Here's a look at some of the most iconic and creative photo advertisements that changed the advertising landscape:

1: Volkswagen "Think Small" (1959)

In an era when American car manufacturers were making bigger and flashier vehicles, Volkswagen took a revolutionary approach. The ad featured a tiny Beetle in vast white space with understated copy acknowledging the car's small size. This honest, minimalist approach transformed automotive advertising and introduced the concept that less could indeed be more.

2: Absolut Vodka Bottle Series (1980s-2000s)

Perhaps the longest-running print campaign in history with over 1,500 variations, Absolut created a visual language around their distinctively shaped bottle. Each ad placed the bottle's silhouette in different creative contexts—from city skylines to seasonal themes—creating an instantly recognizable campaign that turned the bottle itself into a cultural icon.

3: Apple "1984" (Superbowl Commercial/Print)

While famous for its Superbowl commercial, the print version of Apple's "1984" campaign was equally impactful. The dystopian imagery referencing Orwell's novel positioned Apple as the rebellious alternative to conformist computing. This single campaign launched the Macintosh and established Apple's identity as a company that "thinks different."

4: Dove "Real Beauty" (2004)

Breaking industry norms, Dove featured real women instead of professional models in their groundbreaking campaign. The honest portrayal of diverse body types and natural beauty challenged conventional beauty standards in advertising. These powerful images sparked global conversations about body positivity and self-esteem.

5: Pepsi's "Halloween" Costume Ad

This brilliant ad showed a Pepsi can dressed up in a Cape with a Coca-Cola label as its Halloween costume. With just one image and zero copy, it delivered a perfect punchline that highlighted the rivalry between the brands while positioning Pepsi as the brand with a sense of humor.

6: Faber-Castell Colored Pencils

In this visually stunning series, Faber-Castell showcased their colored pencils through images of natural objects—like peppers and flowers—being sharpened to reveal pencils in matching colors. The campaign brilliantly demonstrated the product's color accuracy while creating a visually arresting optical illusion.

7: KFC "FCK" (2018)

When KFC ran out of chicken in the UK, they responded with a brilliantly simple apology ad rearranging their letters to spell "FCK." This honest admission of failure, presented with just the perfect amount of humor, turned a PR disaster into a masterclass in crisis management advertising.

8: Chupa Chups Sugar-Free Lollipops

This clever ad for sugar-free lollipops showed a Chupa Chups with a line of ants deliberately avoiding it. Without any explanation needed, the image instantly communicated that the product was sugar-free in a way that was both humorous and memorable.

These advertisements demonstrate how powerful imagery, combined with clever concepts, can create lasting impressions that transcend their original commercial purposes to become cultural touchstones.