A photo helps grab attention for your message and draws in the audience. Sometimes it can even tell the whole story. But don’t settle for the any-ole-photo-will-do philosophy. It’s better to have no photo than the wrong photo.
Here are some important considerations:
- Selectively use personal snapshots; they may not be good enough in lighting, composition, or clarity to make an impact.
- Reflect your audience? Not everyone is young, skinny, and white.
- Choose photos that feature people, places, actions, and colors in ways that elicit emotion and grab attention.
- Make sure the shot supports your message.
- Consider a visual metaphor to illustrate your point. For example, a storm cloud can represent trouble.
- Crop the photo thoughtfully. Don’t simply cut it to size for your layout. Think of the crop tool as an invisible frame that draws the eye toward the most important aspects of the photo and the message you want to convey.
For more advice on cropping, we find this article helpful.
