Pictures speak a thousand words as the famous cliche’ goes, but for me, it takes a different meaning whenever I look at a potential place to visit or dine at especially for dinner date night options.
Why I do it
- Capturing the essence of the place.
When I look at reviews, the first thing I look for are pictures. I love being able to see what the place looks like beforehand. It’s like when you go visit a place for a vacation, you make a choice based on how the place looks like on top of the amenities offered. To me, appearance counts a lot. It’s like if you’re not comfortable going to a place because of what you see, why bother going right? Otherwise, be totally disappointed when you do go. I’ve walked out on some restaurants the minute I walk in because the written reviews were misleading and there were no proper pictures for reference to save me from the unnecessary trouble.
- It’s like getting acquainted with a new friend.
Having the ability to see a visual information of a restaurant before I go visit, this exclusively on date nights, is a big win. Pictures 90% of the time is the final factor of helping me decide whether I should choose the place or not. Reviews are so mixed, and don’t really include much visual information about the place. Like the saying goes, it’s good to put a “face” not just on a name but on a place people are talking about before you physically experience it.
- Avoiding Shocking Realizations
Going to a place “blindly” is not the most pleasant of experiences. I ended up in a wall on the hole “restaurant” for a date night one time and it ended up being a pretty awkward night to say the least. Reviews about their food were pretty good but it failed to mention that it was a very tiny place and no proper dining area. There were no pictures for reference. Their website was neither helpful. Never again.
- Peace of mind and assured feeling
Being able to see how the place looks like beforehand gives you a sense of peace and familiarity. And an assured feeling when you see that the place is exactly how it is represented in the photos attached to a review you read. An affirmation that you made the right decision choosing the place.
- A window inside the true appearance of the place
Pictures paint a visual image of a place that no other written reviews can. And though some pictures can be misleading too, nothing changes the fact that most of the factor that represents the place is visually incorporated. And if you’re traveling from far away lands, a picture is more than a thousand words, it becomes a window to the “soul” of that place! And giving you a virtual tour of that place in the comfort of your own home before you even physically step into it is, Priceless.
Pictures have helped me in so many ways, for travel, dining and all other reasons in between - this is why I share (obsessively, at times) my own take on a place, the way I perceive it - through my pictures whenever I can, so I can help others make wise decisions too.
What about you?