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Article on thinking about photos for your publication...
THINKING ABOUT PHOTOS
At some point in the creation of your manuscript the question of whether or not to use photos or pictures or illustrations will come up. Hopefully these following considerations will be useful in making that decision.
- PHOTOS OR NOT
- HOW MANY
- SIZE
- PLACEMENT
- B&W OR COLOR
PHOTOS OR NOT
The use of photos is many times dependent upon the subject matter of your book. In some instances photos are the reason for the book. Some authors may be so moved by the photos that they have that they build their entire book around them.
If you’re writing a memoir then photos are a must. If you’re selling a product or describing a process then photos can serve to show your product or perhaps visually explain the procedures involved. They are also great for graphically illustrating what it is that actually sets your product or service above the rest of the field.
HOW MANY
The number of photos that you use in your book should be dependent upon 2 factors.
The first being the complexity of your subject matter. How many photos will it take to fully get across what it is you want to communicate.
If it’s a memoir you want to be sure not to unconsciously leave anyone out. If it’s a photo essay concerning a subject that’s near and dear to your heart then you will need to take special care in not overstating your case. Page count and budget may help you decide on the number to be included.
Don’t forget that you will need to touch upon those images which best convey your subject. If any photo in question doesn’t just scream out to you to be included in your book then eliminate it. Less is more, in this instance.
In technical writing you want to be sure that the photos that you do include will add to rather than distract from the points you cover in the text.
The second factor would be, the amount of photos that you have to choose from. The more photos that you have to choose from, the better the chances are of finding the right photo.
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