8 reasons why strong images matter to news articles

Hitting the headlines – The Herald

As a commercial photographer, the last 20 years have been filled with capturing moments in time that tell a story for a client. But even after all this time, there’s still something special that comes with seeing our imagery published in a news article.

It’s not just about blowing our own trumpet and showcasing our skills as a professional photographer; it’s about the power of visual storytelling in the media and the endorsement that the imagery is good enough to appear in print and online.

We recently received an email telling us that an article on The Herald’s website about Direct cremations: the good the bad and the ugly featured one of our photographs – (and actually credited me as the photographer).

Why is this interesting? Well, it’s rare for us to be credited when our commercial images are used – this is just something we’ve learned goes with the digital word that we live in. More often than not, images are stated as (“UGC” – user generated content or “supplied”).

I’ve learned to see past this because I can see the bigger picture (if you excuse the pun).

One of the most interesting aspects of this is the connection between the written word and visual storytelling. Newspapers are known for their ability to inform and engage readers through words, while photography adds depth, emotion, and context to the story.

When my images are chosen to complement an article, it’s a testament to their ability to convey a message and take beyond a flat article – in this case, show that Tim Purves of William Purves Funeral Directors really exists, is a really nice guy (which he is!) and helps to convey human emotion when talking about a subject that’s rarely (if ever) talked about – dying and death. 

The reach of newspapers is vast (and more so now with online readership and syndication of stories and articles across the UK and the world). Seeing photographs in print means it’s being shared with a wide audience, from avid readers to casual passersby.

From our perspective, it’s always interesting to see how our commercial images have been used by clients and how these help them tell their story and help them gain trust, recognition and profile in their given field. 

The use of strong commercial photography in a news article reaffirms the power of visuals in communication. It reminds that photography is not just about a moment; it’s about influencing and inspiring, and there’s nothing quite like seeing that come to life on the pages of an article.