "@/src/assets/images/samples/henry-xu-0XHo26Jb8dk-unsplash.jpg";
-import jesseGardner from "@/src/assets/images/samples/jesse-gardner-wTVr4HR4SBI-unsplash.jpg";
-import jiscaLucia from "@/src/assets/images/samples/jisca-lucia-HVTVOWDKTCk-unsplash.jpg";
-import kevinSchmid from "@/src/assets/images/samples/kevin-schmid-AvEY5UPoJZM-unsplash.jpg";
-import paulGreen from "@/src/assets/images/samples/paul-green-gOHfFgwyDNM-unsplash.jpg";
-import phillipsJacobe from "@/src/assets/images/samples/phillips-jacobe-3Oq0jNYLp28-unsplash.jpg";
-import seanBenesh from "@/src/assets/images/samples/sean-benesh-VnmbcgAfL3Q-unsplash.jpg";
-import sylvainMauroux from "@/src/assets/images/samples/sylvain-mauroux-OIuzDRYA3cw-unsplash.jpg";
-import victorLarracuente from "@/src/assets/images/samples/victor-larracuente-JQfYGhUcDSg-unsplash.jpg";
+/**
+ * Placeholder art that lives in `public/` (tracked in git).
+ * Do not import files from `src/assets/images/samples/` — that folder is
+ * gitignored, so production checkout + `next build` would fail with
+ * "Module not found" even though a local disk still has the JPGs.
+ */
+const placeholder = (file: string) => `/images/placeholders/${file}`;
 
 export const samples = {
-  glenJackson,
-  henryXu,
-  jesseGardner,
-  jiscaLucia,
-  fabioComparelli,
-  sylvainMauroux,
-  phillipsJacobe,
-  paulGreen,
-  victorLarracuente,
-  seanBenesh,
-  kevinSchmid,
-  bradenCollum,
+  glenJackson: placeholder("slider-1.png"),
+  henryXu: placeholder("slider-2.png"),
+  jesseGardner: placeholder("slider-3.png"),
+  jiscaLucia: placeholder("slider-side-1.png"),
+  fabioComparelli: placeholder("slider-side-2.png"),
+  sylvainMauroux: placeholder("about.png"),
+  phillipsJacobe: placeholder("banner-4-1.png"),
+  paulGreen: placeholder("banner-4-2.png"),
+  victorLarracuente: placeholder("banner-4-3.png"),
+  seanBenesh: placeholder("banner-4-4.png"),
+  kevinSchmid: placeholder("banner-3-1.png"),
+  bradenCollum: placeholder("banner-3-2.png"),
 } as const;
 
-export const sampleList: StaticImageData[] = Object.values(samples);
+export const sampleList: string[] = Object.values(samples);