An intentional approach to selecting the best photo for the job

Before you go fishing for a photo you need for a specific marketing project...

...be intentional about the process.

When you receive a pile of photos after your photo session, it can be quite overwhelming. 

Overwhelming to the point that you don’t want to even open up the photo album and deal with them.

And I get it. 

But, a simple reframe of how you approach your image content will minimize your sense of visual overload and allow you the opportunity to truly maximize the value of the images staring right back at you. 

And here’s the trick:

Define a set of parameters regarding the type of photo you need BEFORE you open up your image content portfolio. 

This will create a much more intentional and purposeful approach to selecting the best photo option.

First, start with identifying the purpose of the photo. Is this for your website? A photo for a social post? Blog thumbnail image? Presentation slide, etc.?

Next, what is the emotional sentiment of the story or copy with which the image will compliment? Encouraging? Vulnerable? Inspiring? Enlightening and informative? Reflective?

Then, does the story call for you to engage in some type of activity in front of the camera? Do you need a photo speaking from the stage or virtually? Do you need to be working on your computer, phone or tablet? Should you be brainstorming an idea? Reflecting deeply to yourself? 

Finally, are there any technical requirements that this photo must possess? Will there be any additional text, graphics or clickable buttons placed over this image? Does the subject of the photo - you, your book, or another object - need to be justified to the left or right side of the photo? Does there need to be a lot of open space on the top of the photo? Does the image need to be horizontally or vertically oriented? 

Once you’ve laid out the specifics, then you open up your image portfolio and go fish!

But, before you drop your hook deep into the water, here’s another tip that can help expedite the photo selection process:

Don’t simply click on file names and open up the pictures one-by-one. That will take forever, and it will kill your momentum. 

Set up your folder view so that you can actually see the image thumbnails as you scroll through...and make the thumbnails as large as you can. That way, you can clearly see all the elements of the photo.  

Now, I use a Mac and one of the most valuable functions that I take advantage of every time I’m going fishing for an image is setting my folder view to Cover Flow:

This view allows me a chance to zip through a folder of hundreds of images in under a minute, while also giving me a clear view of each photo to see if it’s a fit for what I need. 

If you don’t have a Mac, and your folder browser doesn’t offer large image previews in the folder, I would suggest you upload your image portfolio to a cloud service such as Google Photos where you can view the full images on your screen.

Seeing the photos large is important because when you’re looking to satisfy your specific image requirements, you need to immediately get a sense of your facial expression and body language to determine whether or not the sentiments they convey compliments the story or copy, and it’s much harder to do when the photo is a tiny thumbnail.

The large photo preview is also beneficial when comparing 2-3 potential photos that are similar, but have subtle differences, so you can easily skip back and forth and see which one feels like the best fit.

At the end of the day, when you put in the effort to hyper-focus your search for a particular photo need, it will go a long way to helping you source an excellent choice. 

If you don’t set the initial parameters for yourself, you can end up falling down a rabbit hole of “what if’s” that will eventually wear you out to the point of just selecting any photo that kinda, sorta fits the bill.

And if you want to position yourself as the authority in your space of expertise, kinda, sorta is simply not good enough. 

Now, your turn…

How would you describe your process for selecting photos? What’s one word that comes to mind? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.