When people come to featureworld to sell a story, one of the first things we ask them is, what photos do they have.

When photos are the story…

For many, our question will be the first time they have thought of photos – but if you are looking for the best deal, then they are vitally important. In fact, without the appropriate photos, some people’s stories will sadly not be saleable.

The reason is good photos can sell your story – or make an unsaleable story become saleable. And a photo – or a series of photos – can also be THE story.

Such an example is this one on the front page of the Sunday People newspaper. A series of quite shocking photos showing Nigella Lawson with husband Charles Saatchi, allegedly in a bust up.

Quite how the photos came about, we can only guess. The restaurant where the pair were snapped looking as if they were having a very nasty row – at one point Saatchi puts his hands around his wife’s throat and in another pushes her nose – is somewhere it appears they regularly dine.

Apparently they usually choose the same table, so it’s possible a celebrity pap photographer was in the restaurant at the same time, knowing they might be there and hoping for a snap. Perhaps the row was brewing and someone at the restaurant that night alerted a photographer. Or they could have been taken by a fellow diner – mobile phones take excellent photos these days and are of course very discreet –  who has since placed them with a photo agency to sell.

We note they are copyright to Jean-Paul, a much respected celebrity, PR and Press photographer.

However they came about, the fact there is a series of photos showing how the row escalated and even showing Nigella afterwards running to a taxi looking very upset, biting her lip as if she is going to cry, means although there is copy to go with the photos, no words are really necessary.

The photos tell the story themselves.

What will happen in this particular story – how Nigella picks herself up after this and whether she and her husband can come back after such a public display – remains to be seen. But the photographer who owns these photos will certainly be extremely busy as these pictures will sell all round the world.

They are exactly why when you want to sell your story, it is worth digging around in your attic for the photos to go with it. While you might not be a celebrity, the truth is a good photo truly is worth a thousand words – or more.

Find out more about selling a photo and copyright issues:

Sell My Photo – a quick guide

Sell Your Story – the process.

Sell a Story – making your story more appealing to editors

Read the Sunday People’s exclusive scoop on Nigella Lawson here.