Untitled Forbidden!
By Jerry Palmerino
24 December 2007
A good title is like a bow on a gift. It ties it all together. A photo deserves a unique, thought provoking title. In many ways, the title is just as important as the subject matter or the composition.
Titles can bring clarity to a work, evoke thoughts of content not featured within your photo, and can deliver the punch-line of a good joke all at the same time. With some thought, a title can become more important than the photo itself. At the very least, a good title has the ability to enhance a photo that may otherwise be a discard.
Here are some aspects to consider when thinking about your title:
- What is unique about your photo?
- Does this photo conjure up thoughts of something unrelated, yet describes the subject of the photo well?
- Is there anything missing in the photo that could be added back in by the use of a good title?
- Draw on pop culture references to give your photo instant recognition.
- Perhaps there is a mistake in the photo...something in the background that ruins the composition. Use it to your advantage with a catchy title!
- At all costs, resist the urge to name your photo "Untitled."
- Embrace unconventional thoughts in much the same way you embrace the unconventional for your photos. These ideas lend themselves nicely to titles.
With these aspects in mind, re-examine your photos. Go ahead...re-envision your photos and give them a fresh perspective with a clever title! I encourage you to challenge yourself. Make it a rule that you will not be happy with your photos unless you have a good title to go along with each of them. While this is not always practical, attempt it. You may find yourself getting complimented on your unique point of view in more ways than one!
More Post-Processing Stories
More stories by Jerry Palmerino
Thanks for letting us know!
Thanks for voicing your concerns. Rest assured, we take it seriously. We'll look into it and take any appropriate action.
