“Storytelling photography” is a term that’s been thrown around quite a bit recently. It has become popular with street photographers who are eager to stand out from the crowd. They are looking for ways to get viewers of their images talking, thinking, or just curious about what they have seen. And it can be done, but only when you stir the imagination.
What Is Storytelling in Photography?
First, let’s talk about storytelling. What does that mean? It refers to image or collection of images meant to tell a story. There are various ways to approach it, and one good way is with your camera. To be creative means you have to think beyond what everyone else is doing! Be unique, be different… stand out!
Tips for Storytelling in Photography
To become a master storyteller, you need to learn how and take great street photos. It’s not easy telling stories with still images – especially when they’re on their own! But if you follow our tips below, then in no time at all will be able to tell amazing tales that capture every detail of life as it happens right before your eyes.
- Know the Story Before You Start.
There’s a lot of truth to this step, as it will help you decide what you want from your shoot. Ask yourself these questions: What is the story? Where does it take place? Who are the main characters involved? Are the characters part of the action or just onlookers? Try writing all of this down so that you can refer back to it if your mind goes blank during the shoot. It’ll make things easier for you and help you plan your shot.
- The Style of Photography is Key.
Are you more of a traditionalist or an abstract artist? Think outside the box and be creative if you’re the latter. A great place to start is with points of interest in your images. Of course, shadow and light play a huge role in depth and color. Remember, it’s not just about the subject of your photo, but the scene as a whole. Think about how you can set up your shots to get more out of them.
- Developing Character using Costumes and Props
Of course, if your goal is telling a story, it helps to have great characters in the scene. The right costumes and props can help bring them to life in an image much more than you think! We recommend avoiding clichés – they’re just not effective. For example, Santa Claus is always associated with Christmas, so unless that’s the story you’re after then, it’s not going to work. Instead, focus on someone more unexpected, like a zombie reindeer.
- The Right Location Is Key
Choosing the right location for your storytelling images is key! Choose a place with an open sky and blue skies overhead; if you want vast landscapes, be sure to include long shadows and interesting cloud formations.
- Isolate your main subject
Try to isolate your main subject and avoid any distraction. For example, approach your subject with a long focal length, change the perspective or open the aperture of your camera so that the background becomes blurred.
- Switch to Spy Mode
When people don’t know they are being photographed, natural images emerge. To achieve this, you should stay discreetly in the background.
- The Right Location Is Key
Vibrant photos thrive on interactions between people. You can find them everywhere on the street. People are constantly communicating and interacting with each other. Take advantage of this human tendency.
A good example of how all this can be put into practice, can be seen in this example about Berlin Street Photography.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we hope you feel inspired to go out and shoot some creative storytelling street photos of your own. Remember to keep things simple, focus on the story you want to tell, and make sure your photos are beautiful. We can’t wait to see what amazing stories you capture!