When I take a photograph or look at another photographer's image, I looking for it to tell me a story; leaving me wanting to know more. They say "A picture is worth a thousand words", this refers to the ability of a single image conveying a complex idea or the essence of the photograph.  I strive to tell some part of a story in every image that I take; sometimes this is harder to do when the image is apart of a set.  In today's blog I'll be give you 10 suggestions to improve your storytelling with each image that you take.

1.  LOOK FOR SOMETHING THAT EXCITES YOU.

For some people, it’s the story of the land; for others it's the story of the natural world. Find the thing that excites the storyteller in you. For me, it’s travel photography and interacting with people and trying to capture their character.  When photographing people: pay attention to their facial expressions, quick movements, and nuances.

2.  USE THE LIGHT AROUND YOU.

A good photographer uses the surrounding light to capture a story. Using light in a creative way can bring an otherwise unassuming scene to life.  Consider the direction of light and the how it will the subject will be affected; additionally consider the time of day that you shoot, like the golden hour.

3.  KEEP IT SIMPLE.

Sometimes the best stories are the simple ones. Zoom in and include only the bare essential components in your shot.  Crop out the clutter and any distractions.  Be conscious the of colors.  

4.  PAINT A SCENE WITH A PHOTOGRAPH.

Taking a photo of a person is not enough to tell a story. Always show some context in your images.

5.  LOOK FOR THE DETAILS.

Sometimes your story is in the details.  Always ask yourself, what is the story that you're trying want to tell?  Find the physical angle that best suits the telling of that story. 

6.  FIND YOUR NICHE.

What is your niche?  What kind of story can you tell well?  Do you have the patience to spend hours waiting for the perfect wildlife shot? (LOL...I don't)  Do you have an eye for colors in nature or in an urban setting?  Are you interested in door knockers or grave markers, or still-life shots of antiques?  Zoom in on something and see what happens.

7.  STEP OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.

I’m not a transportation photographer, but I’ll still try and tell stories about cars and motorcycles . I know that going out and taking photos of challenging subjects will push me as a photographer and help my storytelling skills in the long run.  Photograph something that you don't usually shoot.  You may be surprised at the outcome.

8.  FRAME YOUR SUBJECT.

Door frames, windows, and tree branches are all great natural frames that are readily available.  A good visual storyteller always considers the composition and framing around a subject.  Consider backgrounds and select locations that will add interesting visual lines, shapes, and framing within the images.

9.  RULES ARE MEANT TO BE BROKEN.

While attending the Art Institute of San Antonio I learned the rules of photography. Sometimes breaking these rules will tell a better story.  Don't be afraid to try different things.  Shoot the same scene from many angles, look for unusual perspectives, and take lots of photographs.  There is nothing wrong with experimenting as this is how we learn to take better photographs.

10.  POINT OF VIEW

When you have a specific story you want to tell, it becomes easier to place yourself in the best position to capture a shot.  Consider what you want to say and who or what you want to highlight; this will help you decide what physical point of view will help tell the story that you're trying to get across to the viewer.

LINKS ON STORYTELLING.

Digital Photography School-How to Improve your Storytelling Images

New Media Photography