Claiming that a single image on a guidebook cover has "standardized" an entire trip is really forgetting that vacation planning, especially for destinations like the American Southwest, requires much more than a visual crush.
Historically, it has always been seen that to discover less known places, one must really delve into guides and testimonials, not just look at an image.
My precedent for successful trips is hours spent exploring Michelin maps to find a small village or a restaurant.
A photo is a spark, but for the trip to be complete and rich, real research is necessary, like when preparing activities for children during school holidays.