Why Forced Photos Don’t Work for Social Media

If you write your social media content first and then try to capture a photo to pair with it, your excitement for creating that content will quickly fade.

Here’s why:

Once your copy is ready, and you want to publish it immediately, you’re forced to fabricate an activity just to get a photo. It’s something you don’t need or even want to do, all for the sake of having an image. Spoiler alert—it never turns out well.

This approach is a nightmare for me and a complete waste of time. It’s unsustainable and frustrating.

The Sustainable Solution: Building an Image Library

The best way to always have the right photo for your social media content is to take pictures as you go about your daily life. Build a library of authentic images, and when your post is ready, simply open your library and choose the perfect one. It’s like magic!

Here’s an example:
To make this post, I went to my image library and chose a photo I took previously while having fun with the girls. This picture, like many others in my library, shows that I live what I preach—you can capture great images on the go, using just your phone, without wasting time or forcing anything.

Had I waited until I finished writing this post to take a photo, I would probably end up like many of you—with a quick selfie or a random Canva graphic. But because I had my image library ready, I could focus on what mattered: the message.

Ready to Build Your Own Image Library?

When you're ready to have a library filled with images that are aligned with your message, so you can effortlessly create exciting content for social media, check out my 1:1 Mentorship or  Visual Messaging DIY online course. It’s easier than you think!