We also use maps - usually handdrawn - to display the surrounding area for a better understanding and a common base to build everyones imagination of the scenery upon. Sometimes we use appropriate pictures, if available, but this does happen more often in modern campaigns (i.e. when we played Shadowrun, we often used pictures to give a better impression of locations and had pictures for all PCs and major NPCs).
Character pictures are used, if available. My Avatar is the picture of my 19th level elven arcane trickster, BTW.
Bye
Thanee