--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's important to understand it's OK to…" description: "\"It's important to understand it's OK to control the subject. If most editorial stories were photographed just as they are, editors would end up throwin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/980/alfred-eisenstaedt-20057_baskets_it-s-important-to-understand-it-s-ok-to_2840076.jpg" --- # It's important to understand it's OK to control the… ![“It's important to understand it's OK to control the subject. If most editorial stories were photographed just as they are, editors would end up throwing most in the waste basket. You have to work hard at making an editorial picture. You need to re-stage things, rearrange things so that they work…” quote by Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/980/alfred-eisenstaedt-20057_baskets_it-s-important-to-understand-it-s-ok-to_2840076.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/980/alfred-eisenstaedt-20057_baskets_it-s-important-to-understand-it-s-ok-to_2840076.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/980/alfred-eisenstaedt-20057_baskets_it-s-important-to-understand-it-s-ok-to_2840076.jpg) > “It's important to understand it's OK to control the subject. If most editorial stories were photographed just as they are, editors would end up throwing most in the waste basket. You have to work hard at making an editorial picture. You need to re-stage things, rearrange things so that they work for the story, with truth and without lying.” [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Editorial photography requires intentional staging to convey truth without deceit, balancing artistic composition with factual integrity. **In simple terms:** Truthful storytelling may need crafted visuals. Key Takeaway Blend authenticity with purposeful design. Themes journalism art ethics Mood analytical reflective Type professional ethical When to use this quote - newsrooms - advertising - documentary work - media training Key Concepts visual narrative truthfulness Questions to Reflect On - When is it acceptable to alter a scene for story? - How do you ensure honesty in visual media? A Different Perspective Over‑staging can blur line between fact and fiction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [I'm at a stage in my career where I don't expect or get too much editorial input into what I'm doing. I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/i-m-at-a-stage-in-my-career-where-i-don-t-expect-or-get-too-much/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [What a newspaper needs in its news, in its headlines, and on its editorial page is terseness, humor, descriptive power, satire, originality, good literary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/what-a-newspaper-needs-in-its-news-in-its-headlines-and-on-its/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [I believe the publisher is a member of the editorial board, and I think his vote would matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-believe-the-publisher-is-a-member-of-the-editorial-board-and-i/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [All I can do is advocate changes at the BBC while respecting editorial independence upon which the success of the BBC rests. I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-hunt/all-i-can-do-is-advocate-changes-at-the-bbc-while-respecting/) [Jeremy Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-hunt/) > [You take a poll of any people. What is it they want? The right to write an editorial as you like? They want homes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/you-take-a-poll-of-any-people-what-is-it-they-want-the-right-to-write/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [ Much of the big media outlets in North America are owned by arms manufacturers, like Westinghouse, or G.E. \[General Electric\]. That's unacceptable. So we're… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-halliday/much-of-the-big-media-outlets-in-north-america-are-owned-by-arms/) Denis Halliday > [Curators are great, but they're inherently biased. Curators are always making an editorial decision. Those biases have really big implications.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-zuckerman/curators-are-great-but-they-re-inherently-biased-curators-are-always/) [Ethan Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-zuckerman/) > [And if you are somebody who needs to get a pat on the back for everything that you do, editorial is not for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryann-brandon/and-if-you-are-somebody-who-needs-to-get-a-pat-on-the-back-for/) [Maryann Brandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryann-brandon/) > [There were always plenty of newspapers in the house. 'The Times', 'Guardian', 'Daily Telegraph' and 'Daily Mail' were all regular fixtures on the coffee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-barber/there-were-always-plenty-of-newspapers-in-the-house-the-times/) [Lionel Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-barber/) > [The most important rule: Do not, I repeat, do not censor yourself in any way. Leave your editorial mind out of the loop. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/the-most-important-rule-do-not-i-repeat-do-not-censor-yourself-in-any/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [An illustration is a visual editorial - it's just as nuanced. Everything that goes into it is a call you make: every color, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-blow/an-illustration-is-a-visual-editorial-it-s-just-as-nuanced-everything/) [Charles M. Blow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-blow/) > [I think we need editorial oversight now more than ever. Anything we can do to help newspapers find new ways of expression that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-think-we-need-editorial-oversight-now-more-than-ever-anything-we/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Vanity Fair has but two major articles in its editorial creed: first, to believe in the progress and promise of American life, and, second,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-crowninshield/vanity-fair-has-but-two-major-articles-in-its-editorial-creed-first/) [Frank Crowninshield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-crowninshield/) > [We have for too long put vast oil and natural gas reserves off limits to exploration and production, as The Washington Post editorial stated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/we-have-for-too-long-put-vast-oil-and-natural-gas-reserves-off-limits/) [Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/) > [Only kings, presidents, editors, and people with tapeworms have the right to use the editorial 'we.