SubscribeCreating a Photo Essay
Creating a photo essay is a combination of art and journalism. As with a written essay, the elements of a photo essay should be structured in a way that easily conveys a story to the viewer. Each individual photo contributes to the overall story, theme, and emotions of the essay. The photos you choose must not only be compositionally and artistically strong, but also informative and educational. Finding photos that have both qualities can be very challenging, but the result can be very powerful.
There are two types of photo essays: the narrative and the thematic. The narrative essay tells a story through a sequence of events or actions. They may follow an individual or activity over a period of time and present this story in chronological order. A thematic photo essay focuses on a central theme (e.g. homelessness, the environment, etc.) and presents photos relevant to that theme.
Regardless of what type of photo essay you choose to present, the following elements should be considered during its creation:
- The story- Your essay should be able to stand alone, without a written article, and make logical sense to the viewer.
- A range of photos: A variety of photos (wide angle, detailed, portraits etc.) should be included. See the types of photos section discussed below.
- The order of the photos: It is important that the order of your photos effectively tell a story, in an interesting and logical sequence.
- Information and emotion: Your photos should include both informational and emotional photos. Those essays that effectively evoke emotion while providing information tend to convey their messages the best.
- Captions: In a photo essay, captions are your best opportunity to describe what is happening in words and ensure that the viewer understands. Include informational content in these captions if necessary.
Types of Photos
By including a variety of types of photos in your essay, you will ensure that it is both interesting and informative. The following types of photos, presented together, can create a successful photo essay. Not only is it important to choose powerful photos, but also to present them in an effective order. While the order of some photos (e.g. the lead photo, and the clincher) is set, the order of most types of photos in your essay is your preference.
The Lead Photo: Similar to the first two sentences of a newspaper article, your lead photo should effectively draw in your audience. This is usually the most difficult photo to choose and should follow the theme of your essay. It could be an emotional portrait or an action shot, but ultimately it should provoke the curiosity of the viewer.
The Scene: Your second photo should set the stage and describe the scene of your story. An overarching photo taken with a wide angle lens is often effective.
The Portraits: Your photo essay should include at least one portrait. Capturing an emotional expression or telling action shot can effectively humanize your story. These photos often evoke strong emotions and empathy in the viewer (whether it is a positive and enthusiastic emotion, or a sympathetic and concerned emotion.)
The Detail Photos: Detail photos focus in on one element, be it a building, a face, or a relevant object. These photos are your best opportunity to capture specific objects. The captions of these photos should be informative and educational.
The Close-up Photos: Similarly, close-up photos provide an opportunity to focus in on specific objects. These photos are tightly cropped, simple shots that present a specific element of your story. Again, this is an excellent opportunity to present information in the caption.
The Signature Photo:The signature photo summarizes the situation and captures the key elements of your story in a telling moment.
The Clincher Photo: The final photo, the clincher, should evoke the emotion you want the viewer to walk away with, be it a feeling of hope, inspiration, or sadness. Decide on this mood before you select this photo.
Remember, these suggestions are only guidelines. Photo essays are a form of art, and like any artistic creation, breaking the rules can sometimes create the most powerful result. Don’t be afraid to try something different.
See Also: How to Choose a Photographic Essay Topic
June 11th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Well written blog. Are you a photojournalist?
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:11 am
can you please elaborate more on detail photos? i really need to understand what that is. please. thanks.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Think of a “detail” photo as a photo that captures one or two elements. These are the photos that isolate several objects. If you were photographing a wedding, the detail photos would be pictures of the rings, specific flower arrangements, or a table setting. These photos, while not giving a broad picture of what’s going on, do give a little insight into the specifics of the story or event. Some of these photos might fall under the category of “close-up” photos. The main difference is really the amount of detail in the photo. Remember that these are just general guidelines and its really hard to set these definitions in stone. You can really do with your essay whatever you wish.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
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November 3rd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
How many photos should you generally use (just out of interest)?
Many thanks.
Zoe.
November 4th, 2008 at 2:18 am
Zoe,
It really depends on your target audience, your topic, and the photos you have. You need enough photos to tell the whole story, but make sure you’re using powerful images. Don’t allow the quality of your essay to deteriorate just to increase the number of photos.
Many photo essays have between 8 and 15 photos, but there’s no set rule.
November 13th, 2008 at 8:06 am
[...] Creating a Photo Essay | Collective Lens Creating a photo essay is a combination of art and journalism. As with a written essay, the elements of a photo essay should be structured in a way that easily conveys a story to the viewer. Each individual photo contributes to the overall story, theme, and emotions of the essay. The photos you choose must not only be compositionally and artistically strong, but also informative and educational. Finding photos that have both qualities can be very challenging, but the result can be very powerful. [...]