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Writing Great Photo Captions The Power of Stories Academy www.powerofstories.academy
14

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

Jul 15, 2015

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

Writing Great Photo Captions

The Power of Stories Academywww.powerofstories.academy

Page 2: Every Picture Tells a Story Part 1: How To Write Great Photo Captions

• 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?

Page 3: Every Picture Tells a Story Part 1: How To Write Great Photo Captions

• 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

Page 4: Every Picture Tells a Story Part 1: How To Write Great Photo Captions

Who – first and last names

When – as specifically as possible

Where – also, try for specificity

Page 5: Every Picture Tells a Story Part 1: How To Write Great Photo Captions

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

Page 6: Every Picture Tells a Story Part 1: How To Write Great Photo Captions

Access memories

“Brain dump”

Create list Short simple phrases

Free flowing/uncensored

Remember what you thought you forgot

Essential to creation of Photo Stories

Page 7: Every Picture Tells a Story Part 1: How To Write Great Photo Captions

Three techniques1. Look with fresh eyes

2. The slow reveal

3. Eyes wide shut

Page 8: Every Picture Tells a Story Part 1: How To Write Great Photo Captions

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?

Page 9: Every Picture Tells a Story Part 1: How To Write Great Photo Captions

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?

Page 10: Every Picture Tells a Story Part 1: How To Write Great Photo Captions

Some memories cannot be photographed

Close your eyes/turn photos over

Just remember – events, time, people, place

Jot down words/phrases

Page 11: Every Picture Tells a Story Part 1: How To Write Great Photo Captions

More memories = Great Caption

Something beyond just the facts

Adds context

Enhances photo with info not directly pictured

Page 12: Every Picture Tells a Story Part 1: How To Write Great Photo Captions

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

Page 13: Every Picture Tells a Story Part 1: How To Write Great Photo Captions

Copyright 2015 by Beyond the Trees, LLC

Writing Photo Stories

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

Page 14: Every Picture Tells a Story Part 1: How To Write Great Photo Captions

For more helpful information on

how to save and share your memories, visit:

www.cincinnatiseniorconnection.org