Articles: photography

Photographs turn up here across very different pieces: a leaflet, a product catalogue, a wedding invitation, a disc cover. The question is always the same. Does this image add something, or is it only filling a gap.

One large photo or several small ones

On a small leaflet a single strong image usually works better than a row of thumbnails, because the eye knows where to go. Several photos make sense when you need to show a range or the stages of a job. A few checks help when you choose.

• Does it suit the business - stock photos are often recognisable and quietly weaken trust.
• Is there room for text - a calm patch of background can save the whole layout.
• Does it match the rest - images in one piece should share a mood and a kind of light.
• Is it honest - with before and after comparisons, exaggeration stops being believable very fast.

Why prints sometimes disappoint

The usual reason is simple: the photo was too small. Enlarging it adds no detail, because the detail was never in the file, so the printed edges look soft and blurred. The second reason is light. A screen glows while paper reflects, so dark shots come out darker still and subtle differences in tone can merge. Several articles explain what can be improved before printing, and when it is wiser to find another shot or take a new one.

You will also find ideas on mixing photography with images made by artificial intelligence, and on putting together a complete set of materials for a photographer - from the business card to a personalised memory stick handed over with the finished session.