Illustrations and Photography: What Works Best For Your Campaign?

Now, in a 2025 world flooded with content, visuals are no longer a “nice-to-have”, they’re the very thing that makes people pause, click, scroll, or share.

With the release of illustrations on Ninthgrid within the past few weeks, we are proud to showcase a more diverse array of visuals - either photography images or illustrations to help our community further push their creativity and bring out the best campaign visuals suited for their goals.

Now, in a 2025 world flooded with content, visuals are no longer a “nice-to-have”, they’re the very thing that makes people pause, click, scroll, or share. Which now begs the question, for that upcoming campaign you have: should you use photography or illustrations?

Both have their strengths. Both can be stunning. But they serve different purposes depending on what your campaign is trying to say and how you want it to be remembered.

Let’s break it down in this article.

Now when it comes to photography, its real, relatable, and raw:

Photography works best when you want to tell a real life story. A single or multiple shots can capture emotion, context, and human connection in a way that instantly resonates. Think product shoots, brand storytelling, behind-the-scenes content, or campaigns that rely on people, places, and moments that feel grounded in reality.

You can use photography when you want to:

• Highlight real people and lifestyles

• Capture candid or documentary-style moments

• Showcase physical products or places

• Build trust through authenticity

• Reflect real-world diversity (especially with Afrocentric themes)

The key here is relatability. If your audience can see themselves in the image, they’re more likely to engage.

Now to Illustrations. One thing we love about them is they are flexible, conceptual, and fun

Illustrations open up a whole new visual playground. They allow you to represent abstract ideas, simplify complex topics, or add a playful and stylized vibe to your campaign. The beauty of illustrations is in their versatility, you’re not bound by what a camera can capture.

Illustrations are your best bet when you want to:

• Represent ideas or emotions (like mental health or finance)

• Visualize services that aren’t physical (tech, consulting, education)

• Reach a younger, more creative audience

• Emphasize brand tone with custom styles

• Stay consistent with visual themes across multiple assets

• Illustrations also allow for more inclusivity—you can visually represent people of different genders, body types, skin tones, and roles in a way that’s often easier (and cheaper) than organizing a full photoshoot.

So Which One Wins?

NONE!!!

Here’s the honest answer: neither is better, just different.

• If you’re a food brand showcasing your dishes, go for rich, textured photography.

• If you’re an edtech startup explaining how your platform works, use sharp, friendly illustrations.

• If you’re a mental health NGO raising awareness, use a mix of both to balance emotion with explanation.

The best campaigns often blend both mediums, layering realism with imagination to create compelling content that sticks.

And the best part, at Ninthgrid, you don’t have to choose. Whether you’re looking for Afrocentric photography that celebrates everyday life across Africa, or custom-style illustrations that fit your brand perfectly, we’ve got you. Explore our image bank here: www.ninthgrid.com