A photo essay combines text and photographs to create a dominant impression of a subject, often suggesting the author’s main idea rather than stating it outright. As a visual document, a photo essay offers a powerful and refreshing opportunity to convey thoughts and emotions that might not easily be put into words and to present complex concepts in a way that readers can grasp almost intuitively.

Many reflective photo essays visually explore subjects that have spurred debate, seem misunderstood, or are relatively unknown to readers. Others are deeply personal, highlighting images and experiences intimately connected to the writer’s life. Writers might rely on published images from historical and contemporary sources or present original photographs. In either case, the pictures serve a central role in the author’s reflection because they contribute to the meaning of the document. Text and image play off each other to reinforce ideas and to clarify what the writer has to say. Readers are invited to draw their own conclusions from what they see, although the author typically uses the surrounding text to nudge them in a particular direction.