Using Conceptual Images

When dealing with stock photography and design, there are several routes you can choose when selecting images to illustrate your idea. You can go for the run of the mill image, i.e. businessman on a cell phone. Or you can go another route and search for something much more conceptual to convey your point.

So let’s say the concept you are shooting for is business communication. If you go for the aforementioned businessman on a cell phone, you are playing it safe. Nothing will be misinterpreted and you will have an enormous selection of images to choose from.

On the other hand, this is such a common way to portray business communication that it might not have the impact that a more attention-grabbing image would have. It is a little more risky since your intended message may not be completely clear by the photo alone, but if it is intriguing enough it will lure your audience in and make them want to know your message.

Take a look at the images below. Watch them go from straight forward to uber-conceptual! It’s all in how you use them.