diff --git a/templates/website/src/Footer/Component.tsx b/templates/website/src/Footer/Component.tsx
index cd4893764d..99aa1ccc49 100644
--- a/templates/website/src/Footer/Component.tsx
+++ b/templates/website/src/Footer/Component.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import type { Footer } from '@/payload-types'
 
 import { ThemeSelector } from '@/providers/Theme/ThemeSelector'
 import { CMSLink } from '@/components/Link'
+import { Logo } from '@/components/Logo/Logo'
 
 export async function Footer() {
   const footer: Footer = await getCachedGlobal('footer', 1)()
@@ -16,15 +17,7 @@ export async function Footer() {
     <footer className="border-t border-border bg-black dark:bg-card text-white">
       <div className="container py-8 gap-8 flex flex-col md:flex-row md:justify-between">
         <Link className="flex items-center" href="/">
-          <picture>
-            <img
-              alt="Payload Logo"
-              width={193}
-              height={43}
-              className="max-w-[6rem] invert-0 w-full"
-              src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/payloadcms/payload/main/packages/ui/src/assets/payload-logo-light.svg"
-            />
-          </picture>
+          <Logo />
         </Link>
 
         <div className="flex flex-col-reverse items-start md:flex-row gap-4 md:items-center">
diff --git a/templates/website/src/Header/Component.client.tsx b/templates/website/src/Header/Component.client.tsx
index 79b6d37298..b8c4edbf80 100644
--- a/templates/website/src/Header/Component.client.tsx
+++ b/templates/website/src/Header/Component.client.tsx
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ export const HeaderClient: React.FC<HeaderClientProps> = ({ header }) => {
     <header className="container relative z-20   " {...(theme ? { 'data-theme': theme } : {})}>
       <div className="py-8 border-b border-border flex justify-between">
         <Link href="/">
-          <Logo />
+          <Logo loading="eager" priority="high" />
         </Link>
         <HeaderNav header={header} />
       </div>
diff --git a/templates/website/src/app/(frontend)/[slug]/page.tsx b/templates/website/src/app/(frontend)/[slug]/page.tsx
index 8cf49b88e3..e5c0e85688 100644
--- a/templates/website/src/app/(frontend)/[slug]/page.tsx
+++ b/templates/website/src/app/(frontend)/[slug]/page.tsx
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ export async function generateStaticParams() {
     draft: false,
     limit: 1000,
     overrideAccess: false,
+    select: {
+      slug: true,
+    },
   })
 
   const params = pages.docs
diff --git a/templates/website/src/app/(frontend)/posts/[slug]/page.tsx b/templates/website/src/app/(frontend)/posts/[slug]/page.tsx
index e2c7cae366..b3d46f5095 100644
--- a/templates/website/src/app/(frontend)/posts/[slug]/page.tsx
+++ b/templates/website/src/app/(frontend)/posts/[slug]/page.tsx
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ export async function generateStaticParams() {
     draft: false,
     limit: 1000,
     overrideAccess: false,
+    select: {
+      slug: true,
+    },
   })
 
   const params = posts.docs.map(({ slug }) => {
diff --git a/templates/website/src/collections/Pages/index.ts b/templates/website/src/collections/Pages/index.ts
index f875cbfd57..d62d1adf10 100644
--- a/templates/website/src/collections/Pages/index.ts
+++ b/templates/website/src/collections/Pages/index.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,12 @@ export const Pages: CollectionConfig = {
     read: authenticatedOrPublished,
     update: authenticated,
   },
+  // This config controls what's populated by default when a page is referenced
+  // https://payloadcms.com/docs/queries/select#defaultpopulate-collection-config-property
+  defaultPopulate: {
+    title: true,
+    slug: true,
+  },
   admin: {
     defaultColumns: ['title', 'slug', 'updatedAt'],
     livePreview: {
diff --git a/templates/website/src/collections/Posts/index.ts b/templates/website/src/collections/Posts/index.ts
index d69b723075..50a19792ca 100644
--- a/templates/website/src/collections/Posts/index.ts
+++ b/templates/website/src/collections/Posts/index.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,17 @@ export const Posts: CollectionConfig = {
     read: authenticatedOrPublished,
     update: authenticated,
   },
+  // This config controls what's populated by default when a post is referenced
+  // https://payloadcms.com/docs/queries/select#defaultpopulate-collection-config-property
+  defaultPopulate: {
+    title: true,
+    slug: true,
+    categories: true,
+    meta: {
+      image: true,
+      description: true,
+    },
+  },
   admin: {
     defaultColumns: ['title', 'slug', 'updatedAt'],
     livePreview: {
diff --git a/templates/website/src/components/Card/index.tsx b/templates/website/src/components/Card/index.tsx
index 6277de2dfd..d99e2ee67d 100644
--- a/templates/website/src/components/Card/index.tsx
+++ b/templates/website/src/components/Card/index.tsx
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ export const Card: React.FC<{
     >
       <div className="relative w-full ">
         {!metaImage && <div className="">No image</div>}
-        {metaImage && typeof metaImage !== 'string' && <Media resource={metaImage} size="360px" />}
+        {metaImage && typeof metaImage !== 'string' && <Media resource={metaImage} size="33vw" />}
       </div>
       <div className="p-4">
         {showCategories && hasCategories && (
diff --git a/templates/website/src/components/Logo/Logo.tsx b/templates/website/src/components/Logo/Logo.tsx
index 7b90c2a615..a067e9df0f 100644
--- a/templates/website/src/components/Logo/Logo.tsx
+++ b/templates/website/src/components/Logo/Logo.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,26 @@
 import React from 'react'
 
-export const Logo = () => {
+interface Props {
+  className?: string
+  loading?: 'lazy' | 'eager'
+  priority?: 'auto' | 'high' | 'low'
+}
+
+export const Logo = (props: Props) => {
+  const { loading: loadingFromProps, priority: priorityFromProps } = props
+
+  const loading = loadingFromProps || 'lazy'
+  const priority = priorityFromProps || 'low'
+
   return (
     /* eslint-disable @next/next/no-img-element */
     <img
       alt="Payload Logo"
       width={193}
       height={43}
+      loading={loading}
+      fetchPriority={priority}
+      decoding="async"
       className="max-w-[9.375rem] invert dark:invert-0 w-full"
       src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/payloadcms/payload/main/packages/ui/src/assets/payload-logo-light.svg"
     />
diff --git a/templates/website/src/components/Media/ImageMedia/index.tsx b/templates/website/src/components/Media/ImageMedia/index.tsx
index 100f2ebd2a..cb847ddbc2 100644
--- a/templates/website/src/components/Media/ImageMedia/index.tsx
+++ b/templates/website/src/components/Media/ImageMedia/index.tsx
@@ -8,30 +8,27 @@ import React from 'react'
 
 import type { Props as MediaProps } from '../types'
 
-import cssVariables from '@/cssVariables'
+import { cssVariables } from '@/cssVariables'
 import { getClientSideURL } from '@/utilities/getURL'
 
 const { breakpoints } = cssVariables
 
 // A base64 encoded image to use as a placeholder while the image is loading
 const placeholderBlur =
-  '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'
+  'data:image/png;base64,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'
 
 export const ImageMedia: React.FC<MediaProps> = (props) => {
   const {
     alt: altFromProps,
     fill,
     imgClassName,
-    onClick,
-    onLoad: onLoadFromProps,
     priority,
     resource,
     size: sizeFromProps,
     src: srcFromProps,
+    loading: loadingFromProps,
   } = props
 
-  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = React.useState(true)
-
   let width: number | undefined
   let height: number | undefined
   let alt = altFromProps
@@ -53,33 +50,31 @@ export const ImageMedia: React.FC<MediaProps> = (props) => {
     src = `${getClientSideURL()}${url}`
   }
 
+  const loading = loadingFromProps || 'lazy'
+
   // NOTE: this is used by the browser to determine which image to download at different screen sizes
   const sizes = sizeFromProps
     ? sizeFromProps
     : Object.entries(breakpoints)
-        .map(([, value]) => `(max-width: ${value}px) ${value}px`)
+        .map(([, value]) => `(max-width: ${value}px) ${value * 2}w`)
         .join(', ')
 
   return (
-    <NextImage
-      alt={alt || ''}
-      className={cn(imgClassName)}
-      fill={fill}
-      height={!fill ? height : undefined}
-      onClick={onClick}
-      onLoad={() => {
-        setIsLoading(false)
-        if (typeof onLoadFromProps === 'function') {
-          onLoadFromProps()
-        }
-      }}
-      placeholder="blur"
-      blurDataURL={placeholderBlur}
-      priority={priority}
-      quality={90}
-      sizes={sizes}
-      src={src}
-      width={!fill ? width : undefined}
-    />
+    <picture>
+      <NextImage
+        alt={alt || ''}
+        className={cn(imgClassName)}
+        fill={fill}
+        height={!fill ? height : undefined}
+        placeholder="blur"
+        blurDataURL={placeholderBlur}
+        priority={priority}
+        quality={100}
+        loading={loading}
+        sizes={sizes}
+        src={src}
+        width={!fill ? width : undefined}
+      />
+    </picture>
   )
 }
diff --git a/templates/website/src/components/Media/types.ts b/templates/website/src/components/Media/types.ts
index 23224c20f1..3bd0b04b12 100644
--- a/templates/website/src/components/Media/types.ts
+++ b/templates/website/src/components/Media/types.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ export interface Props {
   imgClassName?: string
   onClick?: () => void
   onLoad?: () => void
+  loading?: 'lazy' | 'eager' // for NextImage only
   priority?: boolean // for NextImage only
   ref?: Ref<HTMLImageElement | HTMLVideoElement | null>
   resource?: MediaType | string | number // for Payload media
diff --git a/templates/website/src/cssVariables.js b/templates/website/src/cssVariables.js
index 55c9f8f03a..e29a2bcf73 100644
--- a/templates/website/src/cssVariables.js
+++ b/templates/website/src/cssVariables.js
@@ -1,19 +1,12 @@
-// Keep these in sync with the CSS variables in the `_css` directory
+// Keep these in sync with the CSS variables in your tailwind configuration
 
-const cssVariables = {
+export const cssVariables = {
   breakpoints: {
-    l: 1440,
-    m: 1024,
-    s: 768,
-  },
-  colors: {
-    base0: 'rgb(255, 255, 255)',
-    base100: 'rgb(235, 235, 235)',
-    base500: 'rgb(128, 128, 128)',
-    base850: 'rgb(34, 34, 34)',
-    base1000: 'rgb(0, 0, 0)',
-    error500: 'rgb(255, 111, 118)',
+    '3xl': 1920,
+    '2xl': 1536,
+    xl: 1280,
+    lg: 1024,
+    md: 768,
+    sm: 640,
   },
 }
-
-export default cssVariables
diff --git a/templates/website/src/endpoints/seed/home.ts b/templates/website/src/endpoints/seed/home.ts
index 47645e5169..09ce6e87cd 100644
--- a/templates/website/src/endpoints/seed/home.ts
+++ b/templates/website/src/endpoints/seed/home.ts
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ export const home: RequiredDataFromCollectionSlug<'pages'> = {
                     format: 0,
                     mode: 'normal',
                     style: '',
-                    text: 'here',
+                    text: 'on our Github',
                     version: 1,
                   },
                 ],
diff --git a/templates/website/src/endpoints/seed/image-hero1.webp b/templates/website/src/endpoints/seed/image-hero1.webp
index cb781f831b..9a9fa4fae5 100644
Binary files a/templates/website/src/endpoints/seed/image-hero1.webp and b/templates/website/src/endpoints/seed/image-hero1.webp differ
diff --git a/templates/website/src/heros/HighImpact/index.tsx b/templates/website/src/heros/HighImpact/index.tsx
index c98a0e33f8..16be4fb78d 100644
--- a/templates/website/src/heros/HighImpact/index.tsx
+++ b/templates/website/src/heros/HighImpact/index.tsx
@@ -38,10 +38,13 @@ export const HighImpactHero: React.FC<Page['hero']> = ({ links, media, richText
       </div>
       <div className="min-h-[80vh] select-none">
         {media && typeof media === 'object' && (
-          <React.Fragment>
-            <Media fill imgClassName="-z-10 object-cover" resource={media} />
-            {/* <div className="absolute pointer-events-none left-0 bottom-0 w-full h-1/2 bg-gradient-to-t from-black to-transparent" /> */}
-          </React.Fragment>
+          <Media
+            fill
+            imgClassName="-z-10 object-cover"
+            priority={false}
+            loading="lazy"
+            resource={media}
+          />
         )}
       </div>
     </div>
diff --git a/templates/website/src/utilities/generateMeta.ts b/templates/website/src/utilities/generateMeta.ts
index 20d3b3da60..f22c615527 100644
--- a/templates/website/src/utilities/generateMeta.ts
+++ b/templates/website/src/utilities/generateMeta.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ import type { Page, Post } from '../payload-types'
 import { mergeOpenGraph } from './mergeOpenGraph'
 import { getServerSideURL } from './getURL'
 
-export const generateMeta = async (args: { doc: Page | Post }): Promise<Metadata> => {
+export const generateMeta = async (args: {
+  doc: Partial<Page> | Partial<Post>
+}): Promise<Metadata> => {
   const { doc } = args || {}
 
   const ogImage =