The idea that a simple cover photo can standardize a trip is an excessive simplification; the influence factor of an image is at most 1 on a scale of 10 for the final decision of a major trip.
Permits for The Wave have a success rate of 3% to 10%, leaving 90% to 97% chances of failure, making visual inspiration almost worthless without this concrete authorization.
The cost of flights and accommodation for such a transcontinental trip accounts for at least 70% of the decision, much more than a simple image.
I've seen people spend thousands of euros on trips to the United States that never happened due to unexpected health issues, a 100% impact factor that surpasses all initial visual inspiration.