World Photography Day – The Power of Pictures

The cliché says a picture paints a thousand words.  The truth is, it depends on the picture.

Mobile phone cameras may have turned everyone into a photographer, but while the quantity of images captured has infinitely multiplied, the quality level has not always followed suit.

World Photography Day provides a chance to celebrate the very best pictures.  It is also an opportunity to acknowledge that in our fast-paced world, where we are being bombarded with information of all kinds, an arresting image still grabs our attention.

This selection of pictures by KOR Communications’ photographers on behalf of clients shows that picture power is still a vital communications tool. 

Drone pilot Jake Newman’s aerial shots of the positive impact the river Otter beaver dams had during the 2022 drought tells a complex story in an instant. The joy on the faces of children discovering nature cannot fail to make you smile. 

From smart new homes to East Devon’s crumbling cliffs, and harvest in the summer sun to Scotland’s heather moorland, these images tell stories in seconds and help communicate the aims and ambitions of the client to the audience.

KOR Communications’ Commercial Director Guy Newman is an experienced photographer who worked for regional and national publications and now takes pictures for KOR’s commercial clients. He says pictures have never lost their power to instantly communicate on an emotional level.

“For that instant hit of emotion or understanding there’s no quicker way to get a message or a feeling across,” he said. “When you look at the best pictures you know immediately what they are saying.”

In commercial terms, when KOR’s clients need to grab the attention of a reader, whether on their own website, through social media or as part of a story in a newspaper or news website, pictures make the difference, Guy believes.

KOR’s Managing Director Annette Richman agrees – and says that images play a significant part in establishing the ethos and values of an organisation, whether that is a landed estate a developer, a charity or some other business.

“A good picture instantly reflects the brand, ethos and qualities of an organisation or its project,” she said.  “We put a lot of emphasis on words to explain a client’s message and values but actually a picture can capture that in an instant and encourage further engagement.”

Former Western Morning News Editor Philip Bowern, now a specialist content writer with KOR, said that a media release accompanied by great photography is vital to grab the attention of busy news professionals and earn all important coverage.

“Cost pressures on newspapers and news websites have meant cuts in the picture budget. The best PR firms have filled the gap, providing images to illustrate the stories that clients want to share,” he said. “Clients who invest in top quality photography, through their communications provider, stand a far better chance of getting the coverage they need.” 

KOR’s understanding of what makes a great image, whether for print or web, social media or mainstream media, makes the difference for clients – not just on World Photography Day, but every day.