Sometimes you just can’t find the right photo to illustrate a story. But what if instead of looking a perfect, on-the-nose illustration, you took a “road less travelled” and looked for a less literal photo to enhance and interpret your story. And especially if your choice makes your audience think, you will make a deeper connection with them, too.
Susan says, “So often clients tell us they haven’t the time or the ability to find appropriate photos to add to their presentations. I say take a minute to ruminate on what you want your audience to take away from your story and approach photo selection through the backdoor. I see many stories hidden in plain sight within Lucia’s photo. Instead of thinking about this photo as an illustration for a story about children playing in a water fountain, what about going deeper. Of course this photo can illustrate stories about water: the many qualities and states of water, the many ways water gives pleasure, the magic connection between children and water, even extravagant water waste. This photo also adds impact to stories about children: their gifts of imagination, their playfulness, their curiosity, even how play helps children understand the world around them. It also comments on summer, hot days, cooling off. More abstractly this photo illustrates how public spaces can be used, or the mutable nature of water. Don’t say no to matching photos to your stories until you’ve given this off-the-nose approach.”
Lucia says, “The story here, for me, is about a different way of seeing things. Of course, we see a child playing in the water, but as a whole this photo can be seen as an abstract. Most of the frame is filled with white and only accented by bits of color. Some of that color is the figure of the boy barely visible in the midst of drops of water captured in mid splash.”
