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Imagery: Photographs or Illustrations

Photographs or Illustrations?

Deciding between using a photograph or an illustration can be a tough decision. Both photographs and illustrations have their positives and negatives, one is not better than the other, making it that much harder to decide which to use. Photographs and illustrations can be used to send the same message, but there are some cases when one is more effective than the other.

Photographs

Pros

  • There are many stock photo websites that provide either free or purchasable license for stock photos.
  • Photographers can be hired to create a series of custom photographs to suit your needs.
  • Using photographs of people or a product can make it more relatable for viewers.

Cons

  • Many stock photos are generic to cater to a larger audience
  • It can be hard and time-consuming to find GREAT stock photos
  • Custom photography can be very expensive and time-consuming

Illustrations

Pros

  • There are a number of resources to find sets of free or purchasable illustrations.
  • Illustrations can be as simple or complex as you want, this is most useful when you have a limited color options like a two color limit.
  • Illustrators can be hired to create custom illustrations to suit your needs.

Cons

  • Illustration sets available online are generic to cater to a larger audience.
  • Custom illustrations can be expensive, but the cost depends on the style and detail of the illustration.
  • Illustrations can be harder to match, you don't want to use a square Facebook icon and a circle twitter icon, this is why its important to find a set of illustrations.

When to use Which

Use photographs when you...

  1. Can use full color (although it is possible to use photographs without full color).
  2. Have a large budget for either stock photos or to hire a photographer.
  3. Are advertising a product.

Use illustrations when you...

  1. Have limited color options. 
  2. Have content that can be given to viewers using icons or simple illustrations.
  3. Are creating something to be used in multiple sizes or mediums, Vector illustrations are easy to scale small to large. 

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