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/only-kings-presidents-editors-and-people-with-tapeworms-have-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## More by Alfred Eisenstaedt > [In New York’s Times Square a white-clad girl clutches her purse and skirt as an uninhibited sailor plants his lips squarely on hers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/in-new-york-s-times-square-a-white-clad-girl-clutches-her-purse-and/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [People will never understand the patience a photographer requires to make a great photograph, all they see is the end result. I can stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/people-will-never-understand-the-patience-a-photographer-requires-to/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [The important thing is not the camera but the eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/the-important-thing-is-not-the-camera-but-the-eye/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [I don’t use an exposure meter. My personal advice is: Spend the money you would put into such an instrument for film. Buy yards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/i-don-t-use-an-exposure-meter-my-personal-advice-is-spend-the-money/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [Never boss people around. It's more important to click with people than to click the shutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/never-boss-people-around-it-s-more-important-to-click-with-people/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [Photographers don't need to be aggressive. Some are. Henry Benson is aggressive - but then he's from Fleet Street. If you can talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/photographers-don-t-need-to-be-aggressive-some-are-henry-benson-is/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [I will be remembered when I'm in heaven. People won't remember my name, but they will know the photographer who did that picture of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/i-will-be-remembered-when-i-m-in-heaven-people-won-t-remember-my-name/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [We are only beginning to learn what to say in a photograph. The world we live in is a succession of fleeting moments, any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/we-are-only-beginning-to-learn-what-to-say-in-a-photograph-the-world/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [I see pictures all the time. I could stay for hours and watch a raindrop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/i-see-pictures-all-the-time-i-could-stay-for-hours-and-watch-a/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [Yes, I sold buttons to earn living. But I took pictures to keep on living. Pictures are my life – as necessary as eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/yes-i-sold-buttons-to-earn-living-but-i-took-pictures-to-keep-on/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [The most important thing... is not clicking the shutter... it is clicking with the subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/the-most-important-thing-is-not-clicking-the-shutter-it-is-clicking/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [I always prefer photographing in available light – or Rembrandt-light I like to call it – so you get the natural modulations of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/i-always-prefer-photographing-in-available-light-or-rembrandt-light-i/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [When I have a camera in my hand, I know no fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/when-i-have-a-camera-in-my-hand-i-know-no-fear/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [I dream that someday the step between my mind and my finger will no longer be needed. And that simply by blinking my eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/i-dream-that-someday-the-step-between-my-mind-and-my-finger-will-no/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [The way I would describe a pictorial is that it is a picture that makes everybody say ‘Aaaaah,’ with five vowels when they see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/the-way-i-would-describe-a-pictorial-is-that-it-is-a-picture-that/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) [Explore all 31 Alfred Eisenstaedt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) ## More Baskets quotes > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I wonder how, among the Fremont, mothers and daughters shared their world. Did they walk side by side along the lake edge? What stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-wonder-how-among-the-fremont-mothers-and-daughters-shared-their/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [There's none as deaf as those who won't listen. I get letters. If they are moronic, they go in the wastepaper basket, but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-bates/there-s-none-as-deaf-as-those-who-won-t-listen-i-get-letters-if-they/) [Ken Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-bates/) > [It takes 10 hands to score a basket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-takes-10-hands-to-score-a-basket/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Faith don't come in a bushel basket, Missy. It come one step at a time. Decide to trust Him for one little thing today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-austin/faith-don-t-come-in-a-bushel-basket-missy-it-come-one-step-at-a-time/) [Lynn Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-austin/) > [We are constituted a good deal like chickens, which, taken from the hen, and put in a basket of cotton in the chimney-corner, willoften…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-are-constituted-a-good-deal-like-chickens-which-taken-from-the-hen/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [We have to have a special insight, or we'll put it in the 'too tough' basket. All of you have to look for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/we-have-to-have-a-special-insight-or-we-ll-put-it-in-the-too-tough/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [The human race shouldn't have all its eggs in one basket, or on one planet. Let's hope we can avoid dropping the basket until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-human-race-shouldn-t-have-all-its-eggs-in-one-basket-or-on-one/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [I have done conferences explaining that cloud is a bad idea. It's putting all your eggs in one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-demon-calce/i-have-done-conferences-explaining-that-cloud-is-a-bad-idea-it-s/) [Michael Demon Calce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-demon-calce/) > [I got about half the time I wanted to write poetry. I got about half the time I needed to be a father. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bly/i-got-about-half-the-time-i-wanted-to-write-poetry-i-got-about-half/) [Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bly/) > [The Earth is just too small and fragile a basket for the human race to keep all its eggs in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/the-earth-is-just-too-small-and-fragile-a-basket-for-the-human-race/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [My homies that are around me never give me that 'star pass.' I've hung out with some stars who are playing basketball and everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-foxx/my-homies-that-are-around-me-never-give-me-that-star-pass-i-ve-hung/) [Jamie Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-foxx/) > [Kobe enjoys that situation. Stepping up and making the big basket or being involved in a key play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kidd/kobe-enjoys-that-situation-stepping-up-and-making-the-big-basket-or/) [Jason Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kidd/) > [ When children ask me what's my favorite \[role\], I say to them, "Imagine having ten beautiful new puppies in a basket and you had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/when-children-ask-me-what-s-my-favorite-role-i-say-to-them-imagine/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [The basket looked like an ocean, and I was just throwing rocks in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-iverson/the-basket-looked-like-an-ocean-and-i-was-just-throwing-rocks-in/) [Allen Iverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-iverson/) Browse all 289 Baskets quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's important to understand it's OK to control the subject. 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