diff --git a/assets/pasted-20251118-024426-e59dd4cc.jpg b/assets/pasted-20251118-024426-e59dd4cc.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a8833a4
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diff --git a/config/__pycache__/settings.cpython-311.pyc b/config/__pycache__/settings.cpython-311.pyc
index a3bee3f..5acb04e 100644
Binary files a/config/__pycache__/settings.cpython-311.pyc and b/config/__pycache__/settings.cpython-311.pyc differ
diff --git a/config/settings.py b/config/settings.py
index 7253f29..2301d78 100644
--- a/config/settings.py
+++ b/config/settings.py
@@ -144,7 +144,10 @@ USE_TZ = True
 # https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/5.2/howto/static-files/
 
 STATIC_URL = 'static/'
-STATIC_ROOT = BASE_DIR / 'static'
+STATIC_ROOT = BASE_DIR / 'staticfiles'
+STATICFILES_DIRS = [
+    BASE_DIR / 'assets',
+]
 
 # Email
 EMAIL_BACKEND = os.getenv(
diff --git a/static/css/custom.css b/static/css/custom.css
index 76143bc..2a01c49 100644
--- a/static/css/custom.css
+++ b/static/css/custom.css
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ body {
     position: relative;
     padding: 100px 0;
     text-align: center;
-    background-image: url('https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1506744038136-46273834b3fb');
+    background-image: url('../pasted-20251118-024426-e59dd4cc.jpg');
     background-size: cover;
     background-position: center;
     min-height: 100vh;
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ body {
     left: 0;
     right: 0;
     bottom: 0;
-    background: rgba(15, 52, 96, 0.7); /* Dark Blue overlay */
+    background: rgba(15, 52, 96, 0.6); /* Dark Blue overlay, slightly more transparent */
     z-index: 1;
 }
 
@@ -40,13 +40,15 @@ h1, .h1 {
     font-family: 'Poppins', sans-serif;
     font-weight: 700;
     color: #FFFFFF;
-    font-size: 3.5rem;
+    font-size: 3.8rem; /* Slightly larger */
     margin-bottom: 1rem;
+    text-shadow: 2px 2px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); /* Stylish shadow */
 }
 
 p.lead {
-    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
+    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); /* Brighter lead text */
     margin-bottom: 2rem;
+    text-shadow: 1px 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6); /* Subtle shadow */
 }
 
 /* Form Styles */
@@ -122,4 +124,4 @@ p.lead {
     margin-right: 0.5rem;
     margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
     font-size: 0.9rem;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/staticfiles/pasted-20251118-024426-e59dd4cc.jpg b/staticfiles/pasted-20251118-024426-e59dd4cc.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a8833a4
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