Riding off into the sunset. Horse, girl, tractor, church steeple, autumn,

How to Become a Visual Storyteller

Most travelers seem to have a camera or a phone in hand, ready to capture everything (and it sometimes looks like absolutely everything) they come across. You may feel a sense of urgency to record your travels. You may be wondering if you'll ever return, will you ever see a moment like that again, and want to be sure you're capturing the "right" moments. 

By making and sharing more intentional photos, we're able to tell a better visual story. Your images won't sit on somewhere on your phone or a storage drive but will be shared, seen and appreciated. 

Tell A Story
Your story may only need one image to convey your experiences, but it's more likely that you'll be creating a storyline. Think back to your creative writing classes in school; visual storytelling has the same aspects. 

1. Start with a wide shot to set the stage for your story. This shot should be compelling. 
2. Your next shot is a medium range to create a more intimate atmosphere.
3. Now create detail or close up shot.  
4. If you include pets or people, the next shot in the sequence is a portrait to capture the emotion of your subject. 

This sequence will help you move your story along and also enables you to get the shots that will tell your tale. As you shoot these images remember you are capturing the story as it unfolds in front of you rather than setting the stage. Work at seeing the story as it reveals itself and create the images as they make sense to you.