Every Picture Tells a Story Part 1: How To Write Great Photo Captions

Writing Great Photo Captions

The Power of Stories Academywww.powerofstories.academy

• Imagine these are your great-grandmothers, who you never met.

• There’s no other information available about them.

• What do you know from this photo?

Wouldn’t it be better to have more information?

• Think about a photo album you have• Imagine paging through it with a grandchild• You bring the photos to life with your stories• You don’t have to be “a writer”

Copyright 2012 – Art Gallery of Ontario

Who – first and last names

When – as specifically as possible

Where – also, try for specificity

Character – names and relationships

Setting – date and place

Occasion – what was the reason for the photo

The Armstrong girls and Shaw cousins(Aunt Jan and Uncle Bobby’s sons)

Visit to Grandma Hirchert’sfor her 70th birthday.

Chadron, Nebraska, 1975Back row:

Ken Shaw, Karen Armstrong, Doris Hirchert , Pat ShawFront row: Kristi Armstrong, Rob Shaw, Kathie Armstrong

Access memories

“Brain dump”

Create list Short simple phrases

Free flowing/uncensored

Remember what you thought you forgot

Essential to creation of Photo Stories

Three techniques1. Look with fresh eyes

2. The slow reveal

3. Eyes wide shut

Imagine you are a stranger Seeing photo for first time What would YOU want to know? Take note of:

Body language and facial expression Why people came together What was happening before/after photo Look at background of photo Notice dress, shoes, pets, yard, cars, neighborhoods Who is missing and why? What emotions does photo inspire? What memories does it conjure?

Cover photo with a piece of paper

Slide paper slowly top to bottom or left to right

Notice anything you missed?

Remember anything else NOT in photo?

Some memories cannot be photographed

Close your eyes/turn photos over

Just remember – events, time, people, place

Jot down words/phrases

More memories = Great Caption

Something beyond just the facts

Adds context

Enhances photo with info not directly pictured

Reread your caption

Watch for these pitfalls: Meaningless prose

“Sunset was beautiful” vs. “Sunset made me feel alive”

Trite predictable phrases/clichés “Say Cheese” or “World’s Best Grandma”

Repeated information “Kids at Disneyland” for picture in front of sign

Jokes May get stale, not very personal

Copyright 2015 by Beyond the Trees, LLC

Writing Photo Stories

If you’d like to take your photo storytelling to the next level, try:

For more helpful information on

how to save and share your memories, visit:

www.cincinnatiseniorconnection.